Bragging about Boston (after I migrate from Montreal)

DAY 19 AND 20 - 

Sweetie darlings, I thought I couldn't wait to leave Montreal as a rain cloud emanated much gloominess in my soul during about 70% of my trip. I said my goodbyes to mystery man that I shared my room with but didn't for some reason ever think to ask his name as I was scared of the answer. Somehow his name didn't seem important and I was digging the mystique. I'll always remember how he'd ask me a question and then add 'or what?' onto the end. I liked him more every minute I spent with him so it was best I left as it would've only resulted in an unrequited crush and sent the whole stay into chaos. 

Again, it is a SICK, cosmic joke to be tooooooo arctic when nothing white or fluffy falls from above on this frosty -8 degree day. Bitter, burning rays were shooting through my skin to the bone as I walked all the way round the bare, frozen remnants of the pond/lake at La Fontaine Park. Momentarily, I considered upping to it a jog like some of the health nuts in my vicinity but just as quickly, thought better of it.. knowing I'd flop to the floor like I were a pancake! 

I MUST HAVE YOU - Shutting out the voices that provoke me to partake in pudding is an impossibility; this particular midday I was drawn into Juliette et Chocolat. Glugging Grandma's Style gooey milk hot chocolate was a gift from heaven that privileged my lips. Sonnets ought to be written about the incredible Hazelnut praline bomb, a dazzling dessert which I casually destroyed. I would marry my sweet, sweet friend - dessert, merrily and devote myself to being the best wife ever. After exchanging some dollars from Canadian to American at the bank, I went to the hostel to warm up from the chill which was PUNCHING ME IN THE FACE!!

I'll be honest, lifeless but lifelike mannequins had all the appeal of clipping my toenails but I had SO mucho fun at Grevin Montreal!! It was a tad eerie that I almost had the entire place to myself; when I'd think someone was watching or creepily following me, as really it was only the wax models keeping me company :D WAY too good a time was had alone with the impressively, realistic waxwork figures despite not knowing a great deal of the Canadian celebs! 

HOPELESSLY AND HILARIOUSLY UNHINGED - Looking cute photobombing the celeb shots (with my all access pass to hobnob with the stars of our screens) wasn't always possible. Evidently, I have a whole bunch of holes in my head to: join John Lennon and Yoko in their bed in, take on Wayne Gretzky at hockey, 'shower' in Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' bathroom, ride a roller coaster with The Biebs and duet with Celine Dion, herself. After leaving the figurines, the madness of *this* DUMMY passed post haste! 

Little Miss Chatty Cathy had hoped to do some planning at the hostel before leaving for Boston that night but 2 guys had other designs on me. Not that I minded shooting the breeze with these fine men whose evening I had hijacked. They've probably had worse Monday nights than political discussions, Jenga and Crazy 8 with me!! 

Sorry for being so small-minded and ungrateful Montreal; I came to the realisation that I wasn't appreciating what was right in front of me all along. Maybe you did show me more than a moderately good time and you're not devoid of sparkle. My business here is done and I was Boston-bound; hasta la vista Canada!!

A DUMPSTER ON WHEELS - The bus was a wretched ride at TOO-LATE-O-clock and I only managed to sleep off and on. It was so cold compared to the other Greyhounds where it was like I was sweating lava! At US Customs and Border Control, I was practically shaking in my boots at all the interrogations happening before my eyes; fortunately they weren't too tough on me. However, there was a hoodlum wandering around when he was supposed to have a cab collect him and NOT enter the States... yet he was put on our bus and seemed sketchy! Whilst it had all been delightful - sleeping in the weirdest position (with my travel pillow on top of my hand luggage and my feet against the window) and being surrounded by sweaty 'ruffians' I was itching to get off! 

Time for Frankenstein to rise and shine at just after 9 (2 hours after we were supposed to arrive!!) The HI were lovely enough to allow me to check in immediately so I was grateful to shower and change, just missing out on breakfast! It mattereth not, for I wanted to rush out and experience the 'world' of Boston. And what better place to begin than THE Common? 

