Decisions, decisions

30.12.2008

 

Providence, Rhode Island, or Fenway Park? That was the decision facing me as I went to sleep the night before. Decision made when I woke up at 10.00. Too late to go to Providence. Easy done! A few changes on the subway and I was at Fenway. Well, the bloody stadium was shut! It's renovating, that's normally ok, except for the days between Christmas and New Year! Walked around the perimeter though and was fairly astonished by how small it actually was. I really thought a baseball stadium was much bigger. Like all sport stadiums I guess, it was just plonked in the midddle of a fairly developed area now, shops, industry, schools, apartments, restaurants - all the way around. Kept walking back towards the city, was not too far away, but still a decent distance. Started to walk over the Harvard Bridge, but was almost blown over the side of it by the howling wind, so scurried back to level ground and no wind. Not before taking a quick few photos though. The view from the side of the river towards the city wasn't dissimilar in the feeling it gave me of that in Perth. It was then I was able to properly put my finger on the feeling that Boston is definitely a city similar to an Australian city. Size, pace of the people, etc etc. Kept going towards the city - Newbury Street (the shopping street, ooh nice!!), Copley Square and finally ended up back at the original Cheers. Was time for a feed so in I went. I was determined to eat in a Cheers bar, and determined to leave with a nice feeling about them, even with the knowledge of the intense tourism surrounding it. My patience (lol) and insistence was rewarded. It was fantastic. The atmosphere was great!!!!! All up it was a nice day/afternoon and a great way to end my time in Boston. A city I'll return to - but only in summer time!!!!

Witch Prickers and more...

29.12.2008

 

Salem and Harvard.

 

The hunt for a witch pricker was on. A witch pricker being a device used to prick suspected witches to see if they are one. An instrument of torture. Had no joy finding one to buy, probably for the best that I didn't find one! Day started just hunting for a bus to take me there. The instructions I had dind't work! Stupid website. Was totally speechless as the bus I first took went over the hill in the suburb of Revere. There was the beach. And my my, how lovely. If that's how the whole stretch of coast there is, no wonder the likes of the Kennedy's have the compounds that they do. Pretty impressive coast. Found a bus to take me to Salem, and was tickled pink to be there. Investigated the Salem Witch Museum. It told the story, but that's all it told. It was wow and bang and ooh and ahh, and great for kids, but severly lacking in any substance. A few other places were closed thanks to it being Monday in winter, but I'm sure they couldn't have surpassed the one that was open, seeing as it is "the best". I did however have a wonderful dmorning! A few sites around the place to check out, including the wtiches memorial, a horrible little site that was barren and eerie. It overlooked a cemetary, with little wooden benches sticking out the stone walls representing each witch. It was done to serve a purpose, to demonstrate the injustice etc, so it was ok. Also went down to the Seven Gables House, and yeah, that was for all intents and purposes the sights of Salem! It would be a nice place to spend a few days in the summer time with access to a car to see some of the surrounds as well. Took bus back towards Boston and transferred to the train halfway along to take me to the city centre to return to Harvard Square and the university itself. Now, that was definitely not a WOW moment. I was not for a moment struck by it. It was just a university. I can see that it is lovely, the buildings are lovely, and I can appreciate it's heritage. I can also picture it in summer time, and it would be nice, but I'm clearly not overwhelmed by academia, because it was JUST a university. I didn't wish to go there, or anything like that. I was also rather surprised and saddened to see that access to the library is only for those holding a Harvard ID card. Ok, fine, you don't want tourists in there, but what happens to other students or those wanting to extend their knowledge? Students perhaps can get cross institutional loans, but I don't know, it seems weird that you can't get in there without the ID card. I only hope there is the ability to make other arrangements and that information is easy to obtain for those that want to, otherwise it's seems selfish and poor spirited. Not ever having had to show ID to enter the library at universities in WA, I only assume it's standard that you don't have to. Perhaps I just think too much.

