The BIG Surprise

Ms. Catlin put us in the car and did not tell us where we were going. We badgered her with a million questions but she would not break and tell us where we were going. We are so trusting we just went with her. We noticed the New York signs but thought nothing of it. When we got onto the Goethals Bridge (in new Jersey) she told us that we were now in new York. Screaming screaming and tears everywhere. We were sooooo surprised and happy. Kiarra could not stop screaming beause she was so happy.

Kiara said is that the Staute of Liberty way over there. Ms. Catlin didn't notice and said she never noticed because she grew up in New York and New Yorkers never notice. Still clueless of our destination, we parked our car with some strangers in a parking garage where they took our keys and parked the car for us. We walked out of the gargage and crossed the street and got onto this LONGGGGGGG line. We waited until Ms. C. left to go buy the tickets, then we asked the people in front of us what we were in line for...not to mention that the Staute of Liberty was in our eyesight...and they said "To go on a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty". We tried not to make too much commotion and tried to act mature and held in our loudest screams. We were soooo excited...the statue was not on tv anymore...it was in front of us. After an hour and 25 minutes in the cold on line, we finally got to the security checkpoint and was scanned and scanned and had to undress and was scanned again then got onto the ferry. After a short ferry ride we got to the island and saw the Staute of Liberty up close and personl. Then we decided to go into the statue and waited on line for 45 more minutes and got scanned and scanned again and then puffed with air in the scanner machine to just go into the base of the statue. While on line a worker man told us there was no elevator service today...that there were 196 steps...and if we wanted we could climb them to the observation deck.... then he said "Good Luck with That" laughed and walked away. New Yorkers are sooooo rude. They don't seem to have time for niceness. There was a power hungry rude security guard lady. She yelled at everyone for everything. She yelled at the people in front of us because they told her there was two in their group. She yelled " WAIT UNTIL I ASK YOU"!! She was so rude.

After the 45 minute wait, we got into the staute, when somebody told us that she had to go see her ancestors arrival on Ellis Island soooooo, we had to IMMEDIATELY run out to catch the last ferry to Ellis Island. We were puffed with air for nothing. Then we ran to the ferry...Adreenah and Chelsea.. went to the bathroom and almost had to swim to Elllis Island. the man had closed the gate and they had not come yet. We were frantic and then we finally got them on the phone and told them to RUN now the ferry was leaving. Sooooo, they ran, Adreenah lost a glove and left her mark on Liberty Island.

We then took the ferry to Ellis Island. Tiffani cried thoughout the entire place. she took pictures and more pictures and more pictures and then almost got stuck in the elevator with Adreenah. We had so many packages that Ms. Catlin had to sit in the lobby with the bags and our coats and our hats and our gloves and our scarves and everything else. Chelsea only went for the gift shop!

After this wonderful experience, we went to Times Square!! YAY!!! We got to walk around with all the bright lights. We took tons of pictures. We were in Times Square. We then drove to Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center (we saw the ice skaters), NBC Studios, The Emmpire State Building, Broadway Show Theater, NYPD on horses (Ms. Catlin said they are called mounted police), the police are everywhere and we felt very safe.

Finally we go to eat. We went to Junior's Restaurant where they have world famous Cheesecake. We gorged ourselves and did not have room for dessert but we got it to go!! Tiffani snuck two candy bars and drove Chelsea and Ms. Catlin crazy on the ride home. She finally fell asleep while Ms. Catlin ran upstairs to the hospital to say hello to her aunt.

We all snored on the ride home. Ms. Catlin said the snoring kept her awake. Thank goodness!!