9/20/15
Today was jammed packed - we left the hotel at 9 AM and didn't get back till 9 PM :)
We started out with breakfast here at the hotel - it was actually a hot breakfast, nothing to write home about but for free it was pretty good. After breakfast we took the hotel bus to the Metro and started our 1st real day of exploration.
We began at the beginning of the Freedom trail and saw the following:
1) Boston Commons - this is a 44 acre park - America's oldest public park. There was a religious group doing a festival in the park (not Christian) so we didn't explore it too much.
2) We then walked up hill to the State house. We didn't go inside but he building is pretty from the outside and the have a monument outside depicting the 44th Regiment. It was one of the carvings that comes out of a wall and I thought it was impressive. Their was a black man there dressed in costume for you to take pictures with.
3) We then walked down and saw the outside of Park Street Church
4) Right beside Park Street church is the Granary burying grounds. The tombstones are so old you can't read most of them. They are kind of interesting though - all of them or a those we could make out have skulls engraved on them.. guess it wasn't a bad symbol in those days. There are several famous people buried here; Paul Revere, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine, Benjamin Franklin's parents and Samuel Adams family tomb is here - the Boston Massacre victims are in it. The breeze was blowing, the sun was shining and it was a great day to be outside. The little finches were all in the graveyard - enjoying the grass and munchies from the shade trees.
5) We then went to the Benjamin Franklin Statue that sits out side of a pretty building - old City Hall or something like that. It was also the former home to the first public school in America. The school is no longer there, but there is an awesome mosaic in the ground that is dedicated too it.
6) By this time we were getting hungry so we passed by the Old South Meeting house in search of food. Melinda had told us Quincy market was nearby, so we sat at the Irish Memorial and proceeded to look it up. Google said 2.5 miles -so we kept looking should have trusted Melinda. We kept hunting finally asking for help - only to find ourselves at Quincy Market where Melinda told us to go... it was like a block away. The market inside is PACKED full of people. You order your food from one of the 20 or so food vendors and then go outside and eat it. However, it was just too busy for me - about to have a panic attack from the crowd I escaped outside. There is a Cheers (not the original) restaurant there so we got some ordered our food and proceeded to rest. Right outside the restaurant there was a vendor selling a dress that you could wear 100 different ways - While we waited on the food I went to check it out. I really thought about buying one, but they wanted $130 for the ones I liked and even if they were willing to haggle I didn't think I would wear it that much - I probably wouldn't be able to figure out how to put the thing on.
So I went back to the table and our food arrived. I ate a hamburger and while I've had better it was just nice to not be on my feet.
7) After lunch we back to the Old State House and the Boston Massacre Site. The state house is where they decided many things, including to have the Boston Tea Party. The did a reenactment where a lady pretending to be the daughter of the Governor told us what her thoughts on the current time was. It was during the Stamp act period - I found her telling of it interesting and getting to sit was nice as well.
The building was simple itself, but the staircase was amazing. They also have a handmaid wedding dress from the 1700 sitting in a case which I thought was awesome. It was beautiful!
8) We then hopped on the Old Town Trolley and just rode - listened to his narrative, enjoyed seeing the city and relaxed.
9) Then we got off at the harbor and rode the 45 harbor tour that was included in our Trolley ticket. The view of Boston from the Harbor is nice and the guy narrating was entertaining and informed.
10) After the cruise we walked over to get Italian Food on Hanover Street in the North end. We were going to do Daily Catch, but realized it is a order and sit place - we really wanted table service. So we wound up a a nice restaurant named Trattoria II Panino. The staff were excellent and the food good!
11) We then walked over to Mike's Pastry and got Kanolis. Not really my thing ... Jack got a cookie and it was good. I was shocked at how crowded the place was though - It was a big open room with counters on 2 sides... no real tables to speak of other than 3 or 4 in a corner and it was standing room only!
12) By this time it's getting dark and we are heading back. We missed Paul Revere's house today so I thought we would walk by it - on our way we found 2 great souvenir shops though and just HAD to stop :) I got some t-shirts, a frame, a Christmas ornament, some postcards. I love cheap souvenirs - LOL
Paul Revere's house was impossible to see at night so we headed back to the train. On the way walking by the harbor at night (which is pretty) and the 4 faced lying clock, which is gorgeous at night.
We took the train back to the hotel shuttle (had to wait a bit for it) back to the hotel. Sat our stuff down and then proceeded to head out via car for drinks - $2.5 per coke is outrageous! Got Mama a 12 pack for $3 - got me a Dunkin and am now sitting on my bed, letting my feet rest and talking to you guys :)
All in all it was a nice day. The ambiance of Boston is energetic and relaxed all at the same time (Unless you are on a roadway in which case it's a mad house). I asked the bus driver how he drove in Boston. He said if you can mash the gas, shoot a bird and blow your horn - you can drive in Boston, lol!
And just one more thing and I'll call a close to tonight's journal - but Boston has Dunkin Doughnuts EVERYWHERE - I'm in DD heaven!
Well with that I'll close :) Good night blogland - see you tomorrow for Day 3 of Boston.
No comments:
Post a Comment