So glad to see this beautiful, albeit rainy city! I'm convinced one only needs to spend but half an hour in Bean Town and you'll end up falling in love. Like HEAD OVER HEELS -- for its mere existence makes the country a greater nation. I like photographing the oldest park in the city and all fifty of its fine acres. Not to state the obvious, but there's nothing common about the history of this Common which began as a cow pasture in the 1600's. The city was without pity when the site was used for public hangings for witches and the like. 

WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME - No Wayderhosen! The cheery theme tune of Cheers plays as soon as the door is opened to Finch and Bull which inspired the hit TV sitcom. No filming was shot inside the pub but the exterior was used for establishing shots and the cast have since visited. I was creepily fangirling/fanlady-ing but berating myself inside 'Just be cool, woman. Damn!' It wasn't the Michelangelo of turkey burgers that I consumed and the fries weren't anything to write home about either but I accept the comfort of pub grub and pink lemonade. Fun to sit on a stool at the replica Cheers set upstairs and pretend Sam was serving me!

I don't know what it is but within less than 24 hours, I feel deeply connected to Boston. Meandering along the leafy path of Charles River Esplanade is so pretty and to think it began as mud flats! Boston doesn't brag on its winsome wonders enough but as a city it has captivated me wholeheartedly in only minutes. 

The Mary Eddy Baker library (named after the founder of Christian Science) is a mecca for geeky, pseudo-intellectuals. I'm not sophisticated enough to tarry at this bibliotheca and only ventured out as I was feeling snoopy! The exquisite Hall of Ideas is complete with an ooh la la cast glass and bronze sculpture fountain which projects ever changing quotes from influential thinkers throughout history around the vestibule. 

AND I THINK TO MYSELF WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD - The real attraction of the Library is the Mapparium - a 3 storey 3D globe of 608 stained glass panels manifesting the world as it was in 1935. A visual presentation with LED lights generates 16 million colours during the sole 15 minutes visitors are allowed inside. The cost of this installation was $35,000 which is extortionate considering a Hersheys bar was the equivalent of 5 cents back in those days. Images are guarded fiercely like a lion so photos are not permitted inside as we crossed the 30ft viewing platform. What's most stupendous is how this whispering gallery creates extraordinary amplification. Meaning that my sniffles echoed for all to pick up due to the spherical shape which won't absorb sound waves, instead bouncing them back. Heck, you could practically hear humans smile!

It's nice to be befriended when sojourning -- though being invisible suits me fine too. Leigh from New Zealand spared me from having a tragically empty social calendar that night (since most of my original plans were with my DC friends as I was supposed to be in the District of Colombia not the state of Massachusetts!) inviting me out for food in Chinatown. We came across Penang which served Malaysian food and I practically inhaled my green vegetable curry clay pot with coconut rice in the most disgraceful of manners. This dish was the best green curry I ever had though it triggered a heat wave down my tonsils. 

Where was the bedazzlement at Commonwealth Avenue Mall? This is a pathway of trees in an affluent neighbourhood (not a shopping centre) and it was meant to be transformed into a sparkling forest with white twinkle lights. Nothing was aglow and so we'd walked around in the dark while rain poured for nowt. Getting dates and details INCORRECT - that is now my *thing* evidently. Boston Public Garden was looking particularly lovely that evening as Leigh and I wandered back to the HI. Crossing the streets could be treacherous to the point that it was almost necessary to wear protective padding and a helmet ----> and still it proved to be a doddle when later compared to the streets of New York. 

A HOT HEAD IN BED IN THE COOLEST OF CITIES - A moron was yelling outside my window in the dead of night - what a yob with a GOB! The idiotic tripe he screamed out was another level of annoyance that even the peaceful creature that I am ;) was close to bellowing back to shut him up! Giant twits aside, Boston is so glorious that I have a love for it which cannot be described as platonic.