JFK Presidential Library and Freedom Trail

And I'm back again... to blog more about Boston. Because starting Day 5, that's when Beth was no longer in her conference all day and we could hit all of the sites!

First up, we headed out to the JFK library. I've always been fascinated with the Kennedys and so it was a thrill for me to geek it up at the Presidential museum. 

At the metro stop where we caught the shuttle to the museum, I saw this...

Apparently we don't do it like the British do (see Doctor Who/Tardis)

It's right next to UMass and right on the water. Very pretty.

I took plenty of pictures inside the museum, but here are a few favorite things that I saw.

Shortly after the assassination, Jackie Kennedy was interviewed about her husband and his presidency. Her quotes were found all around the museum to give perspective.

I adored this quote. I felt an affinity to JFK because I'm always reading.

"I wish I had had more good times."

I reflected on that. I too wish that I enjoyed my life a bit more than I do and maybe didn't complain so much about missed opportunities and what not.

Again... affinity with books.

I saw this quote when I first saw Thirteen Days and I loved it. 

I also fell in love with Jackie Kennedy. 

According to the 1947 yearbook entry she was most known for her wit. (I hope that someone says that about me one day).

Her ambition: Not to be a house-wife.

Made me laugh.

Gorgeous weather.

After that, we headed back into town and I made us each lunch at the Hard Rock Café.

Maybe you will laugh but I've always wanted to eat at a Hard Rock Café. It was the thing to do in the 90s, I swear, and I was a kid then... so I never went.

Proof that childhood wishes do come true...

And then we went back to the Boston Commons to start on the Freedom Trail.

This was the thing that everyone told us to do (besides Mike's Pastry).

This was the visitor's center where we spent $3 and got a map.

Beth played navigator.

Stop 1 of Freedom Trail... The Boston Commons.

Stop 2: State Capitol

Off the beaten path: I wanted to live in one of these buildings.

Stop 3: Park Street Church

Inside Park Street Church.

Beth's boss called and she had to answer. I made her take a picture.

Stop 3: Old-time cemetery.

No... Ben Franklin is not buried there, but his parents are!

The no longer existing gravestone to the left is apparently Mother Goose's grave marker.

Paul Revere's final resting place.

John Hancock...

The fallen men of the Boston Massacre.

Sam Adams

Some church... I can't remember which...

Goofing off in one of the sites...

And... a hall... I can't remember which. Look it up.

Where the Boston Massacre took place. Maybe I should have looked more somber...

In front of Paul Revere's house

The Old North Church (one if by land... two if by sea)

Boston...

USS Constitution/Old Ironside

Me driving Ol' Ironside

And yes... we did hike up to Bunker Hill.

It was a long walk and we were both tired but we went!

After all that we went back down to our hotel and found a nail place and got manicures and pedicures. Pampering is always good for the soul. Then we wandered around trying to find somewhere to get some food.

Sadly... it was closed.

We ended up at Trader Joe's and then got back to the hotel around 9:30 and turned on a movie. I'm telling you, we really enjoyed the night life in Boston!

Off to Boston... Day 4... Down with Tyranny! Huzzah!

Delayed posting again. Sorry. It's been crazy at work and with school starting. I haven't quite gotten my routine down. Which explains why I'm blogging instead of going to bed. Oh well!

So, Day 4 began as the others did with me chilling, watching the news, getting some work done. 

My internship advisor from the summer lives in the Boston area, so she came and picked me up from the hotel and we went out to lunch over by Harvard and had an opportunity to meet in person. It was fun to connect again!

Afterwards, I got back to the hotel just as Beth arrived and off we went onto our next adventure (and also to celebrate the fact that the conference was over!!).

I planned a trip to the Boston Tea Party Museum. It's apparently a recent addition to the Boston experience where you basically join a couple of actors and reenact the whole Tea Party deal, with plenty of "Huzzah", "Here, here" and "Well said." Of course, our group was small and I began it by bantering our two lead actors. But they seemed to enjoy it. 

Throwing the tea into the Harbor...

The actors are pretty good photographers too.

I delayed the throwing of the tea to get this shot... people were angry.

They took us through and told us the whole story leading up to the Revolutionary War. At the end we watched a video and then they told the story of "My Country Tis of Thee" and asked that we sing along. It was kind of moving to sing that song. Made me a bit more patriotic. 

Our tour ended in the little cafe and of course I had to try a chocolate chip cookie. Nope... still doesn't compare to the chocolate chip cookie at Disneyland. 

Me and Sam Adams... I mean, I totally can be a revolutionist, right? I certainly know how to stir up trouble...

Nearby was The Barking Crab that my friend Eliza recommended. We wanted some good seafood so we went over. They told us it was a ridiculously long wait unless we promised to be out of there in 45 minutes. I think it took us 35. It was delicious.

Afterwards, we strolled through the Boston streets enjoying the great weather, the freedom, and dreaming of living there.

The state house...

We made it down to the Charles for sunset. It was beautiful.

And there was a dance class happening on the dock. We did not join.

Afterwards, we headed to get some ice cream and ran into the Cheers Bar.

Of course we stopped and took pictures:

And then peeked inside. Beth said, "this doesn't look anything like on TV."

And so we went for the ice cream and then headed back to the hotel. 

Home by 10pm. We're good like that.