We had a beautiful drive from Maine to the Boston area.  We had lunch together at the 99 Restaurant.  It’s a chain of  restaurants in the East.  Good food, good service and good prices.  Afterwards we stopped at a tourist area and had ice cream and checked out the gift shop.

We all set the alarms for an early departure on a 6 hour tour of Boston.  Boston drivers have a bad reputation and we were all glad we had a tour guide/bus driver to get us around.  We saw many important landmarks. We were able to get off the bus and walk around at different stops.  We went to the Navy yard and went through the USS Constitution {Old Ironside}.  She got that name when the canon balls where bouncing off her oak sides during the war of 1812. She is still a commissioned ship.

Old Ironside

Crews Bunks/sleeping area 

We then went to Bunker Hill. Built in 1842, the quote associated with this battle is “don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” We visited Faneuil hall.  This was the meeting hall where Samuel Adams fired up the colonist to protest British taxes.  We had lunch at Quincy marketplace.  They had a hundred different small restaurants and 70 retail shops.  Anything and everything you can imagine.  Another Lobster roll for Tom.

We walked around the Italian area. 

Sheryl, Joleta, Doris and Debbie from right to left

Went into a little shop and met an old ship builder. (miniature}. Really a funny old guy.  He had made ships for many presidents, Frank Sinatra, mayor of Boston and many more famous people.  They sell for up to $25,000. 

 Old Ironside Miniature

 Miniature Carousel

We went by Beacon Hill and passed the Cheers bar.  Crossing over the Charles River to Cambridge we drove past Harvard. Stopped at Henry Wadworth Longfellow’s home.  Also George Washington’s home in 1775 and 1776.  We walked around the old state house built in1713.  Its hard to believe these are still here, this is Boston’s oldest public building, A mixture of old and new architecture.  The street lights are gas and have mantles like the Coleman camp lanterns do.

 Gas Street Lights

The Hancock building is 60 stories tall and  all glass.  It all had to be replaced when the glass started breaking at a cost of 80-90 million dollars.  It mirrors the old Trinity Church built in 1877 across the street.

 Hancock Building

That night we really got rained on.  Everyone complained that they woke up with the pounding of the rain.  We girls headed for the mall for something to do on a rainy day.  The men stayed home napped or did what ever they pleased.

We have gotten together to discuss the rest of the trip.  We have realized we don’t have enough time to see and do all we would like to.  We all want to be home before Thanksgiving.  We have crossed a few places off our list and we will be driving more miles each day.  Three of us will continue on together.  Costa, Fernandez and Rizotto will meet up with Ralph and Doris later.  They have been to NY and DC so they will by pass that.

Saturday we took a day trip to the north shore of Mass.  Driving through Manchester and stopping in Gloucester.  This is a working waterfront.  They have been catching fish here for four centuries making it the oldest seaport in the nation.  5000 fisherman have been lost at sea.  Italians and Portuguese culture built the city.  We stopped at a fish shop at the harbor.  We all enjoyed sushi, clam chowder and of course lobster rolls.  We also took fish home for another day. 

Many movies have been filmed in this area. “Grown ups” 2009, “Perfect storm” 2000, “The Proposal” 2008.

We continued to Rockport surrounded by 3 sides of the Atlantic Ocean.  This fishing village changed into an artist colony in the 1920’s.  The red fishing shed motif # 1 is said to be the most photographed scene in America.

Most Photographed scene in America

 We wondered around town.  All the old fishing sheds have been turned into one of a kind shops and galleries. They had a man waking the streets and singing in Italian.  The shops had harvest and Halloween decorations in front. This was a special little village in a spectacular setting.  Nice sounds and ocean views.  I will keep the memory of  this.