When I lived in New York, I used to take European visitors to the top of the south tower of the World Trade Center. The buildings were ugly, but the huge elevators were cool. You felt a swoosh as you went up, and the tourists always gasped, they went down so fast. You had to change elevators once or twice on your way to the top. You could go outside, but not close to the edge. To go to the edge, but indoors, you had to descend to the top floor at the glamorous bar of Windows on the World, where we sometimes had a drink. The Venetians always loved the view more than anyone, which surprised me. Their own city is so beautiful, but it is like the opposite of New York, low and old and quiet. That was the first time I
realized that the skyline of New York could be considered beautiful
in its own way. On a clear day, standing up there, it felt as if you could see a million miles around, especially in the fall, looking north at the brilliant leaves and bright blue water of the Hudson Valley across all of the skyscrapers of Manhattan. [Photo by Erik Jaeger at flickr]
2996 is a tribute by 2996 bloggers to the 2996 individual victims of September 11th. I didn't know any of them.
Mohammed Jawara, devout Muslim from Gambia, "gentle giant," "friendly and strong and happy"
Shimmy Biegeleisen, father of five. Called his wife to say goodbye and recited the 24th Psalm in Hebrew with a friend. "To know Shimmy was to love him."
Candace Williams, age 20. The company she interned for asked her university to "send us five more Candaces."
Ulf Ericson, 79, and 48 years married
Claudia Sutton left two small children 
Juliana McCourt was four years old. 
Captain Harry Thompson, 51 and never took the elevator. Ran to the building to help.
Thanks for this perspective. I once had an office on the 46th floor of 1 WTC and just can't believe the gap in the sky when looking at the Manhattan skyline. Thanks for your tribute to those who died on that terrible day.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 11 September 2006 at 18:43