Thursday, Boston, MA

An absolutely gorgeous day in Boston.  Low 70's and sunshine.  It was a welcome because of the dreary weather when we left Bar Harbor last evening.  In fact, about 30 minutes out, the pea soup fog set in and you couldn't see past the balcony railings.  The ship's foghorn blew all night long every two minutes (Ronnie timed it).

 

We had bought Hop On Hop Off Trolley tickets for Boston online before we left so by 9 a.m. we were at the pickup location ready to go.  This particular company picked up at the cruise terminal which was a very handy location for us.

 



Rose Kennedy Garden-104 roses for her 104th birthday

First point of interest was the courthouse where, in a few weeks, the Boston Marathon Bomber's trial will begin. Then a ride by the Rose Kennedy Rose Garden.

Old State House

 There were 19 stops to HOHO so we stayed on until stop #5, which was located at the Old State House where the plans were laid for the Revolution and where the Declaration of Independence was read from the balcony and the Boston Massacre occurred. 






We then proceeded to Faneuil Hall (which was nothing more than a gift shop/museum), walked down Quincey Market and then followed the Freedom Trail.  Lots of walking.  We went into Paul Revere's home where he and his 16 children lived for 30 years or so.  Large by their standards, but tiny by ours.
 

 



Paul Revere's House

Followed Freedom Trail for many blocks and enjoyed the old cobblestone streets--

tiny, tiny streets.  You could just imagine John Hancock, John Adams and the rest walking along there.  I could picture Paul Revere pacing over those old wooden floors of his home the night he had to ride and yell through the streets, "The British are coming!"

 

Tiny Cobblestone streets then/portapotties now

We saw the church where Joe and Rose Kennedy were married; the Rose Garden dedicated to her at her 104th birthday (104 rose bushes); then to the Old North Church where Paul Revere hung the lanterns--one if by land; two if by sea. 

 

Old North Church-where Paul Revere hung the lanterns

Joe and Rose Kennedy's wedding church

It was very interesting and we saw lots, but it was not like I had imagined.  So commercialized now with all the big buildings overwhelming the little historical ones.  Old Boston is nothing like New Boston. 

 

We went by the Boston Bruins Complex where the Ringling Bros Circus was in town.  They were beginning to unload the animals and saw a covered cage that was

making "noises"....saw the feet and a glimpse of a tiger in the cage.  In a few minutes

the cops were around blocking the street and escorting the elephants down the street into the complex.  They looked like they had done it before...

 

We got back to our HOHO stop and had to wait through 3 buses before anyone would get off and we could get on.  Not sure they understood the Hop OFF portion of the ride.  Their butts were glued.   But we did get a bus with a good driver and we glued ourselves for the rest of the ride.  We enjoyed driving through the residential areas with the beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets.  

Residential area and brownstones

 

Brownstones

The traffic was unreal...even the HOHO driver said he'd never seen it so bad.  So we got a little detour through the South Side of Boston....more brownstones.  For a big city, it's pretty.  But so many streets criss-crossing and bumper to bumper and yet, so many people walking. 

 



MIT Campus in Cambridge

Drove up through the MIT campus in Cambridge, went by Fenway Park, Beacon Hill, (where you buy parking spaces for $80,000 to $120,000),by the  Tea Party ships, Boston Commons....saw lots...It was very enjoyable and interesting.  But the historical part was not as major as I thought it would be.  But if we'd spent 

Fenway Park

more time, perhaps, we could have been more "immersed" in the history.  We had to be back onboard by 3:30 and that made for a short day.

 



Cheers Restaurant



Fenway High School--depressing???

Beacon Hill Market with locals

We got back onboard around 2 ish and ate a burger and laid around on the deck for a while.  It was so nice; the sun felt great. 

 

Tonight is formal night again.  We have opted for the buffet and no formal.  We did the same last night and enjoyed it.  Frankly, we've had it with the dining room.  Tuesday night, we had a bad experience with one of our table mates (I won't go into too much detail, but I happened to look away about the time he threw up in his plate; Ronnie didn't look away in time).  So, we have opted for our own table for two--even if it means we have to carry our own food to the table.  Actually, so far, the food is better at the Horizon Court.  The ambiance is just as good; the dinner companionship is better than anywhere else.

 

Just not pleased with this cruise.  The passengers, the crew (although nice enough, just not up to par with others), the entertainment, and no room to walk in the common areas.  Even the casino is too small and the lines from the shows meander through it.   If this ship were in the Caribbean, lots of the passengers and activities would be out on the decks which would be a huge help.

 

Enough complaining.  We have one more day in Newport, Rhode Island.  We plan (if not raining) to do the Cliff Walk, which is a walkway along the coast where the old monied people built their summer mansions.

 

Then we'll be off the ship and in NYC for 5 days.  We got verification of our tickets to the Huckabee show at Fox Studios on Saturday.  So watch the show either on Saturday or Sunday nights.  I know he's anxious to interview us.   After the show, we walk over to Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.  Then tickets to a Broadway show (John Grisham's A Time To Kill) for that night.  That will be a long, busy day.

 

We just left the harbor--actually it's taking a long time to get out...kind of a lot of turns.  We were parked beside the NCL and the Queen Mary 2.  Pulled out and went down past them and then out....right by Logan Airport..I mean RIGHT by Logan Airport...miss the runway and they'll be in our lap out here on the balcony.  We're being escorted out by an armed Coast Guard cutter.

Logan Airport

 

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