December 12, 2024
Boarding the Ferry to Liberty Island
It was a perfectly clear day. I headed to the Battery Park ferry terminal (see on map).
Before my trip, I had purchased the Go City New York Pass for five attractions for $169. I used it to join the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry. Since advance reservations were required, I booked my spot through the app early that morning.
At the ferry terminal, there were two lines—one for purchasing tickets and another for ticket holders. Since I already had my New York Pass, I joined the latter and showed the QR code on the app.
After passing the security check, I boarded the ferry.
The weather was clear, the wind was strong, and the cold stung my ears.
Walking Around the Statue of Liberty
Once I arrived on Liberty Island (see on map), I walked all the way around the statue. I finished the visit at the small museum, where the video exhibits were actually produced by Disney.
Then I boarded the ferry again to Ellis Island (see on map). There, I was able to borrow an audio guide device for free. It even had a Japanese option, which helped me understand the history in more detail.
A Seagull Attack
While waiting for the return ferry, I peeled a banana I had brought along to eat. Suddenly, I felt a sharp thud to the back of my head—before I knew it, a seagull had swooped down and bitten off a chunk of my banana right out of my hand.
The bird landed right in front of me, clearly eyeing the rest. I quickly stuffed the banana into my tote bag.
Seagulls are terrifying.
When I looked around, a little girl who had probably seen the whole thing caught my eye and gave me a small shrug, as if to say, “Rough luck.”
Discount Shopping at Marshalls and Century 21
After returning to Manhattan, I took the subway to Marshalls (see on map). Like T.J. Maxx, it was full of discounted items. Still, I couldn’t help noticing that clothes—even brand-name ones—can look a bit cheap when they’re hanging on plastic hangers like in a supermarket.
Next, I went to Century 21 (see on map). Compared to Marshalls, its displays felt more curated and made me more inclined to shop.
I found a Bacon down jacket that looked really cool, but unfortunately, they didn’t have my size—so I left empty-handed.
