tvusatour2010: August 2010

29th August 2010
Is Hot Hot Hot....

But with a whole lobster for a typical $10.00 lunch who cares :)

On our first night we went to Newbury St just down from the Hotel.
A street of row houses turned into bohemian style boutiques and restaurants and those funky kind of second-hand clothing stores that make old clothes look so fantastic!
Street full of students and guys in Levis and white Tshirts draped over motor bikes talking to girls (you get the picture).

Went for a burger organic and made from local produce of course where Tracy spied 'Boston Man' dressed in Black Caps shirt. Of course after a quick spot quiz about how much he actually knew about the game, we quickly determined he was ok and he did give us some good tips for tours to take (all this much to the amusement of the owner)!
On the way home were greated by another local in the old cobbled streets a Rat! Jerry would have been very pleased :)

30th August 2010
Day 2:
We tried a similar on/off trolley tour which we did in Chicago. In the Boston heat this was a killer and I think it may have dampened our enthusiasm for History during the daylight hours!
Did have our first lobster lunch (picture shown) down at the Long Wharf while waiting for the harbour cruise.
By late afternoon it was cool enough to walk so we took in the Faneuil (rhymes with panel) Hall and Market Place, full to the brink with incredible food of all kinds, include giant strangly flavoured cookies and Bagels - who knew they filled the holes and then put cheese on top!!!!
Finished with a walk through Little Italy with its great little shops to take in some of the Freedom Trail especially the old North Church and Paul Revere's House.

31st August
Day 3:
Boston is so hot we have been reduced to spending the day in the endless Mall attached to the Hotel (oh the agony) and the subway which has no view, but is airconditioned! In the Mall I seriously weakened at Victoria's Secret (well everything does have my initials on it!) Then we took the underground (our new airconditioned favourite) to the JFK Museum. The JFK was great and well worth the visit (post photos soon) and in the cool of the early evening Harvard University. Just arrived as the class of 2014 was breaking after Orientation. Lots of probable JFKs and Jackie Os :) Walked around the grounds in the cool evening and found a great Restaurant on the corner of Bow & Grafton street. The Grafton Street Pub and Grill - Fantastic! :)

1st September 2010
Day 4:
Decided to brave the waters before the Hurricane arrived and went to Salem. If you thought Boston was Hot you are sadly mistaken. That was a witches brew. Great weatherboard houses and port with sailing ship set in the 1700's. Escaped to the cool of the witches history tour with suspect props (we are used to weta workshop). But a great overview and an interesting insight in the group hysteria and just cruel people can be.
Met a proud ex Kiwi mum at the informative information centre who happened to be at her sons orientaion at Harvard at night before (snap!).Used to teach in Hamilton, but has been married to an American for 30+ years! The people you meet!!!
Purchased american icecream in tub while racing to boat (let just say that was a mistake). Yelled at by Ferry Captain because he wanted to leave and we were stuck because guy in front of us wanted to use visa and it was broken. Put the Captain and crew straight before boarding. Lets just say nothing more was said lol ;)

Had a much needed quiet evening back at the Sheraton, but not before Vicki went slightly crazy in Barnes and N0ble (It is such a great book store!!!).

2nd September 2010
Day 5
Slow start with some much needed washing and experiencing the delights of the American laudromat and how useful quaters are. Happened to be located next to the 7/11, so that did for breakfast. Sang along to the radio with the owner while the washing dried and guess what! Located a pom doing his washing wearing and English rugby jersey (what can I say, Tracy is a force to be reckoned with! He even bandied about the right names of Richie and Dan!!! :)

Then we took our favourite hot weather toy, the subway to Boston Museum of Fine Arts to see one of my favorite sculptures which happened to be on the front lawn - bronze of Indian warrior on war horse called 'Worshipping the sun'. Got a free Hall pass to use the shop and the cafe which also meant we just had to look at the latest 1960 fashion photo exhibit etc, etc. Best museum shop I have come across so far (do take a look online!).

Then we were determined to finish with Newbury St which happened to end with Boston Common, so despite being fired and over dehydrated we also managed Beacon Hill and the rest of the History Trail (saved on tour guides by using by neat little Berlitz USA Guide).
Don't mind admitting I am obsessed with squirrals!!!

Finished at Fanuil Market just as it was getting dark and shouted ourselves a much needed oyster, beer and Boston cream pie dinner at the Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in American! It was grand :) :)