August 10, 2005

• So I’m back from my trip to Boston and I’m exhausted but it was so worth it.  I love how the city has so much history…more than any other US city I’ve been to previously.  And of course, I got to see my wonderful bf…we were kissing and holding hands like a new teenage couple…I guess distance does make the heart grow fonder.

  
  

  Of course the trip didn’t start out very smoothly.  Due to a series of unfortunate events, I missed my flight on Friday afternoon…let’s just say Murphy’s Law was in full effect.  So I didn’t actually arrive in Boston until Saturday morning.  I got a one day visitor’s pass for $7.50 for unlimited rides on the subway (referred to by Bostonians as the T).  We made a pit stop at the Black Rose before taking a stroll through the narrow streets of Beacon Hill to admire the elegant brick and brownstone architecture.  Then we took a ride on the pedal powered Swan Boats in the lagoon of the Public Garden.  There were lots of street performers and touristy vendors at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market which was our next stop.  We decided to have lunch here at Durgin Park which is famous for their surly waitresses but we were a little disappointed when she turned out to be fairly nice.  I had the fish cakes and the signature Boston baked beans which were pretty good.

  
  

       

  
  

  Afterwards, we joined a free hour and a half tour of the Freedom Trail conducted by the National Parks Service.  The 3 mile Freedom Trail is a line of red paint or red brick on the sidewalk that links 16 historic sights, many of them associated with the Revolution and the early days of the United States.   At the Old South Meeting House we learned how Samuel Adams gave the signal to start the Boston Tea Party.  Then we went to the Old State House where the Boston Massacre (only 5 people were killed) happened just outside.  A few blocks away was Haymarket where fresh fruits and vegetables are sold.  From there we walked through the North End, kind of like a little Italy where we stopped to see Paul Revere's House and the Old North Church where the one if by land, two if by sea lanterns were hung.  Along the way we bought a chocolate chip cannoli from Mike's Pastry, one of the famous Hanover Street cafes.

  
  

      

  
  

  The next destination was the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown.  This is the famous site where the order, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" was given.  Here we climbed up 297 steps to the top to get a great view of the city.  Afterwards we headed over to the U.S.S. Constitution, better known as Old Ironsides.  We played around inside the museum where we got to "fire" a cannon, sleep in the hammocks, and play with the sails.  Then we took the ferry from the Charleston Navy Yard to Long Wharf where we got a nice look at Boston Harbor.  Decided to grab a few beers at the Green Dragon Tavern before heading to dinner at Ye Olde Union Oyster House, America's oldest restaurant.  We ordered the Cold Seafood Sampler for appetizers (the oysters were so good!) with the broiled fresh boston scrod (a New England tradition) and the seafood medley for entrees. 

  
  

     

  
  

  I was pretty tired by this time because I didn't get much sleep on the red eye flight so we went to get drinks (Irish Coffee) at the Top of the Hub, a very trendy restaurant on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center.  I felt a little under dressed but the view at night was totally worth it.

  
  

  

  
  

  The next day we got up a little later than expected.  I wanted to stop by Fenway Park and check out the area.  Unfortunately, since it's a small stadium, tickets are pretty expensive and hard to come by.  There seemed to be a lot of cool pubs nearby though so it's definitely an area I want to check out the next time I come to Boston.  I wanted to do some window shopping so we went to Newbury Street in the Back Bay area.  Since it was hot we got some homemade ice cream at J.P. Licks.  Walked around Copley Plaza for a little bit.  Afterwards we made our way over to Boston Common, the oldest public park in America.  From there you can see the State House with the dome covered in gold leaf.  Nearby is the Granary Burying Grounds where John Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere are buried and Park Street Church.

  
  

      

  
  

  Next, we went to visit Harvard Square in Cambridge.  I love the campus...makes me wish I had applied to some of the Ivy Leagues.   Took a picture with the statue of John Harvard in Old Yard and sat on the steps of Widener Library in Harvard Yard.  For $2 you can play chess with the Chessmaster and if you win, you get your money back.   We had lunch at Penang, a Malaysian restaurant nearby.  The food here was so good!  Also made a quick stop at MIT before heading over to the Cambridgeside Galleria, a mall.  Got a refreshing strawberry smoothie before embarking on our hour long Charles River Boat Tour.  There were amazing views and so many sailboats out. 

  
  

     

  
  

  

  
  

  Overall, I had an amazing time in Boston.  The weather was really nice and warm.  This would definitely be a city I would consider living in.

  • 2:01 am
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