Ben and Sue Day 26

Our Day in New York City

Our friend Marianne picked us up at 9AM and drove us to the Beacon Train Station.  After figuring out what train we needed to take and what time it left, we chatted for a while there on the platform.  The trains that did not stop sped by so fast.  Our train came and we boarded -- headed to New York City.  I was very excited because going to NYC has been a desire for a very long time.  Travelling mostly parallel to the Hudson River we were treated to all kinds of sights that made the one hour journey very pleasant.  We saw many Canada Geese, a little tugboat pushing a huge barge, the hills across the river beautifully ripe with color, and experienced the serenity of the river.  Sometimes we could not see the land below  the train window and it actually seemed like we were on a boat in  the middle of the river.

. . . Our stop was Grand Central Station -- WOW!  A train station  that was as big  as a shopping mall -- bigger still.  It seemed as though just about everything one might want to  eat or drink or wear or buy as a gift they could buy right t here in the  train station.

. . . We found our way upstairs and onto 5th Avenue and a kind New York man pointed us in the direction of St. Patricks Cathedral -- our first stop.  Was a long walk.  As  we walked we saw all kinds of people -- so many people of many nationalities aand walks of life. Some of the ladies were dressed as casual tourists like myself.  Some appeared to be ladies of the night.  Some  dressed in very expensive business suits rolling a small suitcase  ehind them.  Some were college students with backpacks stuffed with books.

. . . St. Patricks cathedral was magnificant.  The brochure said It was built in a Gothic style similar  to Europen churches from the 13th to the 15th century.  The spires stand 330 feet from the street -- quite impressive.  The information I read  was that the cathedral is 405 feet long and 174 feet wide -- truly a huge church.  Inside were beautiful stained glass windows all around.  It seemed to me as though small shrines had been built to memorilize different saints thru the years -- for example there was a shrine to St Bridget who spent her life ministering to the poor and lonely, one to St. Patrick and another to Jesus Mother, Mary and many others.  Many people were lighting candles.  I have my own thoughts (probably not accurate) about why people light candles in Catholic churches.  So I was curious and asked the receptionist -- the first person one meets entering the church.  She greeted me kindly and I asked her my question.  She said "People light candles  because it helps them when they pray -- it makes praying easier.  It gives them more hope  that their prayers will be answered."  Then I asked a lady in uniform who appeared to be a security guide.  She  said "I'm not Catholic but we are taught that people light candles so the soul of a deceased loved one will continue to shine."  Interesting. . .

There is a lot more but I'm plum out of time -- we are going with out friends Jeff and Marianne to a bed and breakfast near where they plan to build their new home.  Will hopefully finish up my New York Trip this evening.