Flashback to New York, December 2015. 

It was time to indulge in Mr W’s interests. A visit to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Docked on the Hudson at Pier 86, the enormous aircraft carrier that fought in World War II is now devoted to showcasing planes, helicopters and space exploration throughout history. 

As we approached the massive vessel I wondered how fast I could speed through the ‘ordeal’ without it looking too obvious. Upon entering the belly of the ship, I found myself utterly transfixed by the huge anchor chains held in place securely and walking back in time when viewing the bunk beds the men used to call home. 

There are large guns on the flight deck that took me by surprise, in a good way, I haven’t been around anything in a military sense before so it was really interesting to see that sort of thing in real life instead of on a television screen. 

From street level on 12th Avenue you only really get a feel for the height of this spectacle, it’s only when on the flight deck do you realise how very enormous it really is. The grey painted deck stretches further than the eye can see and is littered with a vast number of planes. 

Obviously Mr W was in his element as we strolled around in the winter sun, pointing out a Lockheed SR-71 with its sleek black body and a utility military helicopter called ‘Huey’. Meanwhile, I pointed randomly and said, ‘Hey wasn’t that in Forrest Gump?’ and marvelled at just how many I recognised from the big screen movies. It felt like meeting a static, metal celebrity. It was definitely a complex mix of feelings when recognising the pieces on board whilst realising what they had been used for in the past. 

There has only been one other time in my life when I have come eye to eye with a scenario that identifies war, and that was as a young child at the Imperial War Museum in London, and even then I don’t remember much now. In fact, that only part I remember is the very real feeling trench experience, which ended up being both scary and emotional. In a way, both museums brought war and everything that comes with it to the forefront of my mind in a  way no movie or television programme can ever do. On screen you see the helicopters and army vehicles as props that an actor is using as part of a scene. When it’s right in front of you, it’s a different feeling altogether. I would say there is some naivety there and that’s why I believe museums like the Intrepid are really something to consider when you visit a country different from your own. It reminded me that behind the tourism and the glitz and glam of restaurants and the theatre, New York and America as a whole has a huge history and some of it is damn uncomfortable to someone as wide-eyed and innocent in the way of the real world. 

I made sure after my Forrest Gump comment, to keep my voice down, these machines had protected lives, taken lives and the utmost respect was needed in a place like this. 

Our tickets on the day included entrance to the ‘Space’ department on board and it was absolutely surreal to be in the presence of an actual shuttle. Standing on one of the elevated walkways you find yourself almost nose to nose with this vast space vessel. How on earth does something that big reach space? And yet, its size wasn’t that different to an aeroplane. I’m not sure what I was expecting but I found myself once again utterly entranced. Exploration is what any travel minded person hopes for and here was a ship that could travel off of the planet we could only dream of travelling on ourselves. 

Once back in the belly of the Intrepid we found ourselves winding through alleys of grey steel, ducking through hatches and ascending steep stairs clinging to the handles with fear of the climbing angle presented. It wasn’t until we entered one room that we found an actual real person sitting awaiting the next wanderer. Sat upon a simple stool, he waited as we glanced around, his hand resting on a cylindrical piece of machinery with an upright handle. He must have caught my eye as it rested upon it and asked if I knew what it was. I answered quickly, forgetting myself, ‘That’s what they use to tell the engine room what to do.’ He nodded and smiled. And then I blurted out ‘I remember seeing it in Titanic’. The room echoed with his laugh. ‘Yes that is very true.’ It was the Engine Order Telegraph and he said I was correct and I felt myself glow with both embarrassment and pride. This girl was participating in the day. Talking to the man was so lovely. I find that connections which are formed so quickly and over silly little things really make my heart sing. 

When leaving this vast piece of history I found myself grinning. I had entered without any sense of excitement or interest, it was something booked purely for Mr W and yet I left feeling more connected with New York than ever before.  Connecting also to a growing appreciation for the unknown pieces of history I hadn’t taken the time to visit or take an interest before.