So, Calla and I stayed at the Boston Marriott in Copley Square, which is central to most everything in Boston. A few blocks away is the public library, which is beautiful on the outside and even more stunning inside.
Ok, for those of you who don't live in San Diego, one of our FAVORITE restaurants is called La Dolce Vita. So, while this La Dolce Vita is a salon, I still felt it was picture-worthy :)
Now, you may be wondering why I have a picture of golden duck statues. There's a book by Robert McCloskey called "Make Way for Ducklings." It's about the Boston Common and Public Garden and where this family of ducklings goes. The Binders (our family friends who live in Framingham) sent me that book when I was very young so it was cool to actualy be in the places I read about. And the ducks are so cute :)
Right before I took a picture of the statues, I saw real ducklings in a row....coinscidence? I think not.
Massachusetts State House...that's real gold on the dome. Fancy shmancy.
Ok, the Freedom Trail is approximately 3 miles long and goes through most all of the historic sights in Boston. A line of red bricks (or a red painted line at times) marks the trail through the city, and markers like this one sit in front of every stop. Calla and I walked allmost the whole thing, it was great.
At the Old Granary Cemetary (the place where Paul Revere is buried), this is the grave of Mother Goose! No joke. Kids leave pennies and flowers and stuff by it. Too cute.
Also at this cemetary is the grave of John Hancock...yes, it is rather phallic. Perhaps we now know why his signature was so large? Just some food for thought.... :)
This is the plaque in front of King's Chapel. King's Chapel was the first church of England in Boston. Later, after the American Revolution, it became the first unitarian church in the US.
Inside of King's Chapel. Just beautiful.
The box pews were pretty cool. If you could afford it, you bought a pew. If you couldn't, you found another church. Harsh, but that's how it was.
One of the oldest pulpits still in use.
This may not seem like anything special, but this is what we would call the "VIP" pew. Why did I photograph it? GEORGE WASHINGTON SAT THERE. I swear, it's surreal to stand where Geroge Washington once stood.
Around the corner from King's Chapel is the site of the first public school in America founded in 1635. The teacher in me was so excited :)
On the sidewalk where the school was founded, there is a beautiful memorial. I loved the saying by Benjamin Franklin: "Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other." Also, not a bad list of alumni...Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Charles Bullfinch, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Ok, this had to be the most awesome, unexpected highlight of the day. In a courtyard near where the first school was founded, there was this seemingly random statue of a donkey. Odd, you may think. However, there was a plaque in front of the donkey with two footprints. Check out the next picture to see why this was so cool....
Personally, I side with the Donkey....but whatever :)
Benjamin Franklin looks just plain scary in this shot.
This is the Old South Meeting House. Men and women who were very influential throughout history met here to discuss issues including the slave trade and the Boston Tea Party.
This was the plaque outside of the Old State House. Most of the historic places and museums limited or prohibited photograpy inside. But, I will say, that I stood by the balcony from which the Declaration of Independence was first read in Boston. Unbelievable.
Quincy Market is a Boston landmark.
Fanueil Hall is another famous location and now consists of a swapmeet-type place to buy souveniers on the second floor and a museum down below. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to check out the museum. Oh well.
Now, to one of my favorite parts of the whole day. This is Paul Revere's house...yes, his actual house. Despite all the changes the city has gone through, his house has been preserved.
While they prohibit photography inside, you can still walk through the 4 main rooms. They have some of his original silversmith works, furniture, tools, and other artifacts. I couldn't believe that I was standing in Paul Revere's living room. I'm so glad all this history was preserved.
A statue honoring the man himself en route to the Old North Church.
The steeple of the Old North Church peeking out from behind the trees.
Yours truly (frizzy hair and all) sitting in a box pew inside the Old North Church. For those of you who don't know, this is where Paul Revere hung the lanterns to warn troops that the British were coming...one if by land, two if by sea.
It is also home to one of the oldest and most beautiful pipe organs in the US.
The monument at Bunker Hill. By this time, Calla and I were rushing to get to the U.S.S. Constitution so we skipped Bunker Hill. I later found out that the monument is actually not on Bunker Hill. Too funny.
This is the U.S.S. Constitution museum. We looked through it briefly but were most excited about boarding the ship itself.
After going through airport-like security, we boarded the ship. Unreal that it is a fully functional vessel still commanded by the US Navy.
Every 4th of July, Old Ironsides sails out into the bay, turns around (to be sure it weathers evenly on both sides), and fires its original cannons. Too cool.
Me, at the helm. I love that it's taller than I am :)
Just in case you thought we were on some other really old boat.
SO COOL!
Alright, Boston was a BLAST. The next day, I went to Cape Cod. I was greeted by the name made from plants. Cute.
John and Lauren have a townhouse on the Cape. There are several little towns and the one they stay in is called Brewster. The Brewster General Store was SO New England and adorable...selling every random item you could think of.
A very pretty windmill. Windmills and lighthouses are extremely abundant on the Cape.
The oldest original 1-room house on the Cape. That gray shingle look is typical of a "Cape" house.
The Herring Run! During the right time of the season, tons of herring will swim UPSTREAM through this waterway. Yes, they actually jump up agains the current. I bet it's fun to watch.
Naturally, there are many beaches on the Cape. However, there is a big difference between the bay beaches and the ocean beaches. This is one of the bay beaches...incredibly calm. I loved the colors.
John and Lauren's townhouse :)
The Corner Store. So cute, I love it.
Sorry, I know the picture is tilted and a bit blurry, but that's what happens when you try to take a picture from a moving car :) This is your traditional Cape house. Actually, they are often called "salt box" houses because of their shape. A more classic house includes dormers, but it was hard to find an example of those (or I saw them but didn't have my camera ready). Anyway, I wouldn't mind owning a house here. I hope I get to come back one day!
