Boston, Pt. 1

After an outstanding week in New York, Prue and I boarded the Amtrak at Pennsylvania Station on Monday morning, destined for Boston. With ample leg room and free on board wifi, the 4 hours north flew by in a breeze. Mid afternoon we were at our hostel in Back Bay. Exhausted (funnily enough from sitting down on a train all day), we had a quiet night in, and got some good sleep!

Tuesday, we set off for a bunch of epic Boston sights. We started with a hop on hop off trolley, to get our bearings for the city (which despite its massive history is really quite compact and easy to get around - win). After this, we took a ferry ride around the harbour, taking in some great views of the city skyline and surrounding foreshores of the city. After a quick stop in Charlestown, we made our way back to the city area, found some great lunch at Quincy Market, and then walked back to the Boston Public Garden. After a quick [near] nap lying on the grass, it was time for a ride on the famous Swan Boats (there's a big pond in the middle of this park, and it's full of ducks and swans - magical). Family Guy fans will appreciate that my excitement paralleled that of Peter's when he foregoes beating Lois in a "no rules funny car race to Fenway Park" in lieu of having an afternoon with the ducks. In his words, and mine - "I'll always be a man who once had a wonderful afternoon!!!"

Anyway, 5-year-old targeted boating activities complete, it was time to commence the more mature Freedom Trail, which is a walking tour of 16 significant sites in Boston that all contribute to the city's defining role in the American Revolution. The buildings are all very beautiful, and the history behind them always makes me feel so awed to be in and around them. King's Chapel and its adjoining burial ground were particularly interesting - "residents" include the first lady to step off the Mayflower.

Due to exhaustion from a day of walking, combined with the hot sun, Prue and I didn't get to all of the sites, but we did see the vast majority. Towards the end of our exploring we came across the Holocaust Memorial towards the North End of the city. A very simplistic but powerful memorial, which actually moved me to tears on several occasions. One quote inscribed on one of the glass towers read:
'To remember their suffering is to recognize the danger and evil that are possible whenever one group persecutes another.'
Something I think we can all agree is a relevant assertion in any period.

The rest of the day brought with it:

• Delicious canolis from Mike's Pastry in the North End.
• Watching a major New England news story unfold as we ate dinner (police had shot a man dead about a block from our restaurant... but all that Prue and I happened to witness was the NBC Reporter dusting his cheeks with some makeup in the news van. Priorities, of course.)
• Sleep! 

Fantastic day in a great city. 

Note: Due to our proximity to Rhode Island, and the overwhelming New England accents... I've had Family Guy on my mind the whole time I've been here. Along these lines... I've been humming 'The Spirit of Massachusetts' a bit too much... but it keeps making me giggle. Prue must think I'm crazy (well, moreso than already). That's all!