Two If By Sea...

We were up bright and early this morning so that we could take the new ferry service from Salem to Boston. The service just began June 24th so not too many people know about it yet. It was a great way to see the Massachusetts coast line and such an easy way into Boston. Who needs the headaches of driving and parking? The ferry docks right at the Boston Aquarium and we were steps away from Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market. Above is a photo of the Boston Skyline. Mel kept saying, "This is just beautiful"--the Old Man and the Sea!
Above is a photo of Faneuil Hall, built in 1742 and expanded in 1806, known as the "Cradle of Liberty." It was built as both a town meeting hall and a public market. A number of revolutionaries in the 1770's and abolitionists in the 1850's delivered important speeches here. It was from this place that the patriots of Boston debated the taxation questions of the day, which helped to launch the Revolutionary War. The second story of the building serves still as a gathering place to discuss issues. John F. Kennedy announced his run for the Presidency here and it can be rented for rallies and debates today.

After the talk on the Hall, we went to Durgin Park Restaurant in the North Market Hall for a tasty lunch of Boston Baked Beans and Yankee Pot Roast, which was as good as Pilot Pete's. Durgin Park has been around since Revolutionary times, but the current restaurant is only 130 years old.

Then, we took the Gray Line Trolley Tour from hell with a Goth-styled driver/narrator, who drove erractically, forgetting to tell us about the sights and sounds of the city. It was two hours of terror-Salem isn't that scary. Once we got to our original starting point, we deboarded and reboarded onto another trolley so we could tour Beacon Hill. This driver/narrator was so good that we felt much better about the tour line. We will be reporting Ms. Scary.

At Beacon Hill, we were able to see the Boston Commons, where the colonists used to bring their cows to graze and the Boston Public Gardens, where the person-powered Swan Boats and the Make Way For Ducklings statues are located. Beacon Hill is the place to live in Boston as it overlooks the Boston Commons. The condos there sell for $4 million plus and the buildings, clearly beloved, are old and decrepit. We assume that the interiors are fabulous. The photo above is of the Massachusetts State House that is across from the Boston Commons.

Here is a photo of the statue of Sam Adams, patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Adams statue stands in front of Fanenuil Hall because in 1772, Adams suggested that Massachusetts join the other colonies in organizing a Committee of Correspondence in order to share information about British oppression and rebel reactions. While this is the Sam Adams that the beer is named after, it was his father, who was the brewer.