Boston & Back Home...

Honestly, It’s hard to write this entry to the blog while sitting at home on my couch...1) because the first (well, if you count Balmorhea, the second actually) leg of the Queen’s Travel Tour has come to an end :( ... 2)I’m at home and I’m exhausted and on my couch in my pjs, which means it’s hard to stay awake... and 3) I’ve written the rest of the entries at a remote location still in the midst of the atmosphere I’m writing about, but I’m hoping my notes and memories will hold up and make this entry interesting and informative as well...I did just finish up a Sonic lunch and have my Rt 44 diet dp with vanilla (oh, the joys of my hometown) sitting right here, so maybe that’ll be fuel to keep me going... here it goes...

On Wednesday morning I had my last lovely breakfast at the Hawthorne Inn ((btw, if you ever get to Concord -- pronounced Concurd, not Con-Cord as I tended to pronounce it before and also the famous resident Thoreau is Thorough, not Thu-Row...the other incorrect pronunciation I used to use -- you should definitely stay at the Hawthorne Inn. It’s lovely and the innkeepers are outstanding)) The breakfast consisted of a warm peach cobbler (or pan dowdy is what I’d call it because the crust was thick and on top of all the fruit except the few roasted peaches added on top,) yogurt with homemade granola and cheese. I then waited for the Sunshine Taxi company to come and carry me in to Boston. I again had the driver with the Boston brogue and curly grayish mullet and again he talked to me about my stay in Concord, the Inn and some of the best sites to see in Boston. He delivered me, despite a good deal of early morning Boston traffic, to the Lenox Hotel after a fairly brief 25 minute drive.

The Lenox, which was recommended to me by Dr. Kordestani’s new practice partner - and I owe her a big, big thank you because I hadn’t a clue about where to stay and the Lenox was near perfect --is a beautiful and luxurious hotel in a splendid location. The Lenox literally sits in the shadow of the Prudential building. I arrived long before the check-in time, but the staff was more than happy to store my bags and point me in the right direction to catch the Old Towne Trolley that would transport me to the sites of Boston. There are 17 stops on the tour, but frankly, one day is no where near long enough to see them all, so I as I walked the short block or so to the Copley Square Marriot where the Trolley would pick me up.

I immediately saw the Duck Tours drop off, but didn’t see where I was supposed to catch the Trolley. As I stood there staring at my map, a wonderfully helpful and friendly Bostonian in her skirt and sneakers with her briefcase in hand was kind enough to point me to the valet area of the Marriot where the Trolley would actually stop within 15 minutes to pick me up. I immediately had a great impression of the city from the staff at the Lenox and this Boston woman who had no reason to stop and help me, but did so anyway. I got on the Trolley and headed to the first place I decided I’d stop -- Fenway Park.

Ok, I’m not traditionally a huge Red Sox fanatic and frankly didn’t know all that much about the team...I mean, I was aware of the curse of the Bambino and the Green Monster, but I didn’t know much more than that. I AM, however, a HUGE fan of baseball (it is America’s pastime AND what could be better than a game that’s whole goal is... to get home safe!!!) and at some point I’d really love to see every major league ballpark, so this was a GREAT opportunity and Fenway is a GREAT ballpark.

I paid the $12 tour ticket fee and waited the 15 minutes til the tour started. The tour was great. The first big stop was the right field seating deck. These seats are phenomenal!!! They are assigned by lottery and you only get one game and four tickets (which equals one table) when you win the lottery. The incredibly cool thing about the seats is that there is a Budweiser bar and grill up there AND if you win the tickets you get to watch the game there AND have someone wait on you the entire time so that you don’t miss a second of the action from your excellent perch above the field...And, speaking of the field, that’s where we headed next...And, it was so cool!!! Being on the field of a major league ballpark is an outstanding experience. The grounds-workers were busy preparing the beautiful grass and baselines for a game with Baltimore later in the day. We walked along the back edge of the field right in front of the Green Monster...We learned about the history of the building of the ballpark and the Green Monster AND got to see the door that leads to the area behind the Green Monster where apparently many, many famous baseball players throughout the years have left their autographs.

The next stop was again up top...On top, in fact, of the Green Monster. The latest owner of the franchise and ballpark has made many efforts to increase seating and one of the areas he has done that in is a seating section on top of the Green Monster. On the way up to the top we also saw the red seat in the midst of all the green outfield seats. If you don’t know, the red seat marks the spot where the longest homerun was hit.

The seats on top of the Green Monster would again be another place at this ballpark that would be an incredible place to watch a game. These are also sold by lottery for one game per win and a four ticket minimum. And these seats are AWESOME. From this vantage point, there is at least a fairly good chance that you might get to take home a homerun ball...if not from a game, there is also a special batting practice that you can buy tickets to where you just might get a baseball to take home.

