9/04/2023
New York City and Home
In the predawn hours we passed under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Paul was able to get a video and picture from the veranda. He had wanted to be on the Explorer’s veranda to video the approach, but it snuck up on him. Then the excitement began. Sailing into New York Harbor is the stuff of legend. Paul and Ann thought of our German and Swedish ancestors sailing in and stopping at Ellis Island before continuing to Minnesota. (Shirley and Bob’s folks predated the USA, but it was awesome to think about nonetheless.)
Then the Manhattan skyline took center stage as the Viking Sky slowly made its way up the Hudson Diver to Pier 90, the New York Cruise terminal. Since Paul worked in NYC in 2008, there have been many new additions to the skyline. We, along with many guests and crew were out on deck oohing and aahing at the city.
Dawn over lower Manhattan
Ellis Island
We left the ship at 9:45 and walked through the Cruise terminal in stages determined by our scheduled flights home. Bob and Ann hopped a bus to lower Manhattan and had a walk-about before reboarding the bus to JFK airport.
Ann and the WTC Center tower
Customs at the cruise terminal was the slickest ever. A 5 minute line, show the passport and onto the area where we picked up our luggage and then to the bus. They had this figured out, much to our liking. Paul and Shirley joined a number of Viking Sky passengers to JFK and were through security by 10:30 for a 1PM flight to Atlanta.
At 8PM Paul, Shirley, Bob and Ann were all home with our luggage and exhausted. We made some wonderful memories and have the pictures and artifacts to re-live the time on the Viking highway. Now to sort them all out.
Until our next trip – keep on traveling!
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