Going Back to New York

Part III: My Apartment

Photos Below Story

There was no damage and no real hint that the epicenter of the worst day in US history was a mere six blocks away.

From my balcony, I could see where I stood on the day of the attack and see US troops guarding the way to the WTC ruins. On the day before the attack, I had lunch in the Marais with a friend.

Little did I know I would be just outside running for my life the following day or did I have any clue that I'd be standing out my balcony hearing the sounds of heavy construction equipment or seeing the Army guarding anything west of Broadway. Then there's the Millenium Hotel covered in an orange net to prevent debris from falling out of it.

The air seemed heavy and there was a kind of haze one usually sees on hot days. Though this was no hot day, the smoke from the attack was still in the air, as was the smell of death. It was subtle, but it was there.

On the way up Water Street, there was a sculpture, one of those useless works of public art. But somehow, it capture the spirit of New York right now better than anything else. Though the crushed metal boxes have fallen, the area around the artwork is clean and everything's normal. The damage has been confined to the fallen structures and everything else is back to normal.

Though things are not entirely back to normal in New York, they are pretty close.