Our Boston Trip--October 13-16

I am just now getting the 'gumption' to post our Boston pictures. I've had the pictures picked out for a month now, but I've just been too lazy to get them all uploaded. If I would pick out fewer than 39--yes, 39--pictures, that might make it a little easier! In my defense, though, I had to choose all 39 of these because I know I'll never get around to making a scrapbook of our trip. THIS is my scrapbook. (That counts, right?!) :0)

Brad had a Chief Resident Leadership Development Seminar/AAFP Scientific Assembly in Boston, MA, and Emily and I decided to tag along. We would never have been brave enough to plan this as our family vacation, but I'm so glad his conferences were there, because it turned out to be a great vacation spot! Boston was such a neat city with so much history. Emily and I spent our mornings riding the escalator while Brad was in meetings, and then we were able to explore the city in the afternoons.

Emily's first plane ride: from Memphis, TN to Atlanta, GA, then on to Boston, MA--
She was definitely nervous during that first take-off and got a little shaky as the plane climbed, but she never cried, and she fell asleep pretty soon after take-off (with every flight there and back).

Once in Boston, we checked in at the conference and walked around the Seaport area where we were staying. We quickly realized that Boston was actually COLD in October, and I regretted not packing those coats for Brad and me!! We came back to the hotel pretty early and tried to warm up in our pj's.


The next day, we ventured out on the subway. An attendant in the station helped us purchase a Charlie Card (or 'Cha-lee Cod' in Bostonian), and we were off! We learned our way from the Silver Line to the Red Line, and then on to the Orange, Green, or Purple Lines. Whew!

Across from Macy's, somewhere in the vicinity of the Boston Commons-- It was on this corner that we purchased our very first cup of authentic Boston Chowder. :) It was delicious!


We took the Freedom Trail tour to hear some history on the city. It was definitely a neat experience, and I would recommend it to anyone visiting Boston for the first time. Here we are with James Otis, a patriot of the Revolution, and our tour guide for the afternoon. :)



The State House--
The roof is covered in gold leaf, and those center doors on the bottom level are not opened except for the current President, important Officials of State, and others unlike us. :)
Everyone else enters through the doors on the left, behind the statue. The governor of MA is allowed to use the doors only once, his last day in office. And he isn't allowed to go in the doors but exits through them as he is 'kicked' out of office.


Paul Revere's tomb in Granary Burying Ground--
The coins and stones are placed on grave markers as a way of leaving your respects.


Grave marker of Mary Goose, thought to be the Mother Goose we all know--


It was at this point in the tour that Emily lost interest and decided to take a little nap-- :)


Beautiful mix of old and new throughout Boston--


Old South Meeting House--
It was here that the call was made for the tea to be dumped into the Boston Harbour!

Old State House--
The Declaration of Independence was first read from this balcony to the citizens of Boston in 1776. It is still read from this balcony every year on July 4th. Just outside the building, (where we were standing when the picture was taken) is the sight of the Boston Massacre. Did you know that only five men were killed? Turns out, it wasn't really much of a massacre like we were taught growing up.


Sitting outside Faneuil Hall Marketplace eating our clam chowder.....and some coffee and a muffin from Dunkin Donuts--





Back by our hotel in the Seaport District--


Eating at Anthony's on Pier 4--
This restaurnt opened in the early 60's and is a famous place we wanted to try. It wasn't the best place we ate, but the experience was really neat. As you walk in the doors, the walls are covered with photos of famous people who have eaten there..... heads of government, U.S. presidents, religious leaders, artists and writers, and lots of familiar Hollywood faces. It was way too nice of a place for us to take pictures (or bring a 1 year old), but we did it anyway. :)




Back at the hotel, Emily showed off her new Halloween pajamas--


Leaving for an afternoon of sight-seeing--




After wandering through the Boston Public Garden in the Beacon Hill area, we finally found Cheers, originally the Bull & Finch Pub. While they didn't call out our name when we came through the door, they did yell at us to close the door so the cold air wouldn't get in! It wasn't exactly like the show, huh?! :) I had Carla's Petite Burger, but Brad wasn't sure he could handle the Giant Norm Burger.





Back to the station and heading out to Harvard--


The courtyard area at Harvard University was full of these colorful chairs. Emily loved sitting in them and did lots of serious thinking there. :) Notice the archaelogical dig going on in the background.


We posed with this statue of John Harvard while we were there. Everyone else was reaching up to touch his shoe, so we did it too. We're not sure why they did it, but we decided we better do it while we were there in Boston! :) His shoe was bronzed from all the extra shining it received during tourist photos.



Emily was most excited about the bikes at Harvard!



We were FREEZING by this point, so we headed back to the station to warm up with some more Dunkin Donuts coffee and head closer to the hotel before dinner.




The guy at Dunkin Donuts gave Emily some free chocolate donut holes. She was super excited!


Later that night we headed back out on the subway to find Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for dinner. Once again, we probably should not have gone there with Emily, but it was our first time to eat at a Ruth's Chris, so we'll pretend we didn't know any better! :) The restaurant is in the lower level of the Old City Hall, so we did one little sightseeing stop at the donkey (below). The donkey came to represent the Democratic Party here, so we had to get a look. Just in front of the donkey is a set of footprints with the inscription "Stand in Opposition" and a picture of the Republican elephant on each print.



We headed back home after dinner and discovered that Emily, as tired as she was, had figured out this subway thing. She looked around at all the people holding on to the overhead straps, and that little hand reached up and grabbed hold of one, too! We thought it was precious, and I had to snap a picture of her!


Finally heading home and filling up our Charlie Card for one last trip...to the airport.


Something about flying made Emily very sleepy! I'm just SO THANKFUL that she was so good!


After all those pictures, I'm sure you feel like you've been to Boston, too. (Sorry!) We had a wonderful trip and would go back again in a heartbeat. Next time, though, I think I'll pack a coat! :)