Statue of Liberty

One of the most moving experiences of the last 5 years was visiting the Statue of Liberty. As part of my original Project 30 adventure to New York City, I was not really expecting this large monument to move me so much, but it left a sincere lasting impression and incredibly fond memories. It also happens to appear on MANY of the "Must-See" lists that I'm tracking on, including the one that excites me the most, the World Heritage location list from UNESCO.

It's not just one of the 1,000 place to see in the US & Canada, but makes the bigger cut of the 1,000 places to see internationally! Only 999 more to go on each of those lists!

Here is what the National Park Service says about the Statue of Liberty National Monument -

Liberty Enlightening the World

Located on a 12 acre island, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.

Here is what I wrote in my blog entry about my visit:

First piece of advice - If you ever plan on coming to New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty, get your ferry and monument tickets ahead of time, get there at 8 o'clock and in line to pick them up and go on the very first ferry out. If you miss Ellis Island, you're still pushing noon. Between 2 security checkpoints, lines, etc, it's a big ordeal, and when I turned around to see the line behind me, I was shocked. Anyway, even though the ferry was insanely crowded, and the line to the monument still seemed long in front of me, I managed to work my way through security faster than everyone but one couple. What that meant is that for a brief moment, I was in the statue of liberty alone. When I walked in the door at the base, I wept. I walked all 156 steps to the pedestal, and came out in full tears. I called my grandmother and told her where I was, I needed to share it with someone at least a little closer to my time zone. I am very thankful I had her to call, I needed to share that desperately. It was seriously life changing.

She is beautiful. As you take the ferry there, you start to think she is so much smaller than you thought, but when you are standing under her, looking at every fold so carefully carved, you realize the undertaking. She is majestic, and amazing. I was so glad that I was there as the sun broke through the sky, gleaming her torch in the sun. As far as moments in my life go, I am certain that this was one of the most amazing. I walked to the lowest level of the pedestal, still free from any other people who seemed to be crawling like ants below. I laid on the ground and stared up at her. I am sure that anyone up at the top at this time may have thought I was nuts. I walked up and I touched the rock that held her up and thanked her for guiding us.

It was really something that still moves me to think about. I'm really very glad I got to experience this monument. Last year I called my grandmother from the top of the Eiffel Tower just to keep the tradition.


See the entire set of pictures here.

I found a new thing to life list

World Heritage locations.

I've been to 3 that I could tell from scanning.

---January 2010 - I realize, wow, I've been to 6! I'm going to knock out these posts this week.

I'm just not indie enough.

Exile in Guyville
Phair, Liz
The Indie Rock Exile

Here is another album I borrowed along the way. Another artist that I had an album from (Liz Phair), and another with more albums on my Ipod that I've never heard all the way through. One or two songs may have appeared on shuffle, but she certainly wasn't an artist that I searched out for, or found myself longing for.

After listening and reading the article about why it's supposedly so phenomenal, I realized I should probably listen to it a few more times for it's powerful lyrics. Having it on as background music while I was working didn't leave me feeling warm musically at the end of the album. She is amazing and powerful, and I can see the "Rolling Stone rockers" and how her self named album was a bit of a sell out in comparison...but it's just not me. Anyway, this one is on the Ipod, and in shuffle, and I'm not opposed to listening to it again. Glad I spent some time to hear it.

5/1000 down!

The Big Eat SF: 100 Things to Eat in SF Before You Die

Earlier this year, I embarked on attempting to count down as many on 7x7.com's The Big Eat SF! (Which even has an awesome Facebook ap to help you track and post your progress!)

I particularly love this Google Map that someone laid out, so you can just grab something when you're in a particular neighborhood.

Thankfully, I've had a buddy in Pixy for all 4 of my conquests so far! (Okay, she did her Irish Coffee at the airport, but we're even!)

#35 Salted-caramel ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery tasted JUST LIKE A STICK OF BUTTER. It was seriously delicious. I bought a shirt that says something about licking and tasting good. I figured it couldn't be too bad if they had it right there on the wall at the store in front of kids, but I've not been brave enough to wear it in public yet!

#68 Irish coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe was part of the really awesome San Francisco adventure of a lifetime that I had with KC. I'm so thankful that he took me here on our photo date adventure before we drove all over the city in the little yellow buggy!



#86 A cheese slice at Arinell Pizza was actually a damn yummy piece of pizza. I was doubtful when I took the ladies here on Valentines Day. How could a simple slice of cheese pizza be all that? But it was.

#88 Buckwheat crepe and a French cider at Ti Couz was to die for. I inhaled the mushroom crepe, and the dessert one was heavenly. This yummy alcoholic French Cider wasn't bad either!



Personally - my #1 thing to have in SF before you die is a Bloody Mary at Zeitgeist, the most awesome bar in all of the city. I try and take every person I know here at least once...which means I get to go back over and over and over and check out street art in the area! You should check it out! I don't even like bloody mary's but this one is YUM and the characters that are there from the staff to the random cross section of SF hanging out, is a people watching heaven!



Watch my progress on the "BigEatSF" tag!

Surfing Single Sensations!

In addition to full albums on the list, there are also singles...so I decided to knock a couple of those out as fast as possible...

"California Dreamin'"
The Mamas and the Papas
I love this song. It's always been great to LIVE in California.

"Good Vibrations"
The Beach Boys
*Sigh* Again, I just LOVE this song, and LOVE that I get to be a "part" of the California surfing culture. This song reminds me of road trips with my brother when we were kids. Most Beach Boys songs do.

Woohoo, we're up to 4/1000!