I went for breakfast with two girls from my dorm who just happen to be from Pittsburg - Sarah and Emily. They kindly gave me some tips on things to do when I get there in a few days time. The hostel provides a good breakfast for free with your stay, which is handy.
I decided that the best way to try and see everything that the city has to offer in such a short time would be to buy a ticket for one of those sightseeing trolley tours. I guess I must look youthful when travelling as the lady automatically gave me the student discount.
I hopped on and off the bus dozens of times throughout the day and my ticket will be valid tomorrow too so I can see a couple more things before I head off to pick up the hire car. I certainly got a lot done in the day, but I'm sure that there is a lot more that I am yet to see.
I caught the bus at the new state house, designed by Charles Bulfinch, Colonial Boston's best known architect. It's gold dome was painted grey in the 2nd world war. It has been the seat of Boston government since 1798
The bus took us all around the city and even around past the Omni Parker House Hotel, the oldest working hotel. Charles Dickens stayed here and there is even a suite named after him. JFK had his stag party in the bar on the ground floor - "The Last Hoorah", We also passed the Old South Meeting House, where in 1773, Colonialists met for a debate on taxation before throwing the Boston Tea Party. It was then on to the Seaport District where they house a Boston Tea Party Museum where you can learn more about how all the tea was thrown into the bay in revolt against the British.
I got off the bus at Long Wharf for a free harbour cruise that came with my ticket. Long wharf was originally 2000ft long when constructed but Boston has been built up around it using landfill. Despite the fact that it was throwing it down, the views were still ok. Good job I brought my trusty old English mac along for the trip.
One stop on the cruise was the inner harbour which houses the USS Cassin Young and the USS constitution (the oldest in commision ship) which are free to go and have a look around. The USS Constitution was built in 1797 and is now also used for people to be sworn in when they become US citizens. It is known as "Old Ironside" as it was never defeated in any battle that it was involved in and the crew stated that cannonballs used to bounce off the sides. It is actually made of 17-20 inch thick oak. I then took a walk on the Freedom trail up to the Bunker Hill Monument - a 221ft granite obelisk which you can climb up using the 294 stairs.
Back on the cruise we finished going around the various districts of Boston...
From the view, it is clear to see why the Old North Church was used to hang the lanterns warning Paul Revere that the "regulars" were coming on April 18th, 1775. They were called the 'Regulars' s they couldn't say 'British' as everyone at that time was British. Even now it has such a good vantage point. I can say now that I have been to the place where the phrase "1 by land or 2 if by sea" was so important.
After the harbour cruise I got back on the bus for lots of hopping on and off.....here's a few of the things I saw along the way (can't do them all or I will be typing all night).....
#Old State House - Boston's oldest public building was built in 1713. Every 4th of July the declaration of independence is read aloud from the balcony on the 1st floor. In front of the building there is a cobbled circle showing where the Boston Massacre occurred.
#Granary Burying Ground - Colonial graveyard dating back to 1600 and is the final resting place of John Hancock, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and the parents of Benjamin Franklin.
#Cheers bar - "where everyone knows your name". Of course I had to take a picture at the Cheers bar. I remember watching the show growing up. I had a quick walk down the steps to have a look inside but it's totally different. However, there has been a replica put up elsewhere in the city that looks like it did on the show - but I wanted the original!
#Trinity Church - one of the most beautiful churches in New England. It is reflected in the John Hancock building so there is a nice juxtaposition between the old and new. The Hancock building was once referred to as the Plywood Palace as the first 7 floors of glass blew out during a storm.
#Boston Public Library - America's first municipal library.
#Christian Science Plaza - housing the Mary Baker Eddy library and mapparium. She came to this place to learn and was healed of her ailments so said that it was a mix of religion and science so set up this plaza.
#Engine 33 Ladder 15 station - the busiest firehouse in Boston. The engines have to be specially made so that they fit under the arches at the front of the building.
#Fenway Park - home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team and major-league baseball's oldest and most storied ballpark. It was built in 1912. It is called 'Fenway' as the area is which it's built is a "Fen" - area of low waterlogged area.
#Harvard Bridge - the bridge crossing the Charles River that leads straight down to Harvard after about a mile. What is funny that right on the corner of where the bridge touches the land, MIT was established later. MIT students are currently hanging a lot of knit/crochet along the bridge. No idea why, but it is pretty colourful.
#MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There is even a museum that you can go and have a nosey around.
#La nombre - a sculpture of a man with his arms wrapped around his knees. It is made completely out of numbers.
#Various buildings at the side of MIT - built by the same architect that did the Googenheim, the Walt Disney Concery Hall, the museum in Bilbao etc. I just liked the different shapes in the buildings.
#The Freedom Trail - free walk that is approx 2.5 miles long. It is shown by a red line or double line of cobbled brick that goes around the city to various important Colonial landmarks relating to the revolution.
Got back and had to start writing up my day as I knew that it would be really long. Talked with the girls in the dorm about their day and plans for the week.
Off to bed now as I have to check out in the morning. I will have a 4 hour drive ahead of me to go and meet up with Francesca at Camp Lokanda in Pennsylvania/New York. Can't wait to see her!
Night night all!
No comments:
Post a Comment