Denny, Denny Crane

28.12.2008

 

Felt heaps better again, so got up and moving and ventured off to see Boston. Started at the Downtown Crossing station, and once I emerged to the BEAUTIFUL weather and daylight - it was so warm (about 15 degrees celcius) compared to temps I'd been experiencing, it was glorious!!! It wasn't a sunny day though, so felt warmer without the opportunity for extra warm with a flash of sunlight. Over into the Boston Common for a look around - the park in the city centre, then through to the other side. Past "The Frog Pond" the lake in the middle, covered in ice skaters, enjoying the warmer day. Headed up Boylston Street, looking for office building number 500. Found it pretty quickly - the numbers surely did jump quickly. It stood out pretty well, surely knew where I was! 500 Boylston Street being the building exterior used for Boston Legal. So there was my "cheesy" tv show number one spotting done. Back towards my other "cheesy" tv show. This was a lot easier - the city knows tourists come looking for this one. I must add I wasn't the only one outside Boylston Street taking photos. There's other fans in the world!!! Was super excited when I glimpsed my first glimpse of that fantastic place where everybody knows your name. Finally the show was in context. I could picture it all, relative to the city and the suburbs and it was so cool! Went inside but this was the place used for the exterior shots only, so the inside was nothing like the show. It was however an all-American bar, which is what the show was modelled on, but has since been renamed Cheers and has a lot of crap inside for the tourist hordes and a menu to match. I kept going though along the Freedom Trail. Cracked up outside the State House - information sign pointing to entrances etc said - Hooker Entrance (this way). There's a photo in my photos, I'll put it in here if I remember. The idea of them having their own entry way to the official building was just too much. None of the other tourists around could see what was so funny though. Weird people! Lots more sites along the Freedom Trail, but really, not at all something I'd bother going to Boston for. Fanueil Hall Marketplace was buzzing on a Sunday afternoon. Wandered through, but felt like I was at Hillary's Boat Harbour or the like, not like I was in a really old market place, which it is. Found the Replica Cheers and was seated straight away. That was where service ended. I sat there for a bit waiting for a menu, but it wasn't forthcoming, so I started making eye contact with waitresses, and they just kept looking away, So eventually I spat it and took off. Ate a pub further down, and that was also an experience. I ordered a  burger, I had the taste for a burger and wasn't NOT having it. It came with pickles, coleslaw and chips. Righty-o, no worries. Til it came out. Of course, chips in this bloody country refer to potato chips from a packet, as in crisps. Hmm. Lesson learned. Continued over to Hanover Street - Little Italy - also conveniently along the Freedom Trail. Paul Revere's house, Paul Revere's mall, the Old North Church, where the lanterns were hung to signal to him. Most impressive in this area, aside from the continued charm from the rest of Boston, was the canoli. I bought it from Mike's Pastry Shop, which I was later told is easily the best pastry shop in Boston. Enjoyed the canoli very much, can see Tony Soprano's and Ray Romano's obsession with them!!!!! As I was heading back to the downtown area I asked about a movie theatre, thought it might be time to see one, as I'm told that's a must-do in the USA. Was directed to go to Cambridge/Harvard Square, so I made my way there. Lovely area, definitely nice. No luck on he theatre though, it was a three hour movie, and I wasn't in the mood for one that long!! So home, dinner, talk with the other hostellers, check out directions for trip to Salem tomorrow, then bed. Went upstairs to discover room empty and thought to try the tv in the room. It worked, so I hopped into bed and watched House til I fell asleep.

