Boston

August 8th

The Freedom trail is a great way to see some of the many historic sites in Boston. The information says it is a 2.5 mile trail, but because it takes you through a variety of areas, there are a lot of distractions along the way. It took us all day. There are 16 official stops including Boston Common, the State House, Park street Church, several burying grounds, King's chapel, the first public school, the Old State House, the Boston Massacre Site, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Bunker Hill Monument, and finally, the USS Constitution. Each place has an abundance of shopping and dining opportunities. As a side note, let me just say that I am so sick of gift shops, I think I would rather gouge my eyes out with hot tongs than go into another one. On the upside, they do provide ample people watching opportunities and some of them even offer a nice chair or bench that is generally occupied by bored-looking men. It was a hot day, but we survived almost the entire trail with a minimal amount of complaining. At one point, it seemed as if a portion of the family might expire due to hunger, heat, and fatigue; but in the end, we found a local gentleman in a shady (not scary shady, just tree shady) park who directed us to a good Italian restaurant in Boston's North End. After our meal, we found ourselves to be revived and able to take a quick tour of Harvard's campus.

This is the Freedom Trail marker

Paul Revere's old house: Boston's oldest building still in existence (1680)

Paul Revere and the Old North Church, "One if by land, two if by sea..."

Wendy and Nicole taking a break in a wading pool

The State Building

Boston Massacre Site

the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the country

The USS Constitution

Cannons-for the pirates

Apparently, they let anyone drive

Subway surfing