From Memorials to Monument Park: A Day of Reflection and Rivalry in New York

Stepping into Silence

We took the subway down to the World Trade Center, emerging into a space that felt both solemn and alive with memory. The 9/11 Memorial is impossible to take in all at once – the vast pools, the names etched into bronze panels, the quiet flow of water pulling you into reflection.

Our guided tour added a layer of intimacy I wasn’t expecting. It wasn’t just names on a panel – it was stories. A father and son who were both firefighters. A husband, wife and child, all together that day. Those connections turned the memorial into something even more powerful – not abstract, but deeply personal. Inside the museum, the same thread continued. Artifacts, photos, and recordings built a timeline that was heartbreaking but necessary to walk through.

While we were waiting, a little moment of levity popped up – a squirrel scurrying through the trees. It dropped a couple of nuts near us, then launched itself across branches to the next tree. I fumbled for my camera, but of course missed the shot. Still, it was a nice reminder of life carrying on in the middle of such a reflective space.

Street Food and Subway North

By the time we left, we were ready for something lighter. Lunch was a quick street food stop – tacos loaded with brisket, pulled pork and chicken. Messy, tasty and exactly what we needed before jumping back on the subway toward Yankee Stadium.

Behind the Scenes in the Bronx

We arrived early for the 4:15 pm pregame stadium tour and joined the line outside Yankee Stadium. Once inside, the scale of the place really hit us. The tour led us through Monument Park, where legends of the game are remembered. It was surreal standing in front of plaques and numbers that had been part of baseball history for decades.

The Yankees Museum was another highlight. We snapped photos with some incredible pieces – one of the base plates, a ball from the very first home run at the new stadium. Holding history like that, even briefly, felt special.

Jerseys, Flyballs and Free Refills

As part of the night’s promotion, the first 18,000 fans through the gates received an Austin Wells football-style jersey – and we scored ours. We put them on straight away, standing out in pinstripe white along with what felt like a third of the crowd.

We eventually found our seats, which had a fantastic view of the field. Added bonus – unlimited food and soft drinks. The food might not win awards, but it filled the gap, and the free refills kept us going all night.

The game itself had its moments. At one point a flyball came sailing high over the netting straight toward us. The guy behind me made a desperate grab and missed, but the guy in front scored the rebound cleanly. A couple more came into our section, though not quite our row. The crowd’s reactions made each one feel like its own mini-drama.

The Yankees didn’t manage a win that night, but it didn’t take away from the experience. Being in the middle of it all – the chants, the claps, the energy – was more than enough.

The Crowd and the City Lights

When the final out was called, it felt like half of New York was on the move. The train back was jam-packed, with everyone piling into the middle carriages. The funny thing? If anyone had bothered to walk just fifty metres more, they would have found the front cars much less crowded. A little subway survival tip tucked away for next time.

Back in Times Square, the streets were buzzing. Friday night in the city meant neon lights, music spilling out from corners, and crowds that never seemed to thin. We wove our way through it all, tired but smiling, ending the night with the kind of mix only New York can deliver – remembrance, sport, and spectacle, all in one day.

We are so glad we have a high floor. Friday nights are busy for emergency services it sounds like. We can’t hear honking of horns from cars or anything, but we do get the sounds of the police, ambulances and fire trucks cutting their way down the street.