Exploring Lower Manhattan

Lower Manhattan is the home to many of the sights to see in New York City. After attending my cousins' goodbye brunch, we were energized and ready to go out once again to do more exploring.

Our first stop was the One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial. From the many stories and lessons we learned about this day in history, it was so surreal to actually be at the place were such an atrocious event occurred, in which so many lives were lost and the lives of people around the world were filled with fear, heartbreak, and sadness.

Despite the large amounts of people gathering around, being at the memorial felt so peaceful and serene. The beauty of this monument and the environment that was created at this historic site stands as a symbol of the tragedy and loss that inspires us today as we strive towards a world of peace. A place to commemorate the brave and innocent people who lost their lives.

Right next to this location was: The Oculus, a well known architectural building, with its white, long and parallel structure. I didn't realize that this place was a train station and a mall! From the outside, it looks small, but once you step inside you are welcomed with a grand, high ceiling and floors lined with so many stores. With so many different angles to look at and appreciate, taking pictures in there was such a delight and so much fun. 

Up next, we were on our way to Battery Park to visit the one and only, Lady Liberty. Because we missed our scheduled visit to the Statue (due to our cancelled flight and prolonged travel), we at least wanted to catch a glimpse of it, no matter how small it may be.

We made it to the pier where the boats to the statue arrive and depart. Not gonna lie, the Statue of Liberty looked like a little speck from that spot, but thanks to the camera my friend lent me, I was at least able to zoom in and get this shot ↓. And yes, we did still get our selfies and family pictures with the tiny statue in the background. This moment will surely be a fun one to look back to in the future.

Up next, we went to the Church of St. Francis Xavier for Palm Sunday Mass. I'm not kidding you when I say that the churches in New York are so grand and beautiful in design. They remind me of the churches in the Philippines and in Europe. There were so many details in the art and sculptures that detailed the church's walls and ceilings. I could not keep my eyes from wandering and exploring the room.

After mass, we made our way to the Flatiron District. Out of the many places we visited on this trip, this was definitely one of my favorites. Besides the beautiful architecture of this building, this was also partly due to the fact that we were there during sunrise. The colors of the sky and the way the sun shone on the Flatiron Building made the moment even more special and beautiful.

And as a bonus, we even caught a glimpse of the Empire State Building by night! This day of exploring was truly so much fun and I never wanted it to end. But I knew there was more to look forward to in tomorrow's adventure.