From the seats atop the Green Monster we went back down into a section of seats that are actually the original seats from the ballpark from almost 100 hundred years ago that were removed, restored, and re-installed in the ballpark. We sat in these seats for the end of the tour that included a great deal of historical information about the ballpark, franchise and the retired jersey numbers on the outfield rim.

I finished the really informative and enjoyable tour by visiting the team store across the street. I bought a lapel pin, of course, and also bought AJ a baseball laces bracelet because I know there are probably other Sox fans in my group of friends, but he loves them more than anyone else I know of.

I headed into the CVS at the corner by the ballpark to grab a diet DP and some more camera batteries -- which I have come to realize are essential tools for success on a day of sight seeing -- and wait for the Trolley to come back around.

My next stop was going to be Harvard Square...However, on the way over to Cambridge, I realized that once I got to the Trolley stop I would have to ride the subway or walk more than a mile to get to Harvard Square. At this point, it was already afternoon and I didn’t think I had the time to saunter through Harvard, which was distant from all the other attractions I wanted to see, and still see a bulk of Boston in the one day I had to drink it in. So, I did see the campus of MIT and learn a bit about that school -- as well as learning that there are something like 38 or more institutions of higher learning in Boston (and it’s hard for me not to love a place that has that many institutions dedicated to education in its midst) -- and I stayed on the Trolley as we headed by many more lovely sites of Boston. (Besides I had already seen the Harvard campus on my cab ride to Concord and I could buy my Harvard hoodie, the one souvenir I knew I wanted from Boston, somewhere else in the area.)

The Trolley then took us past the Boston Commons and many other attractions. I was struck by how many beautiful parks and natural locations there are in Boston. It’s a bustling urban area with skyscrapers and narrow streets crowded with businesses, but among the many narrow streets and historical locations are nestled numerous preserved naturally beautiful parks.

Soon we headed to the Trolley terminal. At that stop a rider can easily walk to Quincy Market (which is a great cobblestone pathed shopping area,) Faneuil Hall - a historical location (and Faneuil Hall Marketplace -- which it seems is basically an extension of Quincy Market,) the Waterfront and the North End.

These shopping areas are beautifully situated across a street from the waterfront and combine such retail locations as Coach, Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret, and others as well as local stores such as Lucy’s League (which carries really cute women’s sports team fanware and college clothes and which is where I ended up buying my Harvard hoodie and the really cute matching pj bottoms,) Bostonian Society Shop, and a replica restaurant of the Cheers bar (which is actually located in another part of Boston I visited later,) and numerous kiosks selling everything from purses to socks and wrap dresses to scarves. The area is also heavily populated with restaurants, which I was definitely interested in as it was well after 1 and I hadn’t had lunch. I considered the replica of Cheers, but because it was only about 65 degrees and breezy what I really wanted was some good New England Clam Chowder because that was one New England treat I surely didn’t want to miss. I decided on a seafood speciality restaurant called KingFish Hall. I had a wonderful cup of chowder and a Lobster Salad. The chowder was really good and the Lobster Salad was not only tasty, but also presented beautifully. After enjoying my lovely lunch, I felt re-fueled to see more sites.

I headed back across the street to the edge of the North End area and walked down a couple of streets (which are heavily populated with what I’ve been told are excellent Italian restaurants brought there by the Italian immigrants that settled the area.) Since I wasn’t hungry and didn’t need to do more shopping, I decided to head to the Waterfront area. Sailboats and yachts dotted the water and numerous boats of all sizes were present in the slips. There was a nice area to sit on the boardwalk and enjoy the area, but the wind off the water was cold, and I’d also very unfortunately developed a headache.

I decided to jump back on the next Trolley and head to my hotel for at least a few minutes. We passed the North Church Tower, where the famous lamps where hung in the belfry on the night of Paul Revere’s ride, the cemetery where Paul Revere and other patriots are buried, Boston Gardens, the USS Constitution, Bunker Hill and also the original (and still operating) location of Cheers. We also saw a wedding taking place in the Boston Public Garden near the statue of the ducklings and their mother inspired by the book Make Way for Ducklings. During this portion of the tour, we actually took a few unscheduled detours in the area near Bunker Hill and beyond. Apparently two movies are being shot in Boston - one starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz and one starring Ben Affleck. We didn’t actually see the stars, but we did encounter a lot of signs pointing to various sets and also lots of large trucks that apparently move all the paraphernalia needed to make a movie.

I actually ended up seeing a good deal of Boston on this ride back to my hotel. And, although, I have not ever denied that I’m directionally challenged, I did figure out that Trinity Church -- which I definitely wanted to see closer up -- and the Prudential were going to be within easy walking distance of my hotel.

