Friday 28 September 2012

BOSTON

Well if you have been following the 365 then you know we are in Boston.
It has been on our bucket list for some time to see the New England States. But that would take a month to really see it so we decided to spend 10 days in the Boston area this first time and then we will, Lord willing, come back again and see all the other beautiful states in New England.
We arrived late Thursday after an uneventful and rather pleasant flight with Air Canada. :)

 Just around the corner and up a block from our rental suite is this small tiny Italian restaurant. It has been featured on the food network. The food was fantastic but the crazy atmosphere was so much fun.... I think we chatted with every cook  and most of the customers. The owner personally sees each person to the door. Quite the experience.

 
David paying our bill - reasonable too. The place was hopping the hour before this - we ate kind of late.
This is what we saw on the walk back to our little flat. Boston harbour at night. 


Then breakfast the next morning. The plan was to walk up to the Hyatt and get something to eat and then take the ferry across. Saw this old garage on the way - It is likely over a hundred years old..... note the disk on the building behind it

Anyway we got to the Hyatt and were checking out the ferries and said we would be back after breakfast for a ride over. However the ferry driver said in his very strong Boston accent. "Why ya wanna do that! You pay 3 bucks just for a coffee at the Hyatt. Come on, I'll take you across and show you where you can get the best breakfast for under $15 bucks."
So we headed across the harbour and walked up the street to Antony's and yes it was a fantastic breakfast served within 5 minutes.... on paper plates and with plastic forks cause these older guys don't do dishes. :)
 With breakfast out of the way we headed off on a trolly tour - easiest way to get around Boston especially if it is raining. Plan A was to walk but with the rain, plan B was much better.
First stop was the USS Constitution.

 The Frigate USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world and has long been associated with the Charlestown Navy Yard (Boston). She was launched in the north end Boston shipyard in 1797 serving in the Barbery Wars and the War of 1812. Impressive ship. We were allowed inside.

 Next stop was the State Building - where right out from where I took this photo was the Boston Massacre. We learned lots of history of the times (1760's) The Boston Massacre was a street fight  March 5th 1760 between a patriot mob and a squad of British soldiers. The presence of British soldiers in the city was increasingly unwelcome. It was one of the events leading to the revolutionary war.



 The wet streets of Boston on a Friday afternoon. The drivers in Boston ARE as crazy as all the tour books we read described. Stay out of their way! The taxi drivers are down right rude we found out - but thats a whole other story. :)
 The old building downtown are amazing. I could photograph them all day. 
 And then we stopped at Cheers.... because we were thirsty and hungry and because everyone there knows your name right?





And now I had better get to sleep because tomorrow promises to be a lot of walking about Beacon Hill and the Commons.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie,

Lucky you being in Boston. I had always wanted to go to Boston and recently visited in June - I loved every moment of it. The history is fascinating. There are some amazing restaurants. We stayed in the South End which is very residential and the houses are so interesting along with the cobble stoned streets. There are several restaurants along Tremont Street which are excellent - one which I recall is Metropolis - I had the most amazing scallops there!! We walked the Freedom Trail and we did a cruise around the harbour. Enjoy your visit in Boston and be sure to visit Harvard!!
Loving your photos.

Maureen in Vancouver

Julie Cortens said...

Hi Maureen,
Didn't get to Harvard although took the trolly around MIT. There is just so much to see and only two days to see it in. Just loved the hustle and bustle of Boston - the old buildings and the new side by side. Beacon Hill today was great to walk through and enjoyed the sites and shopping at Fenuil Hall. We are staying in a little apartment in East Boston - it is an 5 minute T ride from State station and then a 5 minute walk home so very convenient. We are renting a car tomorrow and then off to Plymouth MA - so lots of ocean!