Spring Break in Boston: Day Four Part I

My last day in Boston! I split this post into two because I wandered around a lot and took a lot of photos of the following:
Old State House & Site of the Boston Massacre in 1770
Sam LaGrassa's for lunch
Boston Common
Newbury Street (some more)
the Thinking Cup
Public Gardens
Trek to Paul Revere's House
Faneuil Hall and downtown
Granary Burying Ground
Bar Lola with Emma and Allie
Pho with Erica in Chinatown

My last day was a pretty great one. The rain passed and it was sunny and bright. Erica had work all day, so I went into town myself and met up with Emma after poking around the Old State House and the site of the 1770 Boston Massacre (I got to wander fo' free in the museum with my military ID!).

Emma and I then headed toward Sam LaGrassa's to get lunch, and on the way we came upon another Irish famine memorial, which, as you can see, Emma is all about.

And then, lunch. Erica, her roommate, and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives recommended Sam La Grassa's. I got the chipotle pastrami, something I would probably not ever choose on my own, but it came highly recommended. And it was wonderful, of course. Emma and I ate at Boston Commons in the sunshine.

We sat by the fountain, with a view of the State Building and chains of children on parade.

I got real close to a sleeping homeless man to take this photo. 

There are just monuments and statues all over the place.This one has the Declaration of Independence.

Since the sandwich was so huge and Emma had class to go to, I walked to Newbury Street to surprise Erica with the second half of my sandwich. Apparently when I came in she was explaining to a homeless lady why she couldn't "donate" two dozen cupcakes to her.

I then walked back through the park (see the blog tomorrow) and stopped in at another recommended stop, the Thinking Cup, for a chai and some postcard writing time. I didn't stay long, because it was busy and I wanted to be out and about, but it seemed to be a fun, happening place (I also discovered another one in the North End).

Look for Part II tomorrow! I made it home safe and sound; I'll miss being in Boston, but it doesn't get much better than being home with Kyle and the cats. 

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Going Home

Bye, Boston! It's been swell. I'm headed home to my husband and kitties; stay tuned for a recap of day four!

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Spring Break in Boston: Day Three

Constitution Beach
Marimekko
Cambridge- Harvard Square and Campus, J. P. Licks
Max & Dylans
Hockey at Tracy's

Day three started with a late morning brunch made by Erica, and a stroll at the beach by her house, right across from the airport. We watched a couple planes take off and land. It was a grey day, and luckily didn't rain until later when we were headed into a bar. :)

seagulls all took off when the plane was revving up. or I got too close...

We planned to meet Emma at 2:30 to head to Cambridge, so we killed some time on Newbury Street again, stopping in the Marimekko Shop (a Finnish design company) and Madewell. Marimekko is expensive, but so colorful and fun (which was a welcome change from the dreary scene outdoors). I particularly love all their dishes and pillows; so cute. I bought a little pouch in a classic print, since my Marimekko makeup bag I got from one of my host families was stolen in San Antonio.

We then met up with Emma and went across the river to Harvard. So, Harvard was just OK. I like the brick, but everything looks the same and it was a dreary day, so that didn't help. Oh well, we got ice cream at J.P. Licks and strolled around Harvard Square, with Emma as a tour guide.

oh, and there's the Irish potato famine monument (apparently more than one in Boston), which is pretty horribly depressing. and ironic as it says, "never again should a people starve in a world of plenty," because that's happening to some 50 million folks right here in America, but yes, never again. 

So then we went back into town to one of Emma's favorite bars, Max & Dylans. I had a blackberry mojito and we shared some snacks (goat cheese is happening a lot on this trip).

Erica and I then made our way out far on the green D line to the town of Newton (famous for John Krasinski and BJ Novak) where Allie picked us up to drive to Waltham, where Tracy lives (sooo far away from Btown). She made dinner, we watched the Pens manage to do what they don't do and come back in the 3rd period to score three times and beat the Bruins, and met Tracy's new adopted pup, Callie, a surprisingly adorable pug.

- From the desk of Mrs. M