DAY 21 AND 22 -
THE BAGEL BANDIT - Oops, my fellow hostellers were breakfasting with a disrespectful person who accidentally stole a cinnamon raisin bagel. That would be I! Said bagel had been minding its own business toasting and I strode up and took it, hot off the toaster oven. Having assumed that the browned bagels were made for us by the hostel staff (such an 'intelligent' thing to assume); it didn't occur to me the ringed roll may have been pre-claimed!
On a drizzly morning, The New England Aquarium presented itself as a satisfactory way to spend a couple of hours or so. THE GOOD - I've been obsessed with the cute cuteness of Little penguins, since witnessing the penguin parade on Phillips Island last March; so hearing them shriek their teeny, fluffy bodies off couldn't lessen my affections for them. Gently stroking de-barbed stingrays in the touch tank as they swam freely with baby, coral catsharks which were just as gorgeous..kinda. The giant ocean tank was once the world's largest in 1970 and currently contains 2000 fish of 140 exotic species - give or take a fish or two! THE UGLY - Piranhas with their creepy, little fangy teeth. THE BAD - The IMAX Movie theatre was almost empty as the Secret Ocean 3D show was a bit crud. When inviting me to these educational 3D movies, just assume my answer is always no unless it involves stars and planets :D Training the fur sea lions has had me grappling with my conscience ever since as this was carried out in a small swimming pool. Rather than do the whole overreacting thing I tend to do, I left.
You shall not pass through Faneuil Hall Marketplace without pausing to give thought to the history of the Cradle of Liberty. Being a Brit, a wave of guilt washed over me knowing that Samuel Adams and his comrades gave sermons to free themselves from the clutches of Great Britain. That may have in fact been a case of the munchies as I rapidly got me a Bertucci's lunch deal so I wouldn't fatigue. Freshly baked rolls, salad with balsamic vinegar and a rosemary chicken foccacia for a measly $7.99 = A NO BRAINER. This was wolfed down (as is standard!) like some repacious wolverine and left me skipping!
A SPRITE'S NOT THE SAME AS A HOT CHOCOLATE! - ESPN rated Cask'n Flagon the best baseball bar in America so naturally I couldn't pass up on that. I tried to order a hot chocolate but the owner told me brutally honestly that it was dreadful. For me, this straight away took the shine off the bar. After perusing the menu, I ordered an apple crisp dessert - it turns out this is no longer served but hasn't been removed from the menu. In that case, damn it but thank you for the free sprite, barman! It must have been obvious that I hadn't really wanted a glass so he returned my money, knowing he couldn't give me my wishes. Does anyone else always feel obliged to purchase something when they need to use the rest room? That was the main reason I swung by as I had 40 minutes to kill before my tour; plus it was tipping it down again.
A little Bostonian gem that goes by the name of Fenway Park had to be toured as it would've been ANTI-Boston not to. It's kind of mandatory when you're in this neck of the woods of a sports obsessed USA! The nation's most beloved ball park is famous for the old ball game and the Redsox for not winning the world series for 86 years in a row after selling Babe Ruth - it NEVER got funny! It wasn't until 2004 that they took the title back ending the curse of the Bambino, much to the world's rejoicing! My attitude for America's pastime was amped up when first I saw the grounds, in spite of the drizzle. I especially enjoyed sitting in the press box, the incredible views from The Green Monster, posing in the baseball car, the lone red seat symbolising the longest home run ever hit there at a massive 503ft by Ted Williams and trying not to be weird about how cool it was just to see the baseball signed by Babe Ruth!!
SERIOUS, INTENSE, HARDCORE HOT-CHOCOLATING: Let's see why you're so wonderful, frosted mint hot chocolate from JP Lick! Only an idiot would walk away from this too-sweet of a drink. The stomach wants what the stomach wants and it was such decadence I never dreamed of! Soon after, I collected my tickets from the Box Office which I had lucked out on previously in the day; scoring a cheap deal with Boston Tix for the Holiday concert that evening with a seat right near the front.
Approached Symphony Hall with apprehension as police cars with sirens blaring surrounded the premises. My immediate thought was there had been a shooting but the officers were simply guiding the traffic. The 4800 piped organ wowed me but the table set up was strange as 4/5 people were seated around this tiny piece of furniture. All were allocated a host who came by regularly taking our orders for overpriced goodies - I refrained. Tipping the bathroom attendant in the fancy powder room was not optional, yet I escaped without doing so after hitting the old porcelain wishing well!
OH, IT'S GOOD TO BE RIANNE IN BOSTON! - At the opening night of Holiday Pops, I was befriended by a sweet couple and their work mates from the TV network GLH. Taking part in this annual tradition in what is regarded as one of the top 3 best acoustic music halls in the world was nothing short of magnificent. It was 5 kinds of fun to be audience to the exceptional orchestra and Tanglewood volunteer chorus :) I was even more overjoyed that a recitation of The Night Before Christmas was incorporated but every performance oozed Christmas. Justin Hopkins, the baritone wearing a blinged jacket was a stand out with his velvety old crooner vocals. It was a toe-tapping, merry sing-a-long that 20 years from now, I'll still have the best memories of this evening and how I was filled with Christmas cheer.
