The Boston Coffee Gathering.

I’ve been looking forward to visiting Boston for some time. I can’t really tell you why, mostly because I don’t really know myself!
I think a few weeks in New York is enough time, both for things to do and for my wallet. Sad to leave though, it is a fantastic city...

Farewell.

Boston Common


Probably one of the most uninviting names for a central attraction of a city. The common is located pretty much central of downtown Boston but unlike another park in the center of a city I know of, doesn't manage to give the same detached feeling but instead seems more like a large playground with a few statues and monuments dotted around for tourists pleasure.
It does however serve as the starting point of Boston's main tourist feature...the Freedom Trail.

Walking the 'Trail..
In essence, the Freedom Trail is a red line marked out on the pavements of downtown Boston that serves to direct you to the points of interest in Boston relating to the beginnings of the American Revolution. A great idea I thought, means you can't get lost. I still did.

Among the points of interest:

The Old Meeting House - where the Boston Tea Party was proposed.

The Old State House - site of the Boston Massacre which incidentally, with 3 people killed, I'm not sure deserves the name - "You call that a massacre, THIS is a massacre...!"

I forget the significance of this! It was built to commemorate something. After climbing the 294 steps inside (I didn't count - there was a sign giving a health warning - sod the sign, put a lift in I say), it gave great views of Boston...

Cheers!
For those who don't know, the TV show 'Cheers' was based on a bar located in Boston. The picture below will be familiar from the opening sequence (without the people!)
Of course we had to go in for a beer. Overpriced but refreshing! Seems like the place has turned into another franchise outlet selling Cheers memorabilia and other tat.

On the theme of beer, at a different pub I had a beer called 'Sergeant Peppers Lonely Ale". It is a 'peppered' beer which aroused my curiosity. Pour 100g of pepper into a pint of ale and you'll share my experience!

Friends
We were able to meet up with a few friends whilst in Boston which was great fun.


Catching a gig (Bishop Allen) in the venue 'Middle East'. They were really good but we had to leave early to catch the last bus back to the hostel - pain.





Results of drinking games with Sylvia, Tara and friends.



The Hostel Experience.

Rooms - cramped apart from the bathroom which was of hotel standard. Nice being able to sh*t in luxury I suppose!Location - one bus ride and one metro ride (up to an hour) trip to downtown Boston. Not Ideal. I decided to walk into downtown one day, took me 3 hours.
Guests - very few.
Overall, not a great hostel pick but the only one of affordable price. Maybe next time I'll try selling some tea to pay for a nicer place?

A Further Slice of Boston

Aboard the USS Cassin Young, US Naval Destroyer.

Fenway Park - Oldest (and probably most famous) baseball park in America. Home of the Boston Red Sox.

Public Transport (The 'T')- worst experienced yet. Got stranded one night after we made a slight (drunken) mistake by waiting on the wrong side of the track. We missed the last tube (it was only 00:30) and had to fork out $50 for a taxi. See, drinking is expensive!

The hostel had a piano outside. Needless to say it sounded terrible. Improved Richards playing though.

A final slice of Americana...
Lovely.

Stuck in the middle.

As I'm sat writing this, I have a headache due to last nights beer drinking and Mythbusters on in the background, so forgive me in advance for mistakes in my speeling, grammer' and humour.

DC

A short trip to the Nations capital saw more museum visits than one can shake a museum stick at.
Among my favourites were the Holocaust Museum (for those who argue it never happened, I suggest places for you to stick said museum stick) and the childish and nerdy Air and Space Museum.

The Lincoln Memorial, White House and Capitol Hill were all still there serving their main purposes as tourist attractions.

DC is probably the cleanest city I have ever seen and for this reason, it lacks character and soul. I'd like to think if I ever returned, it would be for my presidential inauguration. You'd all be invited of course!

I'd like to take this opportunity (see, practicing my speech skills already!) to thank Jen for letting us stay at her home, which incidentally, is an amazing place (remote control fire place...yes please!)

A selection from the museums...

Coney Island, NY
We returned to New York for a few days as we still had a few things we'd like to do. Among a few of mine was a visit to Coney Island and Brighton Beach.How can this place possibly exist in NY city!? (Jo and Roisin: See what you missed!)
And how could I forget Nathans, home of the world famous hotdog eating competition. WHAT?!


BIG
Ofcourse, I don't feel any trip to NY is complete without a visit to FAO Schwartz which houses the infmaous 'floor piano' featured from the film 'Big'. Although we did learn it was not the atcual piano as this was bought by a someone for their 'private collection'. This piano has however, seen the feet of John Travolta, J-Lo, Tom Cruise and other people who aren't Tom Hanks.
Yes I played chopsticks, yes we kicked of some little kids to get our turn and yes, it is normal that you secretly want a go!

On the next episode....
We see the start of where it all went 'wrong' for America. Boston, the home of the American Revolution and yet further disgusting tea.

Stay Tuned.

Previously...

I thought I'd do a nicer-to-read blog this week, utilising more photos for those who don't like words.


The SubwayI think about 20% of any New Yorkers day are spent on the subway. Generally an uneventful experience unless the shitty cardboard Metro card gets a little damaged, which it inevitably will through heavy use. My problem led me to a gentleman who must have given 'How to be rude arrogant, yet still work with the public' lessons to immigration&customs officers. Most unhelpful was he.
I was given an envelope to post my faulty card and when asked if I could get a replacement the same day, a sharp 'No' emanated from behind his perspex rude box. Luckily, the card saw fit to work allowing me travel to Manhattan and indeed, back. We shall see how long it lasts until I have to buy a new one.
Sorry for the rant.

