Nice trip
Wife and I took my mom and daughter.
My mom had been wanting to go almost all her life and had just never gotten around to it.
It was my first trip there too.
Funny how people who live in close proximity of something often go someplace else to see other things rather then whats in their own back yard so's to speak.
Anyway,interesting trip.
Security is flipping ridiculous. According to my mother. Tighter then most of the airport security she goes through.
I ended up having to not only remove my wallet,keys. ALL the contents in my pockets. My hat.
But also my shoes. TWICE!
Once to get on the ferry. And once to go through the statue. What did they think I might have done. Used scuba gear to get on the island?
The second time I had to do this I just said to the security guy. "If I come again I'll just show up naked"
The Cops there looked almost scary. In their black outfits loaded to the gills Looking more a paramilitary SS unit then a police force. That isn't really meant to be a slap at the police force there but honestly. when I saw them that was the very first impression I got.
Somehow I think they could be more cooth in their appearance. VERY uncool visual impression when your supposed dealing with people who came to see what many consider the very symbol of freedom. I personally felt more anger at the sight of the getup then respect or fear.
I'd love to meet the putz who came up with that idea.
All that aside it was a nice trip in spite of some rain we had. Turned out to be to our benefit as it kept the crowds low and cleared up enough to turn into a really nice day.
I've seen it from a distance many times. but up close, The Statue is smaller then I expected it to be.
A bunch of years ago I worked for a steeplejack ,exterior maintenance,Waterproofing etc company.
And the guy I worked for actually had a bid in on its renovation.
At the time I had my doubts if we could have handled it because it was so big.
But after seeing it today I couldn't help but think. Hell We coulda have dealt with that no problem.
I wouldn't do it now as I'm a bit more sane then I was at 22 LOL
Then again the fact is I'm no longer used to hanging from a rope a couple of hundred feet int he air anymore either might have something to do with it.
But back then. Bah! No problem.
The statue itself was pretty cool though. Amazing how they did it (Eiffel was actually involved in it as well)
That plaque that everyone likes to quote. Was originally donated by the author to raise funds for its construction in the US and wasn't affixed to the statue itself until the early 1900's.
All in all worth the trip itself.
Ellis island was interesting as well. Found my grandparents records as well as some extended family members.
Learned quite a few things and came to some pretty interesting conclusions while there.
First conclusion I was forced to come to. which was more of a confirmation of my beliefs really it that we have become a society of sissies compared to those that passed through.
We in no way,shape or form have the gonads they had to have. Just to make it here.
There were few government social programs for those arrivals.
There were social programs yes. But not government run. typically they were run by the various nationalities and religious groups of those who came before them.
Even the food they ate while at Ellis wasn't government provided. The shipping companies which transported them were by law required to provide their food until their fate was determined
Some were detained for weeks and even months before being allowed entry.
And it was on an individual basis.
One account there is told of a family where the father was detained but the children were allowed entry.
He mentions clinging to his fathers hands through a chain fence and his father telling him. And I quote "Take care of the kids as best you can" The father was telling this to a 7 year old.
Can you even fathom that? Having to become the head of the family and take care of your younger siblings in a strange country at the age of 7??
But it happened. And they did it. Sorry but I find that nothing short of impressive.
Oh and you know how we often get into these immigration arguments. And someone always seems to manage to mention that afor mentioned plaque on the Statue of Liberty? "Give us your poor, your tired, Your huddled masses" etc etc.
Next time someone mentions that. You can tell them that not everyone was allowed entrance into the USA.
Some were denied entrance for any number of reasons.
If you were too sick. Is one commonly known one.
But there were other reasons too.
Seems they were put through a battery of evaluations and tested on certain things such as, Intelligence, Mental state, General health.
If you were deemed not smart enough. or a nutcase. You might be sent back to whence you came.
Even back then. We didn't just let ANYONE come in willy nilly.
And even once you were allowed entrance. You needed money just to get transported OFF the island and into the country.
No money and you could be stuck there for quite a while
Damn interesting trip. More so then I thought it would be.
Was pretty cool walking through the buildings open tot he public. some of the original doors and tilework still in place.
Close your eyes and you can almost hear the goings on there way back then. You can almost sense the spirits of those that passed through.
