Lily, A Dog's Life Aboard Moondance: New York, My Kind of Town

Second day in NYC started with rain showers early, but they had stopped by the time that they all decided to leave for Ellis Island. Pam & Hersh bought the tickets the day before, so they were all able to just get on the ferry. M & D said it was just incredible! So much information!!!

Can’t believe that after 1954 they let the buildings fall into ruins until President Johnson’s administration when it was designated a National Park and government and private money was used to restore it. In the 1990’s it was reopened, but the storm Sandy closed it again…

Standing first in the downstairs baggage area, then proceeding to the 2nd floor Registration Area was amazing! The building was opened in the 1890’s and processed between 3,000-4,000 immigrants each day. The most they had in one day was in 1907 when 11,000 went through. If there was no problems, immigrants got through the process in approximately 4 minutes. It started with the Doctors watching the immigrants walk up the second floor step. In the minute it took for them to climb up, the doctors decided if there was any physical problems & marked their sleeves or chest with a chalk mark to indicate if they needed further assessment. If so, they went on to the hospital buildings in another wing. The legal inspector (who had 10 years experience before he could get this post). Could ask as many as 29 questions, but generally just a few was sufficient.

Examples: What is your name? What country are you coming from? Where are you going? What do you do for a living?Their answers would be compared to that particular ship’s cruise registry. Usually that process took a total of 2 minutes. Only 1 percent were turned down entry.

It turns out the cruise lines would physically test the immigrants prior to coming onboard. Their passage was round trip, so if they weren’t excepted they would be returned onboard the line they came on…
Families changed names after they came through Ellis Island, not during unless spelling was a problem. The immigrants who traveled steerage mostly brought memorabilia and the clothes on their back…their stories were heartbreaking & inspiring!!!

When our mechanic left at 3, they all took off to see the 9/11 Memorial. They came back so impressed and humbled by the experience…even little unborn children were loss…The site is so gorgeous and well thought out…so much of it has such incredible symbolism! If mom correctly remembers, all of it has been designed as green & energy efficient as possible! They found this incredible place in the financial district that was like a Whole Food on Steroids...They bought an early take away dinner and a some extra fruit & veggies to bring back…YUMMY! Hope I get some! Ended the evening watching the fog overtake our skyline view as they enjoyed their after dinner drinks…

Everyone got up early since the mechanic was returning at 7:30 to find the loose ground wire or fitting causing the high squeal…As soon as we are fixed, we will take off with Lone Star to progress to Half Moon Bay. It’s a work in progress…It’s Pam’s Birthday today so we will have to celebrate when we get to Half Moon Bay!!! Mom has a car booked for a week, a CIA tour and The CIA American Bounty Restaurant booked for Mike’s birthday tomorrow…We will celebrate big for both Pam & Mike’s birthday then!!! Whoppee!!! As always, I’m hoping for some leftovers!!!

We may be changing tomorrow's plans a bit since we need a new water level sensor...The mechanic is checking to see if we can get the part by early tomorrow, and if we can stay here??? Stay tuned...