Exploring Boston

I’m starting to adjust to eastern standard time and have had a bit of a lazy lie in…. until 3.30am this morning.

Yesterday was a day of exploring. It was a must to visit the Aquarium as Callan was bubbling with excitement so we decided to walk to the coast and take in the city on the way.

After walking through one of the parks we stopped at the Cheers bar which Amy had wanted to do. The boys had no idea what she was talking about and I’m obviously far too young to remember any of that.

We passed the Massachusetts State building which the boys liked because of the gold roof and stopped for the obligatory Starbucks (you can also see what a spectacular day it was). We’ve found using the notes app on the phone means you can have a game of noughts and crosses. Although I should say tic tac toe. It’s a dent to the pride though when you’re youngest son beats you at a game you everyone knows should always end in a draw.

We arrived at the Aquarium and were treated to a guided tour by Callan who appears to have memorised the names of a vast array of sea creatures. Of course the penguins were the best and we stood and watched as they took turns to eat fish and squabbled over the best rocky perch.

The main tank was a huge cylinder with a winding corkscrew walkway around the outside. It was four stories tall, teeming with fish and topped with turtle the size of a small car.

They also had some tanks where you could touch the animals and both boys loved feeling the bony and leather like feel of rays as they swam beneath their fingers.

As we exited the Aquarium we’d promised the boys an American McDonalds. It did mean a walk back into the city but when the word McDonalds has been mentioned it’s clung too with a vice like grip and the boys hold you fully to account if promises aren’t delivered.

Being in a new country it was obviously best to immerse yourself in the local culture and sample its finest cuisine. Mine was a Big Mac… Harrison had chicken nuggets which apparently tasted like chicken nuggets and Callan had a McChicken sandwich which…. you can see where I’m going with this one.

One of the things we’d really wanted to do was a boat trip out into the bay. Sadly the time of year had closed most of those trips but we found a river taxi that did the trick.

The boat dropped us off at Charlestown Navy Yard which was the home to the USS Constitution. A Museum and exhibit where you could go on the ship itself. By coincidence they had of all things a Lego building competition which the boys insisted on entering. Amy and I went and explored the Museum whilst the boys spent over an hour demonstrating their Lego brick ship building prowess.

Callan was convinced that either he or Harrison would win so we left our email address in anticipation.

We then went and boarded the USS Constitution. The oldest floating frigate from the war of 1812. The tour guide did mention that HMS Victory is older but she’s in dry dock so they glossed over that bit… He did pick up on Amy’s accent and so involved her in several parts of his speech about how the US defeated the British. He did smile and say it with love 🙂

After a short walk back over the North Washington Street Bridge we caught the train back to Copley. Everyone was getting weary but we had one final stop to do and that was to climb up the Prudential Tower to the sky walk.

Although not intended, the timing was perfect. We got to the top at dusk and saw the City change from day into night.

We spent about half an hour circling the observatory and picking out the places we’d been over the last couple of days. By now Callan was really tired but Harrison loved spotting the land marks and watching the aircraft line up to land.

Jutting out of the Horizon to the East you could see the New Hampshire mountains. A hint of the next stage of the journey to come.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Boston, more than I even thought I would. It feels old and somehow more grown up than the chaos and bustle of New York. So many place names are synonymous with the UK giving it a sense of familiarity yet still big, bold and American.

The hire car is booked so today holds the next adventure, an American road trip out across New England. Can’t wait!!