Central Park
Incredible. A few hour walk inside the frankly, out of place park, makes for an enjoyable relaxing afternoon as well as a time to use up the cameras batteries.

A lot more taken but I'll bore you with those upon my return!

Ground Zero
Haunting. There were building here when I last visited NY. It did feel strange, despite Welly-the-soulless not showing much interest. Currently building the 'Freedom Tower', one can't help but think of Armageddon (the film) at such a flag saluting, US-centric name.

Photography
In a city full of stunning views, its hard to find any orginiality when taking photographs. I could upload a few I'v taken of Grand Central, or Manhattan sky line, or any other of the numerous 'post card' photos that gets caught in peoples minds when they think of New York. I leave you will a few of my memories.

The last one to show that not all of New York is postcard worthy.

Thanks for reading!

"Stand clear of the closing doors please"

An 11:00 flight sounds great. At least it did until my alarm went off at 05:30 on Wednesday morning.

Of the many thoughts, emotions and feelings I was going through, I think the best word I chose at the time to sum them up was the one I text to Welly - 'Shit'!

It seems like there had been months and months of planning and its all that has been thought about for a while but truth is, I started packing the day before...in the evening, and apart from the next four days accommodation we had booked (see photographs) we had no idea what the hell we were going to do. Maybe we should have spent months and months planning, but where's the fun in that!?

The Journey to the airport, LHR T5, was as uneventful as they get. I suppose the M4 isnt known for producing thrilling tales for any traveler. Both mum and sister were asleep for the most of it, leaving my dad and I to discuss the complexities of life including the merits of eating at American diners vs McDonalds! These are the sorts of discussions that emanate pre the 09:00 ‘sensible o’clock’ watershed.

Airport goodbyes were as you probably imagine them to be.

Airport check-in smooth, breakfast’ ordered and consumed, plane boarded, Welly asleep.

A fairly turbulent takeoff, though not too severe to wake Welly and soon cruising at 39k.

Now, I absolutely love flying, and when I’m not able to do that, I love to take the plane – poor joke, sorry.

The in-flight entertainment, the ‘food’, the falling asleep to the gentle hum of the engines, I love it all. So I started with a few TV shows, Frasier and IT Crowd whilst the first rounds of drinks were served. After a quick doze, a Lasagne was put in front of me although the onset of even heavier turbulence meant I chose not to open it at risk of becoming engulfed in the nuclear hot airline food. Greed quickly set in so I decided to risk it. I now have a Lasagne stain on my jeans. Welly laughed..git!

Managed to finally watch slumdog millionaire, an ‘OK’ film. Rest of the flight I must have spent sleeping.

JFK landing, very smooth. No clapping though as I would have expected. This is a good thing.

Security checks long, customs boring, outside cold.

Again, a lack of planning meant we stood outside the airport for a while thinking of the best way to get to the hostel. I suggested the ‘AirTrain’ Welly just wanted a taxi. Ended up with the taxi who’s driver had less than no personality.

Went through some ‘interetsing’ areas, certainly to be avoided at night until we came to the hostel which, on the outside, didn’t look that inviting. Inside though, a pleasant surprise, room was big, airy and clean. All but 2 out of 10 bunks occupied, they were to be ours.

Met a few room mates, they were traveling as a party of 5 for 6 weeks. Seemed nice enough. Sleepiness kicking in. Went out for a bite to eat about 20:30 NY time, 01:30 brain time. A large cheeseburger and pint of Brooklyn lager (very nice) later it was 03:00 brain time and bed was calling. ‘Early’ night had.

Thursday, up at 06:30 NY time. Would usually be unhappy with this but it did mean we could have a good head start at the free breakfast provided by the hostel. Out to do some exploring by 09:00 starting with a long walk through Williamsburg, through the Jewish neighborhood through no intention. Nothing seemed to be open so decided on a trip Manhattan. Few hours spent here, won’t bore you with the usual tourist hot spots. Although we did manage to get lunch in the Diner the infamous ‘I’ll have what she’s having’ scene in When Harry met Sally was filmed. It did mean Welly paid $16 for a Turkey sandwich though - should have had the philly cheesesteak at $11, fool! Along with buying a phone and metro card, it was an expensive trip.

Back at hostel by 17:00, Welly had made contact with a friend living in Manhattan and arranged for us to meet in the evening. A short kip until then.

On subway back to Manhattan for meeting with Welly’s friend, Talei. “Stand clear of the closing doors please”. Stop. Train broken. Shit. Eventually, through a number of station & line changes, met in a great American bar. $6/drink, less great. It did however shoot down the ‘invisible staircase behind the bar’ gag in that, they actually did have a staircase behind the bar, proving me stupid as I claimed ‘what an old rubbish trick’. Talei had lots of good ideas for things to do which we discussed over Talei’s idea of ‘a very cheap restaurant’ at $15/meal, we differ here!

Finished off the night in another nice bar, $7/drink, less nice. Home by 00:30. Sleep.

Which pretty much brings me here, in a coffee house next to the hostel on Friday morning. Hoping for a cheaper day today. Maybe a walk to see what downtown Brooklyn has to offer.

Bonjour.