Photos by Maria Ngo
I'm not quite ready to brave the subway just yet, so today is all about orienting myself to Midtown Manhattan and Lower Manhattan as well as fit in a Catacombs Tour. And what better way to do this than on a Big Bus tour. Today I begin using my 3 day New York Pass.
I begin my journey at West 42nd St & Broadway which is less than a block from Madame Tussauds where I pick up my Hop On and Off Big Bus tour pass for the day.
I had booked an 11 am Catacombs tour start which gave me plenty of time to get to my destination. It was just as well that I had allowed myself that extra time because as it turned out, I had to wait nearly half an hour to get on a bus as there was quite a queue ahead of me and the bus only ran every 15 minutes or so. I had also been warned about possible traffic congestion.
We were greeted by a very friendly driver and tour guide dressed in the company's livery upon getting on the bus. I was given a pair of ear buds to use for the tour. These ear buds came in rather handy for me for other audio tours that I went on later during my time in NY.
I got off at the 6th stop which put me just 10 minutes away from my destination.
I arrived in plenty of time to pick up a pre-booked ticket for this long awaited tour. The tour is run by Tommy's New York who has an exclusivity agreement with the Basilica. They run three tours a day and I had booked into the first.
I had read that "Beneath the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral are the only catacombs in Manhattan and one of only a handful that exist in the entire United States. It is by far one of the most significant collection of tombs in the country historically." I was very excited to go on this tour. Caves hold a fascination for me and well, I now added catacombs to that list of interests.
You are free to take as many photos as you like on this tour. The tour begins with a quick audio visual history of the place which is followed by a trip to the church cemetery. The cemetery is surrounded by high walls. Why the high walls? Protestant and Catholic enmity were at an all time high in the mid 1800s as each wave of new migrants bring their challenges to the "nativists". There are no new full body burial sites here. But there is an active columbaria here.
After the cemetery, we move into the cathedral. Did you know that Alec Baldwin was married in this cathedral and that the baptism scene in the Godfather movie was filmed here?
There is an active fully functioning pipe organ from the mid 1800s in this cathedral. But it is in need of a good clean which they are trying to raise funds for. Did you know that the pipe organ is the size of a New York apartment?
And now for the part we've all been waiting for - the catacombs. Many famous people are buried here - including the Delmonicos, Countess Anna Leary, Pierre Toussaint and many others.
There is a family vault here that boasts original Thomas Edison light fixtures and tilework by Rafael Guastavino.
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The tour come too soon to an end. I had thoroughly enjoyed myself and gave it a 5 out of 5 stars. I come away with a souvenir light. Very appropriate.
After a little wander around the adjacent streets I head off to the Big Bus number 8 stop to pick up my journey.
I spend the next hour or so catching the sights of downtown Manhattan from the bus. I catch a glimpse of Alexander Hamilton's tomb and the famous Bull (although I can't see the Fearless Girl as she has been relocated to near the Stock Exchange building). I also use the opportunity to orient myself around downtown Manhattan and note the various places I would soon have to make my own way to later in the week e.g. ferry point for the Statue of Liberty and the general direction to the 9-11 Memorial.
The upper deck of the open-top bus give me clear views of the streets and the commentary from the guide was very informative. I feel that I am starting to get an idea of New York's history and development. It is rather chilly though by the time I am through with the tour. Chilled in my body but warmed in my heart for such a lovely day of getting acquainted with this city of cathedrals and skyscrapers.
Tomorrow I'll be diving into the arts and culture.
#New York #catacombs #BigBus #Manhattan #StPatrick'sCathedral #Basilica #StPatricksCathedral #Godfather #AlecBaldwin #USA #NY
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