We had to be out of our cabins at 8:30 am. Our suitcases were already gone. So we took all our hand luggage and went to the lido deck #11 for breakfast.
And then we left. That was all very easy since we had already gone through immigration. Outside we got a taxi to the hotel which was a fixed price to the city. The driver was talking like a waterfall and very nice. The rooms were not ready so we left our luggage in storage there and walked off to explore. The location of the hotel was perfect. We walked to the Boston Common. Since it was a Saturday a lot of people were about.
The Massachusetts State House with the golden dome looked very impressive.
This exercise class was so funny. You have to look at this VIDEO! (0:16)
We had started to walk the Freedom Trail and came to the King's Chapel. Things were nicely explained how it worked with the pews etc.
Then we came to the Old South Meeting House. We didn't go in though.
The brick trail is really an excellent idea to make it easy for visitors to find their way.
The Old State House. So much history here (and everywhere).
We went to Faneuil Hall and the Market Place behind it. We were in desperate need of some refreshments. Ice coffee is always a good thing when it is hot.
Of course we went through the little streets with the Union Oyster House and all those famous places.
The brick lane went right through a very large open air market.
The Paul Revere House. We didn't go in though. For people from Britain all this American history is difficult and less meaningful.
And there he is again with the Old North Church behind.
Of course James and I had been in Boston before (on a bitter winter day) but I find these old churches always touching. If you want to read more of Boston and our previous visit (Feb 2016) click here. At the bottom of that blog on the left side is "newer blog" to read about the next full day of sightseeing.
There was young man Graham answering all the questions I had. Hard for me to understand that if you had not rented a pew for you and your family and for your slaves upstairs, you could not worship in the church.
Time for lunch. It was past 1:30 pm. Not far was this restaurant. I think we were in the Italian part of town. The food was excellent.
But just opposite was the bakery. OMG. My mussels had been good but there was still room. So I had the Creme Brûlée Cannoli. Ha-ha, the others had something too even so they didn't really want anything. We ate it right on the spot in front of the bakery.
We continued from the Old North Church on the red brick trail ...
... and over the Charlestown Bridge to see the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned U.S. Navy warship with a crew of naval officers and enlisted personnel. The entry is free and the officers on board were very friendly and only too happy to talk to you.
Very fast ominous heavy gray clouds had moved in. When we were done and outside James looked up that we would have a 45 minute walk back to the hotel. My knee by know complained very much and I asked James to please call an Uber. This impressed Kate and Dave very much. The Uber was 2 minutes away and James could see on his phone where it was. When it arrived we hopped in and had barely closed the doors when the skies opened. An incredible downpour. While we were driving to the hotel we could see people scurrying along, trying to find something to stand under and getting soaked. At the hotel we had to hop over a river to get in. The driver was very nice and talkative. Told us all sorts about his Uber-life and the ride was very very reasonable. As I said, Kate and Dave were very impressed.
We could now get our luggage and go into our rooms. OMG, not impressed. But about that later, may be. We refreshed and then it was time to find a place for dinner. Rain had stopped and it was nice again. We walked along and saw this restaurant which looked good to us.
There was a bit of a wait for a table outside but we sat at the bar for a beer. It was a local brewery and I got two samples first. The bar tender had been in Germany before and had loved it.
Seafood again for me. So close to the sea. No wonder. James says that the photo does not look so appetizing but this is what it was (from the menu):
A really nice finish to a nice day but all that walking! We (or at least I) were tired.
Night night!
I’ve never been to Boston, but I have a good friend who lives just outside it and she’s always wanted me to visit. This post makes me want to go even more!
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