I'm just going to go all in and proclaim my undying love for the largest city in New England. It's the kind of municipality that makes you want to run with the wind through your hair! The picturesque neighbourhoods of Beacon Hill make for a charming ramble- Acorn Street in particular is a well preserved alley from the 1800s that will take you back in time 200 years or so. Quaint cobblestones are just one feature that plead to be photographed so it's no astonishment that it is one of the most photographed, historic streets in the country.
I'M DRAWN MAGNETICALLY TO BOSTON'S PUBLIC GARDEN - The jewel of Boston's Emerald Necklace was formerly underwater and then not much more than a stinky swamp after 700 British troops set off - one day before the beginning of The American Revolution. Then suddenly it is beautiful and surprisingly still so green and vibrant at the start of December. A sweet tourist spot is the Make Way for Ducklings bronze sculptures of Mrs Mallard and her 8 ducklings as an endearing salutation to the book of the same name. The story is set in Boston and The Public Garden is where they make their home; this well-loved tale has been credited with making it 'familiar to children throughout the world.'
Squirrel love is strong as how can you hate an adorable, furry face like theirs? I loved seeing these bushy-tailed rodents approach families for hand outs; they have NUTS in their eyes! I couldn't get over how friendly they were; often tolerating folks to make physical contact with them which is heart-warming to watch! Prancing around the lagoon is therapeutic for those quiet moments of meditation.
RIANNE SCREW UP #85 - Erroneously snapping away piccies on and of what I thought was the Good Will Hunting bench, then informing passerbys matter of factly that it was. Only to have gotten my info very VERY wrong! It wasn't until I did further googling and compared stills from the movie that I discerned I hadn't found the real one.
There is not enough cornbread in all of Boston to satisfy me; this is what I decided when consuming supper at Jacob Wirth, the 2nd oldest restaurant in town. Their veggie black bean chilli and tortilla chips was a little more beanie than I can handle but in any case I got to tuck into some Southern comforts.
ME AND MY MERRY MEN - There's really no way to make all this exciting but a super time was spent on the free walking tour of South End and Back Bay. I was the only female of a small group of our informative guide, an older Mexican man and 2 Aussie really nice, chilled blokes. Not sure Mr Mexico could keep up with our jesting over how MY English chips are better than those in Oz chippies!! It was neat to have a local show us this landmark district of red brick row houses and seven figure town homes! How amazing that prior to the 19th Century, these destinations were quite literally a bay and a former tidal march. The land was filled in a HUGE undertaking using fill from gravel trenches which was transported via trains. Currently lots of churches are being converted into apartments!
Sophie, Yvonne (from County Kerry), Bella (German living in Texas) and I put on our party faces to share some smiles at The Boston Common Tree lighting event that eve. A gaggle of fun-lovers reaping great joy came together in celebration; just as they have for 74 years since the first lighting ceremony. It marks the kick off of the holiday season and boy do they do it in style! At the Frog Pond, we saw figure skaters wearing sparkly numbers (in the frosty air!) glide and twirl in sychronised sequences.
WE WELCOME THE GIVEAWAYS - Those who do not.. what in the hell is wrong with you?? :P Just a handful of the unpaid for goodies we acquired were: mini torch, handwarmers, windbreaker, mini hot choco and Drakes peanut butter cake. And if I recall, this was before we went to a nearby food court for delicious soft chicken tacos! More memories were made having a ball as we watched - LED drummers, Michelle Brooks Thomas (from The Voice), performances from the cast of Elf the Musical, a really long and boring version of an excerpt from The Christmas Carol and an urban interpretation of The Nutcracker.
The tree is a gift from Nova Scotia each and every year for one of Boston's most revered traditions. The illuminating of the fairy lights followed by fierce and flashy fireworks was Christmas in our face and it was just SO pretty!! My heart was so full right then, but my belly wasn't so Sophie and I left after this grande finale on the pursuit of pudding. We struck out in one bar so gave The Hub a go as it dubbed itself the 'friendliest' bar but the waitress palmed us off as being too busy so we walked out of there too. Without a map or GPS we wandered right into Omni Parker House, the oldest hotel in the USA where the Boston cream pie was invented.
A *MAGIC* DESSERT AND MEETING MOUNTIES: HOW DOES LIFE GET ANY BETTER? - I couldn't believe I went all the way to Canada to find me a Mountie only for them to show up in AMERICA in a hotel lobby! They'd been at the tree lighting with the Mayor to present the Christmas tree and I swear NEVER in the history of the entire planet has anybody been as pleased to meet real life Mounties as me! Canada brought them to me :D If only they'd be younger, strapping lads! I think they were equally as chuffed that I was so delighted to tick off a life's dream and pose for pics with me. Either that or they were just humouring a strange unit! Now to speak of the beautimous Boston cream pie that was mixed with love <3 Even now my lips yearn for this sweet stuff and several months after the event, I'm still thinking about that very excellent cream pie. It is literally BRILLIANT and no imitation will ever match the layered cake (as it is in fact a lie to name it a pie) of pastry cream and chocolate glaze. *Drools all over laptop*
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