Boston, Massachusetts
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The Green Monster. Guess who wanted to go here! |
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Samuel Adams with Faneuil Hall in background. This was one of our favorite areas. |
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Statue of William Prescott located near bunker hill monument. |
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Quartz grave marker of Ralph Waldo Emerson in Sleepy Hollow cemetery in Concord (Per his request). Graves of Thoureau, Hawthorne, and Alcott also located here. |
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Head of the Charles Regatta.From Leah: "...and you got to experience a "Head" race--boats racing head of one to tail of other with winner determined by time. I rowed in several Head of the Charles races--eights, quads, doubles , and my last year as a single--mostly between 1984-1987 when I started grad school and then had no $ to keep up my membership and no time to row regularly. Thats when I started running--so much easier to jump into pair of running shoes and take off." Hope you don't mind the quote Leah |
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Near Harvard subway stop, my favorite picture. |
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Church on the grounds of Harvard. |
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Warm & sunny day at Boston Common. Not knowing that snow was awaiting our return.
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Mike, Joleen and I had a wonderful time. We were busy all the time, trying to make the most of each day. Since we did not rent a car we did alot of walking which I didn't mind. We also rode the subway each day and took a train trip to Concord. It was there that we saw the most colorful trees. This was what I had imagined in my mind what it would be like. I picked up some of the red leaves to press and bring back home.
While we were in Boston we had several special surprises. The first was on Wed when we went to the Boston Art Museum and saw the traveling Monet exhibit. It was just awesome!!! This was the only place in the US that you could view the art.
Second, we were able to watch the regatta races on the Charles River Sat pm. There were around 300 teams from all over the world and it was impressive.
The best food was in Little Italy - not far from the Freedom Trail. They made their own pasta and the tomato sauce was so, so good!!! We also had clam chowder.
There is so much history in Boston. The Freedom Trail hit all the important events and had many plaques for you to read. Mike and Joleen had their guide books too which gave more info.
On Sun we went to the aquarium near the harbor. It was huge and I know that you all would have enjoyed it too. In the center of the building was a three-story fish tank which had fish from all over the world. They even had huge turtles and a few sharks. Then around the outside of the walls were all these other small fish-tanks and an explanation about them. I especially enjoyed the fish from the coral reef. I have never seen so many colorful fish at one time.
This reminds me of the one gift that I bought myself. We had to go into this bookstore - Curious George. Now wouldn't you also??? I found the book "The Rainbow Fish and The Whale". The illustrations are so colorful that I had to have it. I am going to read it to all the grandchildren when I travel and when they come to see me. Hope the story is good. I haven't read it yet.
The hotel that we stayed in had a courtesy van and we rode it every day to the subway and to the airport. What a nice convenience!!! We had a continental breakfast every morning and two big beds in our room. We felt very comfortable.
As the airplane taxied to the Casper terminal around 1:30 A.M eastern time this morning I stared out the window thinking me eyes were tired from the travels and what I was seeing was not really snow, but it was. I remembered strolling thru Boston Common earlier this very day, in shorts nonetheless, enjoying the 70 degree weather and the giant weeping willows of the park in the middle of downtown Boston.
Boston Common marks the beginning of the freedom trail, a historic 2.5 mile trail snaking thru the city past some of Boston's most historic sites. We had begun our trek some four days earlier on this trail at Faneuil Hall, yesterday we completed the walk, covering the Common to 'The Hall' leg even though both Mom and Joleen were tired and had sore feet. Along the trail we also saw Paul Revere's House, Old North Church, where the lanterns were hung, 1 if by land, 2 if by river (not sea), Copp's Hill Burying Ground, the USS Constitution (old ironsides), and all 295 steps of the the Bunker Hill Monument.
Regressing to Saturday, is it strange that one highlight of the trip would be an eight mile run? Well it was. After a quick trip to the bathroom of Howard Johnson's across the street from the Charles River in Cambridge, a city northwest of Boston, I joined the large crowd of spectators on the path along the Charles River. Although I had read about the Head of the Charles Regatta held every October we did not know prior to arriving in Boston that it was this very weekend. No wonder we could find no accommodations in Boston over the weekend. Over 800 crews throughout the U.S. along with other countries come to compete. Crews consist of a single up to an eight person crew with also some lazy guy that rides along and shouts at the others to row while they control the rudder. Each team usually has colorful uniforms and bring their own cheering groups. The race starts at the Boston University's boathouse and continues up the Charles past Harvard, ending three miles from the start.
Back to my run, I left Mom & Joleen on the north banks about one mile from the starting line, the regatta's that is. The path along the river was very crowded but since I had eyeballed many other runners navigating the crowd I knew I would not be alone. Approaching the starting line, an announcer would call out a name about every ten seconds and they would start rowing. This stretch of the river is very wide as there is a dam a short way down. The single crew women were the first to go. Continuing down river, I crossed the bridge to the south side running upstream now towards the start line. I was able to glance at the rowers as I maneuvered the crowds. I noticed I was running a faster pace than these one-womaned powered shells, but I did not have to drag that shell with me. I found it funny that the only group who felt the need to make a roped-off spectating area along the banks was the Harvard Business School, who do they think they are? After reaching the Regatta's finish line I crossed a bridge to get back to the side where I had left Mom & Joleen. The several bridges that cross the river are prime real estate for viewing offering a birds eye perspective. Running back the air was laced with smells from the many food caterer's supplying treats to the spectators. It was fun to see the logo's of different colleges who are standouts in rowing but I had never heard too much about their football teams, if they actually had one. Returning to Mom and Joleen I thought I would ask them their opinion of my new idea, The Head of the North Platte River Regatta, to be an international event. Better start training and hope the Casper Boathouse is built!
We also had a great visit to Concord and experienced other city offerings like Little Italy, Chinatown, Beacon Hill, the aquarium, the Monet exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts during a rainy afternoon, the 'T' (subway that is), great food including a bowl of chowda, and a Lenny Kravitz concert on the steps of City Hall. But alas, Mom and Joleen must be anxious to tell about these so I will surrender the keyboard to them.
