every angle of lady liberty...

Well, take another one of the list, because this dream came true. My bucket list is getting much shorter now, Linder and I were discussing what is left on the list and all I could think of was the easy item of getting shot...hmm...I'll wait a while before I do that one. Anyway, I have had some requests to hustle up on posting the pics from our crown tour, so instead of getting a few of choice photos, I am giving you the brunt of the blow with what I like to call, "My Trip To The Crown and Down in 44 Photos."

Let me begin by saying that I have ALWAYS wanted to go to the top of the torch, but then I discovered that the torch was closed to the public back in 1916, so I figured that the crown could be a close second. After hearing that the Crown would be opened to small groups (240 per day) of tourists, I huried and bought a ticket. Turns out my fast acting has paid off, as they will be closing the crown again in March!

Now to the moment you have all been waiting for, My Trip To The Crown and Down in 44 Photos...

Me Arriving On Liberty Island with Tickets in Hand

Linder Getting Her Special Wrist Band Reserved For Crown Goers Only!

(What a Lovely Park Ranger)

Posing at The Lady's Backside

(Protected by the Navyman)

The Original Torch in the Museum

My Special Wristband and Me, Right Before they Chop It Off

A View Up Into the Beast, Note the Structures Reinforcing the Sides

Linder on Her Way Up the 354 Stairs to the Top

Me Heading Up

(Note the low clearance, the stairway is steep and tight, similar to the Sacre Coeur)

Linder On the Last Leg

(Note the natural light from the crown windows)

Mama and Baby at the Top

A Close Up of the Torches Bottom

(Not the best time of day for this shot)

Her Burly Arm

Much Smaller Up Top Than I Expected

Nothing But Smiles Up Top

Her View of the City

Just a Few of the 25 Windows in the Crown

View #2 of the City

(Much harder to photograph up there than I thought it would be)

You Couldn't Pry That From Her Cold Rusting Fingers

One of My Favorite Shots

Many Use the Top to Express Themselves

(One guy actually climbed out and stood on top of the crown)

The Final Shot From the Inside

(We stayed for about 30 minutes then it got packed)

Inside the Nasal Cavity with Some Face on The Side

Down the Belly of the Beast...er...Lady

Up to the Torch on the Right

Descending the Tiny Staircase, Much Worse Going Down

Almost to the Monument Base

(The square in the middle is the highest non-crown goers can get)

The Belly Shot

Up Up Up

Woops, Stinky Pits

Tall as a Mountain

MY Lady Liberty

Imitation is the Greatest Form of Flattery...Except When They Imitate In Your Photo

Jumping Queen

Jumping With My Torch

The Liberty Love Birds

The Monument

Such a Clear Blue, Cold Day

So Cold We Were All Alone

The Frenchies Gave Us the Lady Liberty as a Gift in 1886

(this is my attempt at photography with an underlying message)

The Original Concept

The Free View

(If you don't go to the crown, this is what you will get...still really killer)

All Puffed Up With Nowhere Else To Go

(FYI- I hate this picture and think I look more pregnant than my lady)

Our Final Farewell

Moral of the Story- Not even 44 photos can capture the beauty, magic, and tight confines of such an amazing symbol of our Liberty, Freedom, and Happiness.