Non-stop totally free-spirited fun

DAY 23 AND 24 - 

A history lesson covering 2.5 miles of significant sites of the American Revolution, which began in Boston was in joyous sunshine along The Freedom Trail. Our player, Arielle Kaplan was dressed in a period appropriate costume as Elizabeth Oliver; she injected historical humour into her monologues which oft had me in hoots and made it 100 times more captivating! Sometimes there was a laughter delay until it dawned on us that a feeble joke had been cracked. Alongside her enlightening statistics of the era we were also 'treated' to more horrifying truths about witches and pirates who were hung from an elm tree and how public floggings in Boston Common occurred, where the kids park is now but let's not speak of that!!

TISN'T A TRIP TO THE ATHENS OF AMERICA UNLESS YOU - Stride where the Partisans trod, taking us to Granary Burial Ground. The last resting place of umpteen, distinguished Revolutionary War patriots was founded in 1600. Three signatories of The Declaration of Independence: Paul Revere, John Hancock and Samuel Adam, the parents of Benjamin Franklin, plus 5 victims of The Boston Massacre are all buried hitherto. Pennies are left on the grave of silversmith and alerter of British forces, Paul Revere as this is superstition - to bring prosperity. He had a midnight ride too, didn't you know? That alone, fashioned the man into a damn Bostonian treasure. 

Kings Chapel was assembled upon a burying ground; as the city wouldn't sell the congregation land for a non-puritan church. After this burned down in 2001, it was rebuilt but a steeple wasn't constructed as there were inadequate proceeds. Spookily, we heard that Omni Parker House is inhabited and haunted by the ghost of Charles Dickens, who often appears in one of the grand, golden elevators at approximately 2am. It is also the location where President Kennedy proposed to his wife, Jackie. Nothing and nowhere can compete with that history or their desserts. I patted the Democratic donkey statue (symbolic of 'jackasses'!) and stood in the elephant of opposition footprints, representative of The Republicans at Old City Hall. We saw Boston Latin School, America's earliest public school which educated boys for free and has one of the most illustrious drop outs in Ben Franklin. 

THE DISASTER DAY - We scooched as would a pooch to the site of The Boston Massacre, which is manifest by a ring of stones at what was then named King Street. The condensed version of the Redcoats occupation of Boston told us that this led to tensions and vicious conflicts; shots were fired and snowballs were thrown slaughtering 5. Some among us including my new friend from England, Heather were roped into a small scale improvisation of sorts right there on the streets, as it is every year on the anniversary. While Arielle was closed captioning the pain and anguish of those killed in the riot; the lady doth have skills of enunciation!

The golden, gilded Grasshopper weathervane has become a symbol of commerce at Faneuil Hall. Since it was stolen by a steeplejack it has now been refurbished with a locking device to prevent a similar occurrence. Our tour drew to a close and as I have always been something of a teacher's pet, I had to take a photo with Arielle/Elizabeth. Right after, we caught the awesomeness of the Keytar bear, who is somewhat of an institution and I too am diggin' him! In his well-worn, bear suit he randomly pops up in town to play some tunes on his portable piano and residents are fond of this dude. 

LUNCH BUDS - I met Jutta on the morning's tour and as it happened she was staying at the same hostel; we grabbed a bite together at Ames Plow Tavern. I'm not precious with burgers which is just as well as it was far from swell and there were not many options to be an adventurous eater. Sadly for some, this rustic eatery in Quincy Market has now closed its doors.  

The floating Boston Tea Party Museum and ships with Jutta was a revolutionary experience which commenced at a town meeting with December 16th re-enactors. We received character cards to play out on deck as we were taught about the tea crisis of the time. The disgruntled Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians snuck on board 3 ships and dumped 340 chests of British East India Company tea into Boston Harbour, wrecking more than 92,000 pounds of brew. The ramifications of this winter night were tremendous. My role was Thomas Melville who wasn't standing idly by while the Brits invaded his home town; he had a large part to play in that 'momentous advent of national independence'. My afternoon took a strange turn, when I was made to propose to one of the female characters, scare away 'pirates' on the ship with my almighty ROAR and throw cargoes of tea into the sea. HUZZAH!!! It was the talk of EVERY town, I'm sure! Hot chocolate with mini marshmallows at Abigail's Tea Room? Don't mind if I dooble! It's what elegant girls about town do, is it not? It was love in a mug! 

EMBARRASSMENTS TO THE CRAFT OF COMEDY - I'm no comedy snob but the free improv at HI was poorly attended and received as the humour was a little stale. 3 different groups performed but the best were saved for last as not a laugh was had before them. The final group scored more than pity giggles with their outlandish scene of Spanish siblings who owned a bar, entertaining an American boy who liked furbies a little too much. The audience was shockingly empty so I did feel guilted into staying especially as the few seated would all watch and cast scorn upon me, were I to leave. Had I known beforehand, how ABYSMAL it would be, I'd have gone elsewhere for the evening. But hey, hindsight - right? 