When I arrived at the Lenox, I went up to my room for the first time. It was an exquisite west-facing room with a wonderful view of Boston. My window faced the view down Boylston Street and the Prudential Building. I was pleased with my accommodations, but was still suffering from a headache. I tried resting for a few minutes, but it wasn’t helping. I decided to grab a jacket -- which I definitely needed on the cool slightly windy streets -- and try to find somewhere to get some Tylenol. I stopped by the concierge desk to ask where I might get something for a headache. He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a packet of two Extra Strength Tylenol and then asked me to wait just one second while he went and got me a cold bottle of water...Ummm, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but I LOVE a hotel with a concierge. Like room service, maybe it’s unnecessary and indulgent and something you pay more for that you might not actually ever need...((not sure why, but that description also reminds me of insurance -- something else that may not be necessary and may also never use, but...)) if you do ever need concierge services, ie, Tylenol, directions, restaurant suggestions, transportation, tickets to an event (which by the way Tom, the concierge, told me he could get me for that night’s Sox game,) or any other little bit of help, it’s so nice to have someone there whose whole job is to provide those things for you, and who in my experience do so happily and kindly and as promptly as possible...(gotta admit makes me kinda wish I had my own personal assistant...i know, crazy and super over-indulgent, but I’m just saying...)

Feeling a bit better, and certainly well enough to walk down the block to the park in front of Trinity Church to take some pics and enjoy that area for a while, I asked Tom for one more bit of direction (where should I go in easy walking distance in addition to Trinity Church? and he quickly answered with the recommendation to go to the Prudential, enjoy the nice shopping center and definitely go up to the 52nd floor, the Top of the Hub, and have a drink and/or dinner) and headed off with my camera in hand.

The Trinity Church is beautiful and has a fountain, a grassy area and several places to sit outside of it. The tortoise and the hare -- you know, from the children’s story AND one of the symbols of the Boston marathon -- statue is also at the end of one of the benches and that’s where I decided to sit and finish my water, relax and take some pics while I waited for the Tylenol to completely kick in.

Up until this point, I had really not noticed many homeless people in Boston, but apparently this area in front of the Trinity was a place where many congregated. I never really felt apprehensive and in some ways I guess I felt like seeking refuge in the shadow of a beautiful church seemed somehow appropriate. The Boston Public Library also sits at the west end of the park area in front of the Trinity. I took some photos and although the Prudential was to the west, I decided to head east. I just wanted to see a bit more of Boston on foot and I knew that Boylston street was supposed to be a safe, somewhat upscale, area. I walked a few blocks mostly observing the people and places, went a couple of blocks south and then headed back west toward the Prudential.

I entered the Prudential Center from the north side walked through the food court and wandered around the shopping area. I sauntered through the Barnes & Noble and window shopped at other stores. I had looked around the very pretty shopping area for some time, but still hadn’t quite figured out where to go up to the 52nd floor. My hunger and my tiring feet led me to ask a security officer exactly where I needed to go to find my way to the Top of the Hub.

I rode the elevator up and saw what is my favorite memory and view of Boston. It was shortly before dusk and the view from the 52 floors up was breathtaking. I was fortunate enough to get a window table and I was so pleased that I did. I sat at the table enjoying a couple of blueberry mojitos, a shrimp scampi flatbread sandwich and mostly the view. As the sun set it cast beautiful colors across the windows of the modern structures before me. It also cast stunning colors across the waterways including the bay, the Charles River and the ocean that were all visible from the perch above the city. The brownstones and other historical buildings across the city absorbed the color of the coming night and became sharply defined angles and curves against the night sky. I was mesmerized. As nightfall came and the lights below began to twinkle, I felt myself growing very relaxed and really ready to head back to my room and in to bed. I made one last stop at the Paradise Bakery in the food court on the way out and grabbed a chocolate chip cookie and a couple of bottles of diet Dr. Pepper.

The walk back in the cool Boston night was mostly pleasant...I say mostly because although I’ve become increasingly more comfortable with walking alone even in cities where I’ve never been, I don’t suppose I will ever get used to homeless people who are shouting obscenities at themselves or me or whomever it is they are talking to...As I got back to the Lenox, I was greeted by the doorman, who also pushed the call button for the elevator for me-- again, I realize that this sort of service isn’t really necessary, and probably not cheap, but I don’t mind admitting as ridiculously extravagant as it likely is, I like it, I like fancy -- I entered my room and immediately went over and opened up my curtains and windows, slipped in to my pjs, turned on my computer and to record my reflections of the day and talked to mom on the phone for a bit.

I went to sleep to the sound of my classical tunes from my iPhone, but also to the sound of the city street and strangely to the smell of pizza cooking or some such baked goodie.

