In May 2001 I made a memorable two-week trip in the United States with a couple of friends. I visited Washington, Orlando, Miami and, of course, New York. This photo was taken on a May early morning, before I visited the World Trade Center. I went up to the roof and took pictures, I made a medal out of a coin, I stood at the top of the world, something thousands of tourists did every day.
The relevant part of this story, and one I’ve written about several times, happened in early September that year. I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Web2001 conference in San Francisco. It was an experience I’ll never forget, being able to meet and be with my peers of the early Web, speak the same (geek) language, and see the SF beautiful sights. On the 10th of September 2001 (yes) was my trip back to Lisbon. We stopped over at New York to change planes and, as we were approaching, I commented on the New York skyline, and that I had been there just in May.
On 9/11, having had lunch outside the office, I was driving back with the news on, at 2 pm (9 am in NY) when I heard the news that a plane had crashed into the WTC. “This can’t be”, I thought. I rushed to the office where we had a TV set and proceeded to watch the live coverage of the attacks.
I will never forget this day, having come back from the US just the day before, and having been at the top of the Twin Towers just 4 months earlier.
Every year I think of the victims of the attacks, and their families and friends. And I warmly think of the great people I met in San Francisco, at a time when all seemed possible.
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