Education and Sport - all in one day

A day of two halves - still trying to do as much as we can in the short time we have left in Boston - so that was our intention as we set off to Harvard University on a fine Tuesday morning. So lucky though that the metro goes straight there, no changing for us this morning.  Boston metro is very good and clear, air conditioned as well which is very refreshing as the stations are not.  With our Charlie ticket in hand off we went.  Excellent value for a week as well at $21.25 for as many hop on hop off journeys that you want.  See am full of information here😁

Harvard is over the other side of the Charles River about 40 mins away, so we sat back and watched life on the metro.  Nothing really exciting to see apart from a Chinese lady eating something that I have no idea what it was, looked green and stringy of vegetable matter but as for what it was.......

Arriving in Harvard the plan was to have breakfast in a local tavern, however seeing as we were an hour early, we had to resort to the local I Hop for breakfast.

Fully replenished we went off in search of the Harvard Tour, another benefit of our "Go Boston" card, think normal price is about $12.  Good wander around of the main buildings given by a  current student of Harvard.  We were able to identify the main buildings, some history of the University as well as insider information about the education system and life at Harvard.  We started the tour in Harvard Yard where most of the blocks were accommodation for undergrads and the statute of John Harvard, who is not who it claims to be as there was no evidence of what he looked like and the fact that he died before he could actually found the Uni.  He did give the money and the land but was dead before he did anything else at the age of 31 and had no descendants either!

The Statue of John Harvard but is he who he
claims to be?

 

                      Apparently it is lucky to rub your hand on his foot and as you can see the feet have been rubbed back to a gold colour......



As ever the American flag flies proudly over the buildings here.










The cost of tuition for 4  years
here at Harvard is about $80,000.

Add caption

Over looking Harvard Yard.

We then went over to the Library which goes underground with a further five floors as one of the stipulations for the building when it was built was that the outside of the building should never be changed.

These feet are made for walking.....

And that is what they are going to do...... all 19,459 steps or translated into 12.95km.  We certainly aim to see what we can of the city of Boston in a variety of different forms of transportation.........................we managed on foot, using the T (the underground system here in Boston), the Duck tour both on land and water and the trolley bus all in one day.  Have to admit the old feet are rebelling a bit this morning as I sit on the sofa and write - slightly tender but once on the move again they will be fine I am sure.  Sarah, I might add is still slumbering  zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

As you might have guessed yesterday was a mammoth day of sightseeing.  We left our apartment (must remember photos today of the apartment) at about 7.45 not to return again until after 8 in the evening.  Yes it is just a base but lovely to come back to and very spacious for the two of us and means that we can just have a bit of time to relax spread out on a sofa at the end of the day.  It also has two bedrooms and two bathrooms so no waiting for each other to shower as we get ready in the mornings.  I digress.

 I found some photos of the apartment so thought I would share before my mind wanders off again to another subject as I tend to do when I start writing.

This is my first ever booking of an apartment or any accommodation using Airbnb and I have to admit to being a little apprehensive.  Well you never know what the area is really like, how far out of the city it is or is it really going to be like what it is in the photos of the advert.  I chose a superhost apartment which had numerous reviews which were very good apart from one recently. I think it may have been a disgruntled visitor.

I have no complaints.  I love the space here
and the apartment is clean and meets all our needs.  It is in a good neighbourhood and not too far from the T station about a 8 minute walk which even at the end of the day is fine.  So all is good and we would book through Airbnb again I am sure.  I know Daniel has used them previously for his various trips around the world.

See I told you I digress...........


Well as I was saying, our mammoth day started with a ride up to Boston Harbour.  Another beautiful day of sunshine and a walk taking in the sights.

 We were heading off to the Aquarium this morning but booked our Duck Tour before heading in.  I didn't take any photos of the outside of the Aquarium as it wasn't the prettiest of buildings at all - thankfully we were looking at what was inside and not outside.  Loved the feel of the Harbour area though, a place of hustle and bustle especially early in the morning and the weather could not have been more perfect today. 


We enjoyed the Aquarium, it is not as big as some now but it was worth a visit with our "Go Boston card".  Normal entry cost for an adult is $27.95 - trying to work out how worth it was our ticket but love it for the convenience of missing the queues at the ticketing office.
I think the favourite of the exhibits had to be the turtle.

  Have to stop there off on our travels.

A morning ponder

Lying in bed this morning, even before the sun had risen its head, I was just thinking of our holiday and the memories that we are making  Made me think about what memories are.  For me most of my memories are good, yes I have some sad ones but even looking back over them, it has made me the person that I am today and even if tinged with sadness, I can find the good in them too. 

I am very grateful that I can afford to come away on holiday with Sarah for a multitude of reasons - financially we can do it, time wise we can afford to be away but the greatest of these is the fact that my 22 year old daughter is happy to come away with her mum.  I love the fact that we are making memories together, not of the places we are visiting, there is that of course, but of the time we are spending together.   Times that I will cherish and look back on.  Memories can be of simple things - this morning eating cheesecake for breakfast - it was soooo good but not something you would really think of doing at home!  Sorry no foodie picture here, it is long gone.

I love the time I am with her, I love the relationship we have.  I may take loads of photos to fulfil another hobby or two but it is the time we spend together sharing our thoughts and words is the most precious of all.  

So shoes on feet, sun cream on body and purse in hand off we go for another day of memory making and in a couple of weeks the memories will be made with the other members of the family.

A walk in the park and the Freedom Trail

Walked 11.07 km today, according to the app on my phone a total of 15.541 steps.

Anyone who knows me knows I love taking photographs of plants and wildlife, love spending time in open spaces and just enjoying what the world has to offer.  So it seemed quite fitting that our first morning in Boston was spent at Boston Common, the start of the Freedom Trail.  It was a beautiful Sunday morning, the sun was shining and the squirrels were out to trip me up.  They had no fear and stood there hardly moving as I walked past.  Loved to see the numerous dogs out for a walk with their owners and even one cat on a lead - nearly came a cropper when his owner, a little girl, let go of his lead and off he went scampering. I wish I could have taken a photo of him.  Felix, our little cat at home, would never let you put a lead on him, never mind taking him for a walk in the park with all those dogs walking past.

Swan tours of the lake

George Washington memorial

Mrs Mallard and her ducklings.

Now we started walking the "Freedom Trail"with the Massachusetts State House with its dome of 23 carat gold gleaming in the summer sun.  I loved how there was a clearly defined red route of bricks to follow to find your way along the trail.  The State House was closed but looked very impressive.  Next stop was the graveyard where a number of famous characters from Boston history are buried.  We came across Paul Revere, who rode across to Lexington to warn of the advancing British troops and their plans to arrest Samuel Adams.  The only problem with doing this on a Sunday was that many of the churches on the trail were in use with their own congregations.

Another stop we made on our tour was the museum at the Old State House which gave a detailed review of the history and expansion of Boston.  Really enjoyed looking around there and seeing all the various treasures of the past.

Old State House

I know that many Irishmen and women fled to the USA as a result of the potato famine and it was interesting to see the commemorative statues remembering this event in history.

A reminder I suppose of my own Irish roots, although my own Irish family were very much rooted in the Emerald Isle.

The heat finally got to us as we advanced into the Italian sector of Boston and the queue at Paul Revere's house was just too much, so much so that we called it a day and went off in search of something to eat.  We decided that a slice of cheesecake was needed and we might as well enjoy a meal at the "Cheesecake factory".  You will pleased to know that after eating our meal we thought the best plan would be to bring the cheesecake home to enjoy later............ pictures will be available before consumption.....

Wide Awake at unearthly hours

Funny how when lying awake you hear every creak and turn made especially if the bed is somewhere strange.  Well that was me last night as we arrived late evening in our apartment in Boston. I don't know how well I slept really, I am sure I will find out later today as the tiredness gets to me but for now I am awake but not quite raring to go.....

This re blogging is all thanks to Fiona, who encouraged me to have another go.  So here you are Fiona, especially for you, I will recount my travels and hopefully continue my ramblings on the other side of the pond on my return. 

Sarah and I are lucky enough to be on our adventure - a 29 day holiday visiting Boston, New York and then Orlando.  Sarah said yesterday that Orlando feels like "home from home" as we have visited it quite frequently and we both love it.  Yesterday however we flew from Heathrow to Logan International and thanks to Martin's frequent flyer trips we were able to travel first class, a lovely experience.  We arrived at Heathrow for our flight at 6.30pm around about 3.00ish.  Check in and security was so easy, taking about 15 minutes in all, if that.  We then walked over to the Concorde Room and relaxed in the lounge area enjoying a sparkling water!  No point in starting on the hard stuff just yet!


Now, anyone who knows Sarah, will know she loves to research holiday information and also she loves her food.  Well, here she was in her element.  We had chosen to have some lunch, albeit a late lunch in the Concorde room restaurant before our flight.  So after a little bit of lounging in the lounge we headed off to eat....some great choices.

I chose the soup of the day, followed by the roast chicken and then the ice cream and wild berry trifle whilst Sarah chose the ham hock terrine, the salmon and the healthier option of fruit salad, along with a side dish of chocolate ice cream.  Well have to say it was a lovely meal and a great start to the eating side of  our holiday.

Well it was soon time to leave the Concorde Room, do a little shopping en route to our gate at C57.  We always seem to have so little time and hurry off to the gate to find we are sitting there just waiting.  However we weren't there for that long really before we were boarding the aeroplane and taking out seats.  Settling in with a glass of champers is always a good place to start on our holiday.  We had a bit of a wait as the call went out for any crew member with nursing experience - we thought oh no this isn't good however we later found out that one of the baggage handlers loading the place had injured himself, so he was sent off for medical treatment and a new crew were brought to finish the job.  We were delayed for a little while but not too long before we were off into the air.  

I will continue with the rest of our adventures when I return either from the shower and getting ready or even when we get back to the apartment this evening as not sure what and when Sarah has in mind to be leaving.....

Wow, is it really two years since I last posted?  Would you believe it, we are off on our travels again today.  Sarah and I fly out to Boston later this evening where we will be staying for 4 days and then back to New York for another 3 days and finally back to the happy place known as "Disneyworld".  So looking forward to some time away with Sarah, would have liked if Daniel could have come to as he enjoys city breaks but he had other commitments.  Have spent the morning just chillaxing, doing those last bits that needed sorting and packing the last few pieces.  Taxi will be here to collect us as we are travelling to Heathrow rather than Gatwick and it seems crazy for Martin or Daniel to travel up there to take us and then come all the way back.  Looking forward to settling into the lounge and having a bit of time to relax with a book or magazine and having a late lunch before our flight.  We arrive in Boston about 9.30 (local time) so we should be ready to hit the hay once we get to our apartment home for the next four days.  No doubt will be able to post some pictures of food and sights along the way. 

Felix will be left in the care of Martin and Daniel.  He knows something is up as he has been sniffing around the suitcases this week.  He will be looked after though and I am sure he will make friends with them whilst they are here.