No, this isn't advice on how not to get mugged in New York City. Nor it isn't about restaurants to skip. It's about how not to trip down the plethora of steps leading to the top of the Statue of Liberty. Surprised you? I never said that I was normal.
There has been plenty of talk lately of reopening Lady Liberty's crown back to the public. While I would love to see it reopen to the public, I can't say that I will be taking the hike again. When they talk about "safety concerns" as the reason that it has been closed for so long, I'm assuming terrorist attack. But, when I was going up those stairs, I was more worried about falling over the side of a very small railing.
I think that a little explanation is needed here. When you climb up the 354 steps to the crown, you are actually going up a winding staircase. Even though I am better now, I've always been afraid of heights. And, this was way before my "therapy rock jumping". (That is a story for another time.) So, going up these stairs, getting higher and higher while the railing to stop you from plummetting to your death kept getting lower and lower. All I could do was focus on that railing and the nothingness on the other side.
When I reached the top of the staircase, I don't remember actually kissing the ground, but I sure wanted to. I can't remember the view. I can't remember looking across to Ellis Island even though I am told I did. All I remember were those stairs. So, when the National Park Service goes on about "safety concerns", I sure hope that included making the railing higher.
So, the next time that you do some trip planning to New York, I hope that the Stature of Liberty walk to the crown is reopen. I just won't be in line behind you.
Misty Faucheux is an avid writer and traveler. She has visited every state in the union and many countries in Europe and Canada. Misty lives in Colorado with her three cats and two dogs (just couldn't say no to the pound puppies and kitties) with her boyfriend. She is currently working as the social media manager at Viscape.com, a social networking travel and real estate Web site.