Boring day in suburban Boston

27.12.2008

 

Made enemies with the weird woman who didn't return until sometime after 5.30am. I'd woken up during the night freezing cold - fever. As you do, instinct, just grab what you see. She had heaps of blankets on her bed, so I took one. Well, when I woke at 11.30, didn't I hear about it. She went bezerk. And then, this made me laugh, she said - "what if that had been my own private blanket".... UMMMMMM< It's a pretty crappy blanket, so you know, you can have it back, but really, who brings their own blanket to a hotel/hostel anyway! lol. Didn't worry about her, said some blurry apologies and fell back asleep. I was half asleep as she was going bezerk. I'm sick woman!! Woke again at 3.00, and felt a tremendous amount better, but still unwell. Had a shower and went to find a laundromat. Once I'd done that, I was stuffed and ready for bed. Watched some tv downstairs and called home, and stayed awake until a reasonable time, then to bed, with plans to do stuff tomorrow.

The only boxing on Boxing Day...

...was the verbal sparring at the post office!!!

 

26.12.2008

 

Boston for Boxing Day - a day not recognised in this uncharitable country! Packed bag, stopped at post office to post a parcel home of stuff. Was in big trouble there - the man in front of me stepped up to the counter and was told to go to a different one owing to what he was posting, so I stepped forward. "M'am, wait behind the line until the light flashes", so I stepped back. The light flashed straight away, so I stepped forward. "M'am, you have to wait behind the line until the light flashes, because if you step forward before hand everyone will start doing so, and I won't stand for that." Hmmm, righty oh. Rules, rules, laws, laws. That's the thing I've noticed about this supposedly free country. They're law obsessed. They can't just ask you to have courtesy and turn the phone off in the theatre, there are big signs and notices in the play bill telling one that it is AGAINST THE LAW to have phones on. Was pushed for time, but made it to the bus to Boston, and was pleased to see it was pretty empty. Took a seat and settled in. Started to feel quite funny, so napped. Once we made it to Boston, I realised I had a fever and the aches and pains that go with that. Once I was at the hostel I went in hunt of some new drugs to fix my latest ills. A tasty frozen dinner and lots of frozen vegies (this hostel had only a microwave as a kitchen facility) and I hopped into bed to sleep it off. Hostel was quite nice. Not in Boston central, out in a suburb, but so quaint and perfect, just how I'd imagined suburban Boston, where the people that can't afford the Back Bay addresses live, to be.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.........................

25.12.2008

 

Christmas Day started as late as Christmas Eve finished. There was a little girl in the bed next to me who had seen that Santa had come to me as well as her, and was eager for me to wake up and open them, but alas, not to be! I eventually woke, oohed and ahhed about the presents I'd received, socks, chocolate and biscuits, and then I headed off back to sleep! Up later, raced out to find some food, then joined the group going to check out the Christmas lights and windows downtown. Christmas lunch thrown down on the subway, just the sort of Christmas one doesn't get to have every year! Lights and windows were beautiful of course, and it was a beautiful day, lovely and sunny. People were everywhere, so the atmosphere was incredibly festive. As we snaked around the city, the crowds became bigger and bigger, and our group became smaller and smaller as people became a bit lost and didn't manage to keep up. It was once we were at the Rockerfeller Centre that my time to look up and realise the group was gone came. As I walked up the street, I heard the bells toll from St Patrick's Cathedral, indicating it was time for evening mass, so I zipped over and in. Once mass was over, I slowly walked back, making it back to the hostel a good few hours later. I had planned on meeting some guys to go to a pub down town where the Boxing Day test was to be shown (due to time difference) but the tour had taken too long anyway and then once I became lost, it was just all too hard and not going to happen, but that was ok, as there was just so much going on and happening, that it was just such nice, good fun. As I walked in the hostel with a slice of vegetable lasagne from the gourmet deli up the road to heat and eat, a Christmas movie was due to start. Entered the theatre room to my my, so many people! Waiting, waiting, waiting - the movie didn't start. We were not bothered though, and soon enough the early hours were there again! Christmas day was OVER!!!!

 

 

And no, it didn't snow! It was still kind of white from the fall a few days earlier, but also grey... and melting because it was a bit warmer and nicer and sunnier!! Oh well, pretty close, and close enough!!! If it's cold enough to snow, it's far too cold for me!!!