Bwoston

Bwoston (as I will forever pronounce it.... just read it out loud. See? That's how they talk) was GREAT! Here is a recap, with pictures. :-)

I left at 4:00 am for the airport, flight went off without a hitch, except for the middle-aged weirdo that I was lucky enough to sit next to on the plane. He got up to let me in, so I could get to my window seat, and said "I guess I'll get up so you don't have to crawl all over me." So I jokingly replied, "Yeah, good idea. Don't want it to get awkward just yet!" And he said "It would only be awkward for you."

Ew.

Way to make it AWKWARD, Dude. Needless to say, I leaned toward the window and promptly fell asleep and stayed that way until we landed.

The cab ride from the airport was interesting, to say the least. My cab driver was a lady from the Dominican Republic. Of course I'm interested in other people's native habitats, so I asked what it is like in the D.R. She replied "Oh we have the nicest bitches in my country. Beautiful bitches. " I thought long and hard, and then replied "Oh! The beaches are gorgeous huh?" To which she replied "Yes! You haven't seen a bitch until you've seen a Dominican Republic bitch." Okay, I'll take her word for it.

I met my folks downtown at the hotel, and we spent the entire first day walking around Boston. The Freedom Trail is AMAZING. Lots of great history. Allow me to deviate from the humorous blog-writing for just a moment to say that I truly respect these few guys who stood up against England to fight for freedom and fight for what they believed in, and WON. Amazing. And thank you, to the Patriots and to all soldiers today. What would we do without you?

So here are some cool things I saw in Downtown Bwoston:

GRAVEYARD SMACK-DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN: HANCOCK, FRANKLIN, SAM ADAMS AND PAUL REVERE ARE BURIED HERE.

THE BEAN TOWN PUB: WHERE YOU
CAN SIT AND ENJOY A COLD SAM ADAMS.

WHILE LOOKING AT A COLD SAM ADAMS.

Really, his gravestone is immediately outside
this bar's window.

YOU KNOW THE FAIRY TALE LADY,

MOTHER GOOSE!

SHE REALLY EXISTED! AND APPARENTLY SHE LIVED IN BWOSTON.

(Note: I'm not just assuming this is her, there was actually a plaque next to this grave that told me so...)

STAND IN OPPOSITION. AND, DANNY DOING JUST THAT. :)

STOPPED BY CHEERS.

BY THE WAY, THIS WAS FALSE ADVERTISING. I'M 100% CERTAIN THEY DIDN'T KNOW MY NAME IN THERE. TALK ABOUT DISAPPOINTING...

HERE ARE THE OLD STONE STREETS IN DOWNTOWN. THIS IS OUTSIDE PAUL REVERE'S HOUSE. AS ONE OLD GUY NEXT TO ME APTLY PUT IT, "I WOULDN'T WANT TO WALK DOWN THIS STREET DRUNK!" WORD.

HERE IS PAUL REVERE'S STATUE, WITH THE STEEPLE BEHIND HIM THAT HELD THE LANTERNS ("ONE IF BY LAND, TWO IF BY SEA"). THIS CHURCH IS STILL AN ACTIVE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, VERY COOL.

Our sightseeing curiosity satisfied, we headed back to the hotel and then out to Jacob Wirth, a delicious German restaurant, where we loaded up on jagerschnitzel and apple streudel.

The next morning, we got up super early so we could catch the train to go up north. I took too long fixing my hair, so we literally stepped on the train as it was rolling away. Phew! One hour north took us to Rockport, a quaint seaside town, where we had a great breakfast and took in the sights.

HERE WE ARE AT BREAKFAST.

THE HAAH-BAH (harbor)

I WAS REALLY DIGGING THIS LITTLE GNOME. I WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIM HOME WITH ME IF I COULD.

THE BEACH!!

MY FOLKS; ME AND MOMMA

IT WAS A SUNNY 40 DEGREES AND OFFICIALLY THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER WORN A COAT, HAT, SCARF AND GLOVES ON THE BEACH.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY MORE QUAINT THAN THIS.
ROCKPORT LOOKS LIKE IT IS STRAIGHT OUT OF A MOVIE OR A NOVEL.

WE THEN HIT THE TRAIN TO HEAD DOWN TO SALEM. HOME OF THE WITCHES. WHAT A COOL PLACE.

MY MOM AND I BEING WITCHES IN FRONT OF THE SALEM WITCH MUSEUM. AT LEAST, WE WERE DOING WHAT WE THINK WITCHES MIGHT DO WHEN THEY PUT A SPELL ON SOMEBODY. HAHA

CROW HAVEN CORNER, THE HOME OF LAURIE, THE "OFFICIAL WITCH OF SALEM" WHERE SHE MIXES UP HER POTIONS AND HERBS. I AM NOW THE PROUD OWNER OF A LOVE POTION (YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT) THAT I AM TO CARRY ON ME AT ALL TIMES, TO BRING MY PURE LOVE TO ME (LOL). SUPER COOL PLACE.

Next up was the House of Seven Gables, which is what inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel of the same name. Old house, cool hidden staircase, lots of old trinkets and furniture. All in all, a neat little historic place.

I'M KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES, AND HERE ALSO IS A PICTURE OF MY FOLKS AND ME IN THE GARDENS OVERLOOKING THE HAAHBAH (HARBOR).

Back on the train to head into downtown Boston for St. Patrick's Day festivities. We ate at the amazing Union Oyster House, where we had chowder and lobster. It was excellent.

AFTER MUCH ST. PATRICK'S DAY CHEER (AND BEER), WE CAUGHT MOMMA HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH A STATUE. SHE'S SUCH A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY. THE FUNNY THING IS, HE LOOKS LIKE HE IS REALLY LISTENING TO HER.

GREAT TRIP. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND BWOSTON!

Till next time. XO Dana