On a picture perfect weather day, it broke my heart that before long Boston and I would be torn apart. I did a circuit of the lagoon at Boston Public, the prettiest of parks in order to find the correct Good Will Hunting bench this time. You'll know you've found it by the inscription on a plaque which reads 'A place for Barbara and her pups to pause.' There's even talk of instating a statue in Robin Williams image here in his memory. 

CASUAL LINGERING AND TRYING TO BE MENACING - Some girl was being unseemly, sprawled out on Sean Maguire's pew while I just awkwardly stand right beside it and wait.. and WAIT. Girl, doesn't care. Looking and sounding every bit the weirdo, I can't take it any longer and ask her to take my photo there and then. What's more, I feel as though I have to explain the significance which is when she miraculously jumps off, freaks and wants pics galore too. Kinda douchey response, right? Still, at least I persuaded the ding dong to step off so that I was able to get my close ups too. 

Heather, Jutta and I took the Unofficial Harvard tour with 50 or so others and got to look around the prettiesque campus of this prestigious, Ivy League school. No wonder Rory Gilmore desired to attend the USA's oldest institution (established in 1636) of Higher Learning - it's resplendent! A shame that we were not able to go inside the beautifully ancient buildings but it was evident that the Harvard students did not wish to interact with the dummies on tour of their grounds whatsoever. 

EVIL, ELITIST PRETENTIOUS STUDENTS - I'm sure not all are quite so terrible but I can confidently claim that a great deal of these academics have been assified by their own parents! Those who are high functioning, intelligent sociopaths, run rampant and get away with murder - destroying campus, setting fires, sex scandals and all the other IDIOT stuff they do and yet are treated like kings and queens - all because they are smarties. It angers me that so many would give their left eyeball to be a Harvard graduate but a fair few enrolled have zero respecy for the establishment and care not for its rank and regard. 

How I wish we could have entered the largest private library system in the world and be among 18 million volumes! Forced to settle for snaps on the steps, promising to be very 'proper' PSYCH! Then I pretended I was a new student, sauntering around the Harvard Yard, trying to fit in. Seeing the John Harvard statue of the founder (which isn't really modelled after his true likeness) we were grossed out to learn, it is frequently whizzed on! This was affirmed by a student cycling past who warned those who'd dismissed that as a myth, rubbing his feet for luck 'people pee on that!'  

I CHERISH FOOD TRUCKS - To further fake that we were fellow undergrads, we grabbed take out from the campus food trucks. I more than enjoyed my first tastes of the spoils of The Chicken and Rice Guys - the grilled chicken plate, with toasted pitta, rice and hot sauce was delicious and MINE. It didn't take many mouthfuls to be all consumed by passionate love for this meal. The same cannot be said for the ghetto metro we had to ride -- it's not like I was scared of this mode of public transport... but I was. 

Geeking out at the Science behind Pixar exhibition with the girls at the 10,000 ft showcase with 40 interactive displays demonstrating the technology behind the remarkably, adorable films. A Fun Fact: During Up's production, each animator only generated 4 seconds of animation a week! Guests were given the go ahead to build a WALL-E robot, change the appearance of objects in Ratatoille, rig facial expressions of Toy Story characters, create water in Finding Nemo and give Lighting McQueen a new paint job and so very much more! I'm no stranger to these cartoons so to see all the mathematical formulas and scientific techniques that it takes to produce the pizazz on screen is crazy cool. The vivid animations from Pixar creations have always been nothing short of magical so I unrepentantly toyed with all the models. 

URBAN DANCE ACROBATICS: A PARTY WE WERE INVITED TO -  Approaching a street crew performance at Faneiul Hall was so cool and engaged a large crowd as they amazed. It was thought to be a pretty tall order for 1 of the team to leap through the air over 6 men and one little boy; we collectively held out breath as the man awesomely vaulted clear above everyone. The child was given $20 as a reward (for his brave risk-taking and not being injured) - how many other artistes give back like that? Listening to the love for them impressed as did their flips and synchronised stunts and fearless feats of daring. 

Tender memories of my time in Massachusetts will be taken away in my heart as I went for one final stroll around Boston Common to see the Christmas lights and Frog Pond skaters. Everything about this region of New England is lovable; so much so that it would be a perfect place to fall in love. I hope life will bring me back someday in the future, perhaps with my eternal companion. 

A BOSTON-THEMED LAST DESSERT - Jutta and I met with Yuko to go for my 2nd helping of Boston cream pie from Omni Parker House. It's a romantic food for all but it is still lovely just with new friends; this time I split it with Jutta and ours was garnished with blueberries and blackberries as well as the sole strawberries I had at my first sitting. I genuinely believe that the chef who whips these up is a purveyor of magic. 

We exchanged farewells back at the hospital and to my Aussie lads too. Walter (who works at HI) came to sit with me only to tell me how pretty he thought I was and how he hoped that had put a smile on my face.. and that fate will bring us together again!! I bet he says it to all the single ladies but he was right, he had put a grin above my chin. As expected, it was difficult to depart but it was time to go take a bite out of The Big Apple after my arduous Greyhound ride.