Touring 9/11 Memorial environs

I arrived in New York on Wednesday, given the plans I had on Friday and the additional vacation days I had available to me. Might as well take some additional time to relax. And, boy, did I need that lazy day on Thursday, because Friday was TENSE!

The day started out with me dropping my car off at a friend's house (who I would be meeting up with in the evening) and catching a lift to the not-so-close LIRR train station, arriving in Manhattan well in advance of my scheduled Ground Zero tour and tickets to the 9/11 Museum and Skypod.

It was a quick subway ride to get downtown and quickly enter the Oculus (the structure on the left, that is in front of One World Trade Center, aka Freedom Tower, in the first photo).

As was mentioned during the tour that I eventually got into, this is a glorified, high-end shopping mall. More than that, though, it is also an indoor hub that allows people to easily get between approximately 11 different subway lines and the PATH trains. A very calming atmosphere with classical music playing, plenty of bench seating available. 

After mulling about for a little while, having a quick bite to eat, and just people-watching, I went outside (it was FRIGID) to find the tour group outside of St. Paul's Chapel (visible on the right, below). A good-sized group, with 25 in our portion, and 3 other groups of approximately the same size. Definitely a popular thing to do.

The site of what would eventually be Three World Trade Center, if I recall correctly, assuming they decide to develop it, is the "temporary" (?) site of a beer garden.

The tour guide mentioned on multiple occasions that the destruction on 9/11 was total and absolute. Almost. There is actually one remnant from underground that actually remains untouched. While it seems underwhelming, placed in the context of thorough destruction, it's rather remarkable to think this stretch of floor was not destroyed.

 

A couple of blocks away is the closest firehouse to the scene which had huge casualties that day. 

In honor of them and the rest of the 343 firefighters who died that day is this memorial:

And years later in fighting a fire in one of the 9/11-damaged buildings 

The Konigsphere - which used to be in the heart of the plaza between the Two Towers - damaged during the attack:

In addition to what everyone associates with the memorial and the museum (those people who were victims on the actual date of the attack), 

there is a portion of the memorial dedicated to those who died in the days, months, and years following because of the adverse health effects of the collapse of the buildings.

These stones (from Canada) have had steel from the remains of the Twin Towers embedded in them.

Finally, prior to going into the museum, The Survivor Tree.