It was overcast and misty when we left PTown for Boston. We travel through several small towns looking for a breakfast place and ran into the Blue Plate Diner in Barnstable. Eddie and the kids went in to eat while DillyDog and I explored. Cool little town with cobblestone sidewalks, an abundance of flowers and a huge county courthouse with a lawn big enough to keep us occupied for no small measure of time. There was what was left of a sandcastle that won a prize in the Cape’s contest and statues of the town’s founding father and mother. We found a small deli and enjoyed some people watching from a sidewalk table until the others were ready to go.
We took a brief detour to see what is left of Plymouth Rock, the second place (remember PTown) the pilgrims landed. A replica of the Mayflower is docked at the pier along with multiple small pleasure boats, like a big bird with dozens of her chicks. The Rock is inside a pavilion and behind bars due to the vandalizing done in the past. Even so, one has to be awestruck by its age and significance. The Daughters of the Revolution have erected a monument to the women of the Plymouth Colony and surrounded it with water and color. It is a a lovely little town, and for a while we had it pretty much to ourselves and then the tourists (like we’re not!) came pouring in and we high-tailed it out.
Not long down the road and we mingled with Boston traffic through the Tip O’Neill Tunnel and into the streets of the city. We found a big enough parking garage right off the bat, and Eddie found a beautiful park in which to sit and enjoy the flow of foot traffic around him. He spent two years in the area and was delighted to realize he knew the area well. And…I got to walk the Freedom Trail…I have wanted to do this for years.
I dragged Trish, Marty and DillyDog with me, and we walked the streets of Boston seeing the city through through historic eyes. We began with the Old Corner Bookstore, moved on to the site of the Boston Massacre, then the old state house and Faneuil Hall. The Trail wove in and out of the old buildings and passed the market place full of vendors. Then we meandered across to the North End, through wonderful aromas of Italian cooking to Paul Revere’s house, St. Stephens and the Old North Church…was it one if by sea?
At that point we turned around because we knew Eddie wanted to see the USS Constitution. We used Trish’s “Dot” to find our way back to Post Office Square Park for Eddie and drove to see the ship at its dock. We had a front row seat since it was threatening to rain and we were one of the few fools who chose to go. The ship is amazingly huge with massive masts. The effort to raise the sails must take a huge contingent of men and hours of time. We also found the Bunker Hill monument just beyond and marvelous jelly fish in the waters surrounding the ship.
I think I’ve fallen in love with Boston. It’s beautiful, walkable and everyone we met was so friendly and helpful. It definitely ranks high on my list of favorite cities. Another full day and we were off to find our motel, Red Roof, and eat a last dinner with Trish as she was leaving the next day. We were so sorry to see her go. I think Marty will be sad to loose his pal.