Single Step

“Every one of us remembers where we were on that morning,” remarked a New Yorker as we chatted about the events of September 11.

The prospect of a visit to Ground Zero felt sobering but we, like so many others, wanted to honour the memory of those who perished on September 11, 2001. Trinity Church and its sister church both played an important part in providing sanctuary for rescue workers and the grief stricken so we paused there, remembering in silence.

The underground museum sits on the twin tower sight and includes a chronological walk-through of the events of that day via hundreds of audio and visual recordings, photos and pieces of wreckage. The Memorial room was lined with floor-to-ceiling faces of the lost.

Someone asked me how I felt afterward. Emotional, I’d say.

I wish I could call myself an artist but it wouldn’t be an honest representation. I’m an amateur admirer of other people’s creations and one of my favourite stops on any holiday is to find art in situ, that is, in the setting for which it was intended. Cathedrals are terrific places for that, but when that can’t happen, a museum will do. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is a knock-your-socks-off kind of art hang out and we spent a good portion of a day there. The city’s public library is fun architecturally – strong Roman influence – and so is the American Museum of Natural History for its creative rendition of animals in their natural setting. After all that walking and gawking, we were in need of something refreshing and so Central Park it was. Next to the New Yorkers themselves, it was my personal highlight. The night life offers good variety and so we took in a Yankees ball game, a concert at Carnegie Hall and a Broadway musical. All three gave our tired feet a good rest!

There’s nothing like an Air Canada flight credit plus a big anniversary on the horizon to prompt a continental get-away and so off we flew to New York City. The guide books said it would take a week to visit all 10 iconic sights and they were right. Since coming home I am asked what was the highlight. Hands-down – it was the New Yorkers. Friendly, generous, open and happy to welcome us onto their island, they added that extra special touch that makes us want to go back.

We were advised the best way to get our bearings was to ride to the top of a tall building and take in the 360 degree views. The Empire State Building proved spectacular. The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Rockefeller Centre were next, crowded with other sight-seers and temperatures in the 30’s we melted into our air conditioned 414 Hotel, just 2 blocks from Time Square. The photos tell it best.

And then for something completely different, we flew south to Arizona, drove 4 hours to the Grand Canyon and prepared ourselves for the 5,000 foot descent from the Rim to the Ranch. Most people do this on foot, but my husband decided that we should do it by mule. 7 hours down the first day and 5 hours up the second day with an overnight on the edge of the Colorado River at Phantom Ranch on mule-back.

I wrote a few posts ago that my mule would be named Molly, well, little did I know that female mules are called Mollies. Specifically, I road Maude and we became well acquainted.

The ride itself was the real thing. The mules make their way along the cliff-edge of the Bright Angel Trail on the way down and the Kaibab Trail on the way up. Mine gravitated toward the very edge and there was little I could do to persuade her toward the wall. I figured she knew what she was doing, so I settled into the saddle and enjoyed the ride. Unaccustomed to that kind of pressure on my sit-me-down, I struggled to sit comfortably for the next 2 weeks. But I wouldn’t trade minute – well maybe the moment we rounded the “Jesus corner” where the guide informed us, “People meet God”.

I hesitate to photograph people without asking permission, so most of my photos of children are taken either from a discreet distance or from behind. They still convey the sweetness I want to share with you – children in any culture are a gift to us. I create this space to celebrate children of Spain and Portugal. Ciao, friends!

I wasn’t prepared for Porto. We read about its gritty, no-nonsense, hard-working reputation and active port. We’d heard about the Port Caves, generations of family-owned Port-making facilities and tasting rooms on the south side of Douro River. But we did not expect beauty too!

We stayed in the Ribeira neighbourhood near the cathedral and old city wall but spent most of our time exploring the river banks on both sides. It is a city I hope to visit again because the architecture and art has an old world charm that demands further study. If you find yourself in Portugal, be sure to stop in Porto.

In the heart of the Alentejo region of Portugal the sun shines and the earth is dry, a perfect climate for cork trees. Portugal supplies more than half the world’s cork. Boutique shops sell cork baseball caps, cork purses, cork shoes and the usual coasters and wine stoppers. No, I didn’t bring a single cork souvenir home but marveled at Portuguese ingenuity with this renewable resource.

Little Evora has a lot to offer, Roman ruins, Roman Aqueduct, quaint town centre, imposing cathedral and the hilly, narrow streets dividing white washed Moorish homes we have come to expect. The streets are seriously cobbled so walking is not for the feeble of foot.

The highlight of our stay was the oasis of Albergaria do Calvario with its trendy décor, lovely courtyard garden and family room where tapas were always at the ready. Toward the end of the afternoon, sapped by the weariness of walking hours upon hours, we joined other travelers for tapas and ice cold mint lemonade. Delightful!

The Mesquita is a beautifully well-preserved mosque from 784 AD and second only to the Alhambra. Hidden within the centre of a series of red and white striped arches and columns rises a magnificent cathedral. A short stroll up the narrow streets took us to a thriving synagogue and Jewish district, where we stayed. Cordoba is exactly why we loved Spain with its rich diversity and history.

Famous for the Alhambra, the elaborate Moorish palace of Spain. Lovely, oh so lovely!