Monday September 17th Boston

Over the (free) breakfast on Monday, we poured over the maps and information for Boston. Mary and Terry actually talked to someone about what we wanted to do, where we should go, how we should get there.  I’m more of a walk-out-of- the-hotel-and-head-in-the-general-direction-and-see-what-happens-person, which has lead me into a little bit of trouble now and then.

I’m  pretty gullible. The Marys spent some time making me feel guilty because they had to walk to a restaurant to eat the night before. It was all BS of course.


At Cambridge, considering our options

We had been warned by just about every person who knew anything about Boston that driving in downtown Boston was not an option.

The Floating Bus Tour

We could have taken a train/subway or bus but finally decided we should drive to the Cambridge HOHO stop where we could park for $4.00 all day if we bought a HOHO ticket. Included with the 2 day ticket was a ‘free’ ride in the HOHO waterproof bus that toured the harbor.  HOHO.

We had yet another beautiful day for sight seeing. I love college towns and Boston was no exception. Our bus driver said there were 60 colleges in Boston. I flirted with the idea of apply to Havard rather than Dublin's Trinty College. Oh yeah, I forgot Harvard is a little picky about who they let in. Maybe I could get a job sweeping the floors or something and just soak in the atmosphere.

In addition to colleges, Boston has an interesting mix of the modern and the old; skyscrapers  tower over  old churches.  At least I think that is a church.

My New Home

Homes are outrageously expensive, like a couple of million for a house (I thought we were in a recession). Interesting little blue boxes floated in the harbor.  Our bus/boat guide told us that some opted for living in these harbor boxes; some on their boats, because living on the water is much cheaper. Maybe I could afford one of the cute little boxes while I’m sweeping floors.  Or maybe I could live in the Homeless Shelter for Veterans we passed on the bus tour.  Oh yeah, I’m not a veteran. Darn.

Free Sailboats

With the harbor is in the middle of the City, next to the airport, The water is an integral part of Boston.  If I lucky enough to be a resident Bostonian child I could learn to sail for free using one of these municipal boats. Not that I would, being naturally adverse to water and free.

Interesting Little Shops

Cute little shops were everywhere. The advantage and curse of a bus tour is you see a lot but have no idea what you saw. The cute little shops went unentered, as did Cheers, Fenway Stadium, histioric churches, Boston Common, and the 60 colleges etc. Oh well, next time.

The day was over too soon. We found a new and different route to the hotel and along the way a little place called the Border Café. I wasn’t quite ready to retire, so I walked around the hotel which was no mean feat (what does that mean anyhow) since the hotel was surrounded by woods instead of pavement and there were no sidewalks on the city streets near our hotel.    I found a door open to the indoor swimming pool that shouldn’t have been and with the aid of my room key went through to the hotel and out the opposite door of the hotel. A Bostonian Hiking Trail.

Bostonians seem to have no problem jogging on streets (if they had no sidewalks), through woods and around businesses.  Most city streets have a lane reserved for bikes, but I didn’t have one of those and if I did I would likely have been run over.  I have enough trouble staying in my lane when I’m driving a 2 ton vehicle.



Fenway Stadium, Home of the Boston Red Sox

People watching in the Parking lot I saw -   a guy mesmerized by his i-phone ( a text argument with his girlfriend ?) lingered over long, strange cars zoomed past without stopping (drug dealers, kids on a lark, prospective customers, call girls, lost?), dogs barked from cars (protecting the family fortune?), long haired hippies with hyper active kids  (what else would long haired hippies have?) transported family luggage, and business men checking in or coming 'home'.

Three guys returned with a brown bag of beer (I asked) evidently bored with the possibilities of hotel life.

Me, for at least this moment in time, I was content just being.