I slept in on Thursday morning, partly from travel exhaustion I’m sure and partly from reluctance to face the day that would end my journey and take me home. After a long shower and a light breakfast from room service, I packed up all my things -- stretching my suitcase to its limits since I’d bought not only a hoodie, but also matching pj pants AND had a free t-shirt to pack from spending over $50 at Lucy’s the day before -- I headed down to check out with my bottle of Diet DP in my hand and asked the concierge about transportation to the airport. For roughly the same price as a cab, (ok, it was probably $15 more) I could take the hotel car service to the airport. A black Suburban pulled around, they loaded my bag and just minutes before the noon check out time, I rolled away from the exquisite Lenox and toward Logan airport.

Things went smoothly with the check in -- ok, with the small exception of the brusk attendant of the metal detector who bellowed not only at me for not placing my laptop in a separate bin (which by the way was not available since I’d picked up the last bin for my stuff) but also huffed at several Japanese women who also didn’t place there items on the x-ray belt in a way that was to her liking. Unfortunately the same woman did my pat down and I suppose she could tell I was annoyed at her behavior or maybe just tired of being touched by someone I didn’t know, but she did end the pat down with a somewhat nice comment about my pedicure. And I headed off to my gate...

I had about an hour to kill before boarding the plane so I decided to have one more exploration of an unfamiliar locale and look around the airport. I saw something within about 10 minutes that caught my eye -- Legal’s Test Kitchen. Phil Evitt had suggested that I not leave Boston with chowder from Legal’s and since it was lunch time I thought why not enjoy one more bowl of New England Clam Chowder before I leave New England. Legal’s is apparently famous for their chowder and their crabcakes, according to the waitress, but since I’d had breakfast I decided on just a cup of chowder, which was, as Phil said it would be, truly fabulous.

As time to board my plane for Houston drew near, I really didn’t feel terribly excited about coming home. I wanted to see my family and my friends, I wanted unlimited access to Sonic and good Mexican food, but I didn’t really want the adventure to end. I headed to the gift shop -- the bag with the bulk of my souvenirs was being shipped back and I decided to grab some really small things to bring home from Boston for my nieces and nephews since their other souvenirs were from DC -- and grabbed a diet drink, unfortunately not diet DP --ok, so maybe this going home thing wasn’t going to be all bad...

The flight was uneventful, but long...today it seemed really, really long. I even got up and went up to the restroom - which is something I hate to do on an airplane...I read some, I tried to sleep some -- which is something else I can’t really do on an airplane...I played games on my iPhone and I waited to land. Once I got to Houston, I made the long trek to the next terminal, tripping on the moving sidewalk, and not quite falling, but thinking to myself how crazy it would be to walk the many many miles I had in the last 17 days and actually trip so close to home.

Something happened in the Houston terminal I hadn’t expected...Somehow being less than two hours from my home and back on the ground in the great state of Texas, I suddenly felt very, very ready to be home. The 40 minutes I had to wait to board my plane was much longer than any other 40 minute period in the last couple of weeks...

The flight home was a bit bumpy, we flew around several storms apparently, but nothing bad. I was so excited to see Ransom Canyon and then identify my parents home from up above as we descended in to Lubbock. Seeing my parents house made me so anxious to see their faces. And soon I was on the ground and on my way. Mom picked me up and we headed by Sonic (of course) and then by Kristie’s and on to mom and dad’s to pick up my car and King to head home.

I stayed at Mom and Dad’s for a while and I don’t think King was really all that anxious to leave -- he loves the freedom to run and play sans leash he has out there that he definitely doesn’t have at the apartment, but in 5 weeks he’ll be back out there again -- but I really was ready to sit down in my house, on my couch, on my balcony and put my head on MY pillow.

I arrived around 10 to a clean home (thank you so much Mom & Kaeley for doing that for me before I came home) and to a sweet message drawn by finger into the suede of my couch that said, “I LOVE You Aunt Mel.”...Wow, what a welcome home...HOME...maybe it’s not exciting, maybe it’s not full of great history or art, maybe it’s not elegant or excellent, but it’s home...and it’s familiar, and it’s family and friends, and I’m happier to be here than I really thought I’d be...

And, besides, I’ve got to be home for a while...I leave for NYC in 5 weeks!!! Til then my friends, thank you for taking my trip with me...I never felt like I was traveling alone and it was a comfort and a joy and an absolute pleasure to take you with me...I sure hope you enjoyed this adventure at least half as much as I did -- because even half as much would be a ton of enjoyment -- and I hope you rest up and get ready, we leave for NYC in 34 days...(oh, and we have a weekend trip to Houston two weeks from yesterday too...) Til then...Remember...

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller