The Boston Report: Day 5
When we last talked about my trip, I had just checked into the Marriott in Copley Place, threw open the curtains and shades, and gazed on the city lights of Boston. The only place I found to eat in my limited exploration of the area was an Au Bon Pain, though I passed several closed establishments. Before I hit the sack for the night, I bit the bullet and paid for the $9.95 per night Internet access. I had not been able to get the wireless access to work in Bedford, so I had been disconnected all week and hadn't had a chance to plan my Friday like I'd wanted. That, combined with checking e-mail and the standard instant messaging check-in, finally convinced me to do it. I made a quick schedule (just like an engineer, eh?) for the day, making sure I wrote down an approximate cost to go with each stop. It didn't take long for me to fall asleep once I finally crawled into Marriott's new Revive Bed. With a name like that, I was expecting some kind of massage or spa experience, but it was really just a comfortable mattress.
Friday morning, I implemented my super-clever breakfast plan: I'd bought some bagels and apples from a Whole Foods back in Bedford because I knew the cheapest hotel breakfast would have been $12. Turns out I could have stopped at one of the omnipresent Dunkin' Donuts around the city, as well, but this saved a little time and precious money. I highly recommend the strategy. After breakfast, I headed out to walk a few blocks to my first stop: historic Copley Square, home of the Old South Church and Boston Public Library. Walking up Boylston Street, I was immediately engrossed in snapping photos of the architecture I saw, the first of many occasions to do so during that day. After satisfying my photographic urge, I dug out my CharlieTicket and hopped on the T.
My overall impression of the T is that it is fairly reliable and well-used by residents. Compared to DC's Metro, it is certainly older and as such has a more well-worn feeling to it. Read: slightly more run-down, but it's still cleaner than New York's subway. The most interesting thing to me about the T is that each line was developed at different times and, as a result, uses different types of cars in each. From the overhead-electric-cable style of the Green Line to the electric third-rail style of the Blue (similar to the Metro), it feels like you're actually riding several different services depending on where you are in the city. I can't actually rate each line since I only rode three (Blue, Green, and Orange), but I spent the most time on the Green and had no complaints. The only real complaint I would have is there is no way to tell when the next train is coming when you're in the station - short of asking an employee, I guess - so you are riding blind in that regard. I know the Metro's schedule boards aren't the most reliable things, but now I realize that they're better than nothing.
From Copley, I headed to the Kenmore stop to tour Fenway Park. I was excited about possibly catching a Red Sox game while I was there, but unfortunately they were playing in Atlanta. Regardless, I was anxious to take a tour inside one of the most beloved ballparks left in America, and I felt the history of the place as soon as I stepped inside. Our guide was entertaining and informative, telling us the stories behind the Green Monster, the curse, the various seating arrangements, and the lone red Ted Williams seat" in the right outfield seats. This trip was a definite highlight of the day. Fenway is much smaller than you'd think, given its giant history, but you can tell that the city treats it as a treasure, and that status is well-deserved. If nothing else, I was happy to buy my Red Sox hat (the "B" matches my name, after all) and use it for cover the rest of the day.
My next T ride took me to Boston Common, full of picnicking and napping people. It was nearly lunchtime by now, so I snapped a few pictures around the Common, including the Massachusetts State House, and debated whether to join a guided Freedom Trail or just find someplace to eat. My stomach won the debate, so I wandered past several fast food places to the Zagat-rated and slightly racy Fajitas and 'Ritas. I didn't notice the "unique" artwork until I'd already sat down and ordered, but it didn't end up bothering me that much anyway. At this point it started raining, so I was happy to sit for a while and enjoy my fajitas.
During lunch, I modified my plan somewhat and headed for Charlestown to tour the USS Constitution with the intent to backtrack from there along the Freedom Trail. I wandered a little off-course, though, but I welcomed the accidental trip along Boston Harbor anyway. From the "hahbah," it wasn't long before I crossed the river and got in line for the Navy's oldest commissioned vessel. From the time I stood in line, it wasn't long before a nice shower blew in, throwing horizontal sheets of rain in our direction. I stood my ground and covered my camera case with my folded arms, getting my backside basically completely soaked. Hey, it was worth it, because five minutes later, the rain was gone and I was onboard the ship. I didn't take a whole lot of time to ask a lot of questions of the sailors, but I did try to envision life aboard the ship as an early Navy officer. If you dig this sort of thing, I recommend heading over to see the Constitution. It's free, after all!
The afternoon was stretching on, but I still had plenty of energy. I dried off my back during my walk through Boston's North End, home of Little Italy, where I also toured the Old North Church. I remember doing a report on the church and Paul Revere's ride during elementary school social studies, so it was nice to bring that loop full circle. Elementary School Bret didn't imagine ever getting to see the "one if by land, two if by see" church in person, I don't think. I also managed my way through the Copp's Hill Burying Ground before I started slowing down, so I steered my feet to Faneuil Hall and the associated Quincy Marketplace. Faneuil's shops are packed pretty tightly, but it was nice to have a historical connection to past markets. Quincy is your basic trendy outdoor mall renovated from old industrial buildings, but I still dug it. There were plenty of outdoor performers and quirky boutiques to make it interesting. These were the most tourist-y places I visited, but the shops and restaurants there were all I needed to round out my day with souvenirs, gifts, and dinner at an Irish pub. Even a couple more showers didn't affect my enjoyment; I simply ducked into a CVS, bought an umbrella, and waited out the worst of it.
After several miles of walking, my feet were pretty much telling me I was done. I didn't mind; I'd accomplished everything I'd wanted to do, and I felt pretty proud to have done so mostly under my own power. Certainly, by taking on Boston's challenge of being "America's walking city," I was able to see more side streets and local flavor than an average tourist would, and I was happy to have my camera there to capture it all. I still had one more place to go: straight to the top (of the Prudential Center), but that would have to wait until my final day in Beantown.
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