New York; Monday, 17 April, 2017

Before heading out to breakfast I asked reception if it was possible to arrange for a late checkout, which they agreed to, so I was able to head straight from Breakfast over to the 9/11 memorial museum. I had wanted to visit it on the Friday after the One World Observatory, but by then tickets had sold out until late in the afternoon and I didn’t fancy the long queue. This time when I checked the ticket machine there were tickets available straight away so I paid my entrance fee and headed into the museum.

The museum is located beneath the plaza and around the foundations of the twin towers. The very moving museum tells the story both of the horrific events of September 11th but also background into the reasons for the events of that day and the aftermath.

It’s not an easy museum to look around – with the video footage of the planes striking the towers and their subsequent collapse perhaps more sombre because you are at the point where it happened, and so many people died.

I spent nearly three hours looking round the museum, and would have spent more time but by then it was getting very busy and difficult to actually see any of the exhibits. Thankfully I’d seen most things by then so I headed up to the coffee shop in the top floor of the museum to grab a light lunch before heading out.

Located just opposite the museum is the stunning Oculus building which houses both a large shopping centre and the main railway stations for the World Trade Centre. The building is spectacular as is the incredible open space inside it – so I had quite a bit of a look round that – before I realised it was time I needed to start packing and making a move for the airport.

Back in the hotel I packed my bag, checked out and then headed over to the subway station to catch the train out to Jamaica Centre where I was able to change onto the automated AirTrain round to the British Airways terminal to check-in for my red eye flight back to the UK.

I had a quick journey through the terminal and had some time to spare before my flight was called. Thankfully everyone boarded quickly so we took off on time and headed towards the sunset.

The flight was marketed as the sleeper service so shortly after take-off, and with night already falling, the cabin crew did a very quick meal and drinks service before dimming the lights.