We headed out to Weehawken today. It’s in New Jersey. We caught the bus from the Port Authority again. Aside from getting yelled at for using the wrong door and trying to get on the bus before we were told to, it was a smooth ride.
We get off on Hamilton Drive, adjacent to Hamilton Park. The views from here to Manhattan across the Hudson are stunning. You can essentially see the full length of Manhattan. Although today, despite the warm temperature and glorious sunshine, it’s very hazy. New York is currently in the grip of a drought and there are bush fires burning across the state. There’s no wind today so the sky is quite hazy.
Hamilton Park is a small park set aside to honour Alexander Hamilton. It is also located adjacent to the Weehawken duelling grounds. We walk through the park, taking in the view and the location where 220 years ago so much happened. We locate a bust of Hamilton, and two plaques.
The two plaques in the area read:
WEEHAWKEN
DUELING GROUNDS
1700g – 1840’s
Somewhere below this site, on a wooded ledge twenty feet above the Hudson River, lay the dueling grounds, Among the many known and unknown duelists who fought here were Governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828), Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilion (1755-1804), Vice-President Aaron Bur (1750-1836), and US. Navy Commodore Oliver Perry (1785-1819), All came to Weehawken to defend their honour – according to the custom of the day.
THE HAMILTON – BURR DUEL
JULY 11, 1804
The most famous duel in American history took place on this date (July 11 1804) at the dueling grounds in Weehawken, between political rivals, General Alexander Hamilton and sitting Vice President of the United States, Colonel Aaron Burr Hamilton fell, mortally wounded, and died the next day in New York City. Tragically, Hamilton’s son Philip had also met his death here in a duel in 1801.
We wander along the avenue and look at the houses. Large mansions, largely made from wood or cladding line the street. All have unimpeded views of a Manhattan. They are mostly two and three stories high with large windows.
We then locate a bus stop and head back to Manhattan.
We decide to walk from the Port Authority his terminal, across to zbroadway and then along Broadway up to 59th. These q5 blocks are largely home to dkyscrspers, they get teller the closer you get to 59th, where Centrsl Park ststts. Although 57th street seems to be where all the action is. Two massive sky scrapers, called pencil zzdkyscrspers due to their tiny footprint and dimple tell glass facade dominate the skyline. Penthouses up here ho for upwards of $150 million. In a way a ridiculous price, but if people are willing to pay!
We stop for lunch at Columbus Circle. We enjoy noodles and noa buns at Momomfuku Noodle house.
After lunch we wander through the lower part of Central Park. We are offered horse carriage rides, paddy cabs rides, personal tours and group tours. We avoid this and enter the park. We work our way around to the turtle pond before exiting on the far side of the Park to catch a bus home.
We grab a hot chocolate and dome water before heading home.
At night we meet with Primal Video – we are members send they’re an agency helping people on their a YouTube journey.
We then have some dinner in and relax.
