I am in total shock. Our sympathy goes out to all of you who are touched by this madness. Words just cannot express the Western World's horror at what has happened in the USA and hopefully our respective countries will pitch in to help the US to get to the bottom of this.
God bless and may tomorrow be a better day.
Liz

Likewise, we in the state of Hawaii, grieve for those who have lost their lives, loved ones or suffered at the hands of the unnamed cowards. Our aloha goes out to you and the men and women who helped to protect and rescue the victims.

My concern for spending $30 a day for parking and asking about inexpensive hotels seems so insignificant meaningless in light of today's events. This morning before the attacks I found 2 responses here on Fodors including a suggestion to look into the Marriot at the World Trade Center for reasonable rates. About 1/2 hour later it all happened. It was so eerie. My heart goes out to all of you in NY. I am so sorry for all of the pain and trauma so many of you are experiencing. Let us all hold a vision of light, love and healing. We need at this time to keep our hearts open and let our love fill the darkness. I wish for each and everyone of you the strength you need to see it through this tragedy.

Deepest sympathies USA.
Condolances from New Zealand.

Just to add our sympathies to all our friends on Fodors and all the American people. Having been with you just last October and reading through my "New York" diary literally at the moment the news broke here it all felt very personal and much too real. We are thinking of you all.

I live in New York City, and as a New Yorker, thanks to all of you --- your words of kindness give us comfort. The city is stunned and horrified.

My deepest sympathies to all of you who are deeply affected by this tragedy. It has struck not only the US but all of us citizens of the world.

Laura
Dublin, Ireland

Thank all of you who have expressed your support and sympathy for our country and outrage against acts of terrorism. It is comforting to hear.

Although this attack occurred on our soil, it is, in essence, an attack on all the free world and our way of life. My hope is that we will all be galvanized by this now, and through unified efforts, even if those efforts are just continued support for the position this country must take now, we can finally knock a hole in the armor that surrounds terrorist groups worldwide.

We all feel so utterly empty. Punched in the stomach. Just wanted you all to know we do appreciate your words. Thanks.

Thank you, thank you all for posting your messages of support. You have no idea how comforting this is to know that our friends around the world are thinking of us. Unfortunately, we have seen TV images of a number of citizens of other countries rejoicing at this horrendous tragedy and it just is so senseless and horrible to see. Thanks to you all. God bless America

Liz, thank you for taking the time to post your thoughts. It is a very difficult time here in the city.

We got out for a day and went to a state park for some beauty after all the chaos of the last two days, and to breath some clean air. When we got home, we could smell the smoke from the fire and we live uptown, 5 miles from "ground zero".

Tonight I decided to do something and am passing it on, I put a candle in our window, as a symbol that the light has not gone out in our hearts and that one small can be passed on to others to take up. We can show we are together in supporting what needs to be done to keep our families and our nation and our world safe from terrorism.

Remember this from your childhood.

"Better far to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark

Better far to light just one little candle all we need is a tiny spark

If we all say a prayer that the world will be free

What a wonderful place there for you and for me

If we all could light just one little candle what a bright world this could be"

Peace to us all in the darkest of times.

Our Thoughts, Prayers and Hopes are with you.
Deepest sympathies from the UK

Our hearts are with you all from France and Switzerland.

Deepest condolences to all families, friends of this terrible tragedy. Every little thing that used to bother me hardly does at all now. I and I know many others are trying to make the best of every moment now.
God Bless from your neighbors in Vancouver, Canada.

I have been visiting the US for the past 10 years,and always thought that I had seen the best of the American people.However on the 11/9/01 and the following dark days,I really saw the true spirit of America.We had just flown in from England the day before it happened,and will never forget the feeling of horror watching the pictures on the news & the sense of helpnessness at not being able to do anything apart from donate money.Hold your heads high my friends,you all truly have something to be proud of.All of us in the UK are with you,and you are in our thoughts.

As a Canadian, I would like to also voice my deepest sympathy to all of the people who lost their lives and countless others whose lives have been so profoundly affected by the horror of Sept. 11. In spite of the tepid & asinine response by our government, I know that I speak for the vast majority of Canadians when I say that our hearts and prayers are with our American friends.

What wonderful posts, they brought tears to my eyes. I live in Brooklyn, just a few miles away from what used to be the site of the WTC. The sadness has been overwhelming here. The day of 9/11 we heard the boom from our apartment and saw ashes rain outside our window. I used to work in a building just 2 blocks from ground zero, but moved into my home office the previous October.

I don't know if people in other parts of the US or in other countries realize how much is still going on here. Today the phone company is finishing work on our phone lines--they were down for weeks. Many offices in lower Manhattan are difficult to work in because of the poor quality of the air--the smoke and garbage decay. The workers who witnessed the tragedy having to go back there day after day are under great mental stress. Many people are going to site to take pictures, which strikes some as ghoulish.

The subway lines are not completely back to normal either, and several may not be for quite some time.

All the homes without cable tv have gone without reception for most channels, which makes it harder to feel like life is getting back to normal.

The anthrax scare has been surreal. Physically I don't feel threatened by it, but mentally it takes its toll. I guess that's why they call it terrorism.

New York is full of incredibly courageous, intelligent and talented people. This disaster has drawn the same types of people from all over the world here to help. For the people all over the world who have been victims of terrorism, I pray we can pull together to overcome.

min-I can't speak for the rest of the country, but I know in the heartland, we are suffering right along with you. This attack was not just on NYC it was on all Americans and our way of life! 9-11 has affected everyone. I hope and pray we can stay united as a country and put aside our differnces and petty squabbling. You and everyone else in NYC are in my thoughts and prayers.

Minibrooklyn, thank you so much for the update on what's happening in Manhattan. I search the news daily for some information about the workers at the site and the people who have been displaced but the news is scarce. They are all in my thoughts every day.

How are we who aren't in NY affected? Here's a little story from California. The other day I took my daughter to a children's book store to see Jules Pfeiffer, who has written another charming children's book. He had an audience of mostly 5-8 year olds and was drawing pictures for them, joking around with them, very funny and sweet man. When he asked if anyone had questions, one child asked him where he lives. He told the kids he lives in New York City, Manhattan. Another child raised his hand and asked him how he felt when those planes ran into the twin towers. Mr. Pfeiffer paused for a moment, no doubt thinking for not the first time how to answer this child's question. He said he felt very sad, felt like crying and still feels like crying every day. Here in California at that bookstore the other day, all the grown-ups felt like crying too.

NYC Ginny,

When you think twice before attending a college football game, you have to explain this tragedy to your terrified child or you rethink your vacation plans for next summer I'd say you're pretty involved. While those of you in NYC bear the brunt of the attack aftermath, you can be sure that those of us in the heartland are every bit as jittery, upset and nervous as you are. We are one country and one people right now--if one person suffers we all suffer, even though the degrees of suffering vary.

Thanks to all for the wonderful posts. Hey... if any of you are resident in New York City (or any of the surrounding borroughs of course), does it feel kind of creepy today or is it just me?

Sorry for the "skittish" question, but sometimes living here now with the way things are, you kind of feel like you are going a little koo-koo.