Last stop of our east coast recap
Trip Start
Sep 23, 2010
1
348
366
Trip End
Jul 13, 2012
Where I stayed
Harvard area, free laundry
Boston, Massachusetts
Thursday, May 31, 2012
The train was a little late arriving and we got a bit held up waiting to get into the tunnel, but we had plenty of time for our bus so we sat back and relaxed. We arrived into Penn Station then headed up the street and across the road where the Bolt Bus stops. As we were early, we tried our luck and tried to get on the 11am (that didn't arrive until 11.30am) but it was full. So we waited until the 12pm (that also arrived half an hour late), got on, settled in and enjoyed the ride. Three hours later we stopped at a rest area for a comfort break then continued on arriving into Boston around 5pm. Then we loaded up, bought a 7 day pass for the MBTA transport system and caught a subway train to Harvard Square. Here we got on a bus (also covered by the pass) to the street we needed for the house we'd booked a room in. The key was left for us as arranged, we let ourselves in and found our room. As it was getting late, we headed out to a supermarket down the road for a pizza for dinner and a few other bits. It's really strange here, of the 2 shops here, not one of them sells fizzy drink like coke or 7up, so we bought a homemade pink lemonade with the rest of our groceries. We then walked back, cooked dinner and settled in for the evening, but not in front of the TV as it didn't work.
Fri 1st June.
Up at 8.30am, had breakfast then caught the bus down to the subway and got on a train to Park Street. Once there we walked through the park to the visitor information office and got a map and some other info. We then headed off on the African American historical walk but stopped at the top to go in the State Building. Inside we caught the beginning of a police awards ceremony by the Grand Stairway, so we wandered round a few of the beautifully decorated rooms. After a while we tagged on with a tour and got some history of the building. We went into a round marbled room that had huge paintings on the walls and three flags standing in the middle of the floor. From there we went to the Great Hall that had all the towns of Massachusetts flags hanging up around a piece of art that was based on the lantern of Paul Revere in the middle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere Then we went up to the Senate Reception Room and then had a look through the windows of the Senate Chamber. We couldn't go in as there was a senator talking to a big group and would be a while. So we finished our tour there and carried on our walk. Now, we thought that this walk would have signs up telling us the history, but it didn't so we didn't know what was what, so we abandoned that and concentrated on another walk that we had some info on, the Freedom Trail. We passed by several important buildings including a few churches, graveyards, houses, Bunker Hill monument and the USS Constitution nicknamed old iron sides. We climbed to the top (294 steps) of Bunker Hill monument which has some spectacular views, then with our legs like jelly we went over to the tall ship. The USS Constitution is the oldest (after Victory) commissioned "floating" warship in the world. If HMS Victory was not in dry dock, she would have that title. After a fascinating tour, we caught a ferry back to the city centre and then caught the subway train and a bus back to the house. We then cooked some dinner, showered and relaxed for the evening watching a couple of episodes of Ice Road Truckers. Around 11.30pm, Dr Roman arrived home and we sat and chatted with him until 1am, then we headed off to bed.
Sat 2nd June.
Had a nice lie-in until 9.30am this morning then met our host Farhan who was just waking up on the sofa. We made some breakfast whilst chatting to him and helped organise his linen cupboard and as he was new to it, gave some tips on what we'd experienced with Airbnb previously. As it was raining, we weren't in a hurry to do anything and decided to have a quiet day at the house. In the afternoon, we walked down to the local grocery store to get something for dinner and caught the bus back with our shopping. After some dinner, our host Farhan drove us out to the local Target superstore to buy a few bits. We were able to get a few bulk buy things but we'll have to stop off at Trader Joes to pick up a few more bits. Farhan filled his trolley with bed linen and a few other things for around the house and then we headed back via the other store. We then spent the evening watching some TV, now that we've programmed the remote and watched the film It's Complicated until 1.30am.
Sun 3rd June.
Had trouble getting up this morning but managed to around 9.30am. After breakfast we caught the bus down to the T station and got on a train into the city. We then went to the bar that was used for the outside shots of Cheers and had a look round. Then we went to Quincy Market where there is a replica of the Cheers bar. From there we traveled around on the T train to look at two of the hostels in the area and check out their book exchange. Books exchanged, we then went to Fort Point Channel where the Boston Tea Party Museum is, but unfortunately it's not open until 26th June. It was a nice building to look at though and there are two replica tall ships called the Beaver and the Eleanor (the Dartmouth is to follow) docked around the building. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party http://www.bostonteapartyship.com/boston-tours
Heading back we noticed a chair sat on floating platform in the channel, it was called the Remodeling Project. A sign said that the remodeling project is 'a performative micro-environment that investigates ideas of public versus private activities in daily life'. http://www.heidikayser.com/remodeling/ We then caught the train and bus back and made chicken stir fry for dinner, then settled in front of the TV until it was time for bed.
Mon 4th June.
Up early this morning around 7.30am and after some breakfast we walked in the rain to the bus stop and caught the bus down to the T station. When we got there we hoped to catch a red line train to South Station, but they were having some technical problems. The platform was very busy and when the next train arrived some people had crowded on but were then asked to get off along with the people already on it. Then it left with no one on it! Then when the next one arrived, half the cars were dark and the doors didn't open, including the ones in front of us so we couldn't get on that one. Finally third time lucky we got on the next one and just made it to the train going to Providence in Rhode Island.
