We arrange a tour of the Rockefeller Centre today. We’ve visited the Centre a couple of times and got lost in the labyrinth of halls and tunnels, so thought, why not understand, learn and discover more about this monolith of a building.
Our guide is very informative as we wander from building to building, the Centre takes up a few city blocks and its centre piece, the tower we’ve been up is at the geographic centre of six buildings. We wander in an out and get an insider’s perspective of the artwork. Including some very vulgar art designed as a joke the artist wanted to play on the Rockefeller family. The statue of Atlas opposite the St Paul’s cathedral on 5th also has two meanings!
To learn more about the art at the rock, visit: https://www.rockefellercenter.com/art-and-history/art/
For about two hours we wander around and finish at Atlas. From the front he’s Atlas, strong man. From behind he’s Jesus on the cross as you look through him to St Paul’s Cathedral. It’s quite haunting looking from a direction you would not ordinarily look. Sadly, my photo isn’t very good, as the Cathedral is being cleaned so all you really see is scaffold. But you do get the idea of Atlas from behind looking very Jesus like.
It’s a fascinating tour and opens up a whole new wave of knowledge for us to enjoy as we walk around.
PM
After the tour, we head downtown to the financial district and tour the 9/11 Memorial. The area is still very much a work in progress. The Freedom Tower is still under construction and the museum is being developed. The whole area resembles a construction zone, some 11 years after the terrorist attacks. As you wander around you understand the enormity of the attacks and how impactful they were, not only in this part of Manhattan, but nationally, globally! Air transport has never been the same since and security is now a very visible part of our life.
We walk around the memorial ponds, the space where the original towers were. It’s an eerie and spine chilling visit. To stand where such an event happened only a few years earlier.
After a couple of hours wandering around, we finish the day with some Pizza from Jon’s.
