Boston

Well, I had a hard time keeping up on my blogging over the holidays, so I'm blogging Boston about a month after we went, but I wanted to include it in the year, so here goes.

Boston was so amazing. There is so much history there. I do recommend that you visit in the spring, summer, or early fall, because the wind coming off the water can be brutally cold.

You can't go to Boston without seeing the SOX, right? Well, they weren't playing but we went to see Fenway Park. Rick was really happy when one of the workers let us in to see the field....we had to beg. It's such an old park. It was kinda cool for me to see it also.

You have to stop in at the bar "where everyone knows your name" and have a bite to eat.

The Declaration of Independence was first read on the balcony of this building...The Old State House, and the Boston Massacre took place just outside.

If you wanted to visit Paul Revere, this is the door you'd knock on.

And this is the house you'd look for. You may want to visit if you need a blacksmith, a dentist, or a play date with one of his 16 children. He is a very interesting man. I plan to read the book recommended to me while I was there, Paul Revere And The World He Lived In, by Esther Forbes.

Canary Burial Ground. I really have a thing for grave yards. Those of you who grew up with me can understand why. Where I grew up in Kaysville, the cemetery was the walking track...very irreverent I know. But, as a little girl I studied the headstones while my mother walked, and later I ran around it myself. I laugh every time I pass by and see the walkers. Anyhow, there are very cool head stones in this burial ground. Some of the famous people buried there are listed on the pic below on the gate. The grave yard is surrounded by buildings. While I was in the grave yard I looked in one of the picture windows that looks out on the the grave yard...inside was a daycare....little kids looking at headstones of the dead all day...wonder what warped ideas of burial grounds they'll have some day.

One of the very cool headstones. You can't read most of them they are so old. The bodies are literally buried inches in the ground. You are advised to report any bones sticking out of the ground you see, so that they might be covered....cool! I have lots of pics of the headstones...stop by and I'll show you, ha, ha.

Do I look cold...cuz, I AM!

The New England Aquarium was relaxing and entertaining. After the aquarium we ate at Legal Seafood. Apparently they've served their clam chowder at 7 presidential inaugurations. I wonder if they'll do Obama's?

Freedom Trail Walking Tour. You can do this yourself, but it's worth the $11 and a tip to have a guide for part of it. Ours was incredible. He was so knowledgeable, incredibly funny and wildly entertaining.

The USS Constitution. It was fun to learn about life at sea and the history of the ship and it's many battles.

The Massachusetts State House, otherwise known as the St. Capitol. This is one of the strangest capitol buildings I've ever been in. When you come in at first there is this hall known as Doric Hall. It's very colonial looking. Plastered walls and big architectural Columns. Then as you walk beyond the hall you start into the Nurses Hall and Memorial Hall. These halls are done in this amazing Italian marble. It's rich and breathtaking with stain glass windows, and fresco's. Then you come to the Great Hall. It used to be a garden court that they've covered and made into a banquet and reception hall. It kind of has this Old English feel with flags of the 351 cities and towns of Massachusetts hanging to muffle the echos. The building such a mishmash of styles.




My favorite room is the office of Therese Murray,President of the Massachusetts Senate. She is the first woman to lead the Massachusetts Senate. Our tour guide said that he had never shown the room in 4 years...he said she doesn't leave it open..ever.

The church of Scientology has this phenomenal church in Boston. I didn't get to go in (next time), but if you go...you should, and then call me and tell me all about it.

North Church. This is where they hung the lanterns...one if by land 2 if by sea. It's very cool inside. I took a pic of the Clark pew for my sister and Anson. The more you contribute to the church the closer to the pulpit your pew was.



South Church. I think this pic shows Boston. Little quaint buildings surrounded by big glass sky scrapers. It truly is something to see. We walked all over the place. It's called Americas walking city, and we really walked our butts off.

Commons Park. This park is beautiful, and well used. People were always all over the place walking, playing, ice skating, and eating, even late at night. Boston is beautiful late at night. One cool note about the park. It was the burial ground for the poor back in the day, so irreverence prevails once again.

One of my favorite places to eat and shop was Fennel Hall, and we were there for the lighting of the Christmas Tree.

I do believe my favorite moment in Boston is picture-less. It took place at a restaurant called Mount Vernon. It was a little place on the river a little way out of town where the locals eat...not tourists. There was live piano music, and the people greeted each other as they came in. I could hear them talk about the people in their neighborhood with their thick Boston accents. We ate 3 whole lobsters, I had popovers for the first time, and they had the best clam chowder ever. It was a magical night.