First stop yesterday was Coney Island and Brighton Beach which is about an hour out on Long Island on the subway. Once I got off there I walked out of the station and it started pouring with rain...and I was like great :P But it stoppped pretty soon. I walked down to the beach and it was pretty much deserted which was nice actually. The beach looks really nice and it would be awsome on a sunny day! It seems like a typical seaside little town. There is a long boardwalk connecting Coney Island and Brighton Beach so I walked all the way down that. It started to rain just as I finished so I got back on the subway and headed for Manhattan.

After that I just walked around Times Sqaure again to waste time till my tour at 5pm. The hostel does some walking tours around different places around NYC on different days. I did the Brooklyn one. We took the subway to Brooklyn and then our guide ( a retired old man who was born, raised and still lives in Brooklyn). He took us through the streets, along the Promenade and then showed us some awesome views of the Manhattan skyline at night. We caught the subway back and it was bed time :)

Today was an early start ( I was gone by 8:15!!) so I could get to the Statue of Liberty, it normally gets really busy. You take a ferry to Liberty Island where you get of to look at the statue. I took a tour around the island which tells you all the history of the statue and what it means. Then I got to go up the statue. You walk up stairs in the inside and then there is a lookout around the top of he pedastal part (just below the green) which was pretty cool. Gave some really good views. After that you hop back on the ferry and it takes you to Ellis Island.

This is the island where all the immigrants used to come to be processed before they were allowed into America. So they have a massive immigration museum there. It was interesting to hear about how they used to process everyone and that. Then I hopped back onto the ferry, back to Manhattan.

After this I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, it was really hot! The bridge is massive and there are so many steel cables everywhere.

Then it was Ground Zero. I must say all it looks like is a massive constuction site in the ground. There is no memorial and people arent allowed to put posters and messages up like they did after the attacks which is a bit sad. The best part was though the St Pauls Chapel. This chapel is across the road from Ground Zero, and it was a place where volunteers handed out food and supplies as well as offered support to all those involved in the relief effort. They have wonderful displays of photos, messages and things from the help that they provided. And it was really moving to read the messages from loved ones who lost people in the attacks and well as children offering their support to the rescuers.

The last stop for the day was Serendipity which is apparently a famous cafe that makes great hot chocolate. They were really busy so I didnt go in but I can say I have been there!

Well today is my last day in NYC. I am sad to leave, I wish I could have stayed longer but I am excited for uni tomorrow!!

xx