Are We There Yet?

I decided to start off my Boston trip with the very first picture that I had taken there. Coming from a small town in Boca Raton, Florida with only one season all year round, I was completely in awe when I first laid eyes on the colors of the leaves on the trees. I have most definitely seen green, I traveled to New York for Christmas as a child every year to witness nude branches, I have viewed pink and white Cherry Blossom leaves, but October in Boston 2009 first introduced to me to yellow...

...and orange! From a distance, it's as if the trees are on fire. Now living up north in New York, I finally experienced my own Fall season, and I could not believe the changing-of-the-leaves ceremony only occurs for a couple of weeks! I had imagined an orange Fall for at least a few months.

Here is a picture of Andres and I embarking the Boston Duck Tours, land and sea. If you are looking to become well acquainted with the city, I highly suggest taking this 50-80 minute, narrated tour. How does the Boston Duck Tour rule out any other tour? Not only does this amphibious vehicle take a dip halfway into the Charles River, but did I mention that each bus is an authentic WWII landing vehicles, which has been renovated for sightseeing purposes?

Boston Duck Tours

Do not forget to inquire about student discounts. 

And to our right, we have... Wendy's? Can you tell that I am a tourist? After my Northern transformation, I can barely remember what it is like to calmly park my car in a widespread parking lot, or leisurely drive through a window and order my food. I found a two-story fast-food chain astonishing and never imagined it awkwardly placed inside a big building with housing above it. 

A little piece of home... I have taken for granted the peacefulness of not scrounging for a quarter to feed the meters, or stress about squeezing my car into a yay-big paralleled parking spot, wondering if its Monday-Friday between 9:45-6:30pm except holidays. 

Cruising along the tour, we came across the Boston Common, A.K.A Central Park of Bahston. Boston Common is known as the oldest park in the United States, dating back since 1634. Originally used as a military camp in the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the park is now a great place for leaisurley activities such as picnics, bike rides and dog walks. 

At the northern end of the Common, sits the Massachusetts State House, seating the government of Commonwealth of Mass. 

Fun Fact: The staircase leading from Beacon Street to Doric Hall inside of the building is only opened on three occasions: 

1.  When the president of the United States enters.

2. On the tradition of the Governor exiting the building on his last day in office.

3. Whenever a regimental flag returns from battle. 

A really cool picture of a reflection inside the glass building of the Custom House.

Here is a picture of the Holocaust Memorial of New England. Standing at 54 feet high, these glass towers stand as a reminder of the tragic events. Even during the night fall, the towers gleam shedding light and respect for every individual affected. The website is below; it is very intriguing.

Holocaust Memorial

Here is an actual piece of the Berlin Wall, one of many segments given to various organizations across the world since 1989.

"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" This is a picture of where the Battle of Bunker Hill took place on July 17, 1775.  Standing in granite at 221 feet tall, the monument stands on Breed's Hill where the majority of the battle actually took place. You can actually visit inside of the monument, however, there are no elevators inside of the 294 step walk-up.

Hours of Operation: Daily from 9:00am- 5:00pm. 

Admission: Free

Here is a picture of our ConDUCKtor steering us through the murky waters while providing passengers with a well informed narrated tour of Boston.

Here is a photograph of fellow duck tours passing us in the river. 

Say Cheese!

No, Andres did not hijack the tour; the conDUCKtors offer smaller passengers the chance to steer the ship, and our Andres could not pass up an opportunity like that. 

Back on land, (and on our feet) an old friend and I decided to check out the Quincy Market. Constructed in 1824-1826, the national building stands near Faneuil Hall and is known to Bostonians as a popular food source. Containing a variety of restaurants, fast-food joints and bakeries, the two-story seating area is popular for workers in the downtown area to enjoy a hot lunch.

This is a picture of inside the Sam Adams brewery. Whether a fan of beer or not, I highly recommend taking a tour of the brewery. This tour provides people with knowledge of how the beer is made and properly tasted, offering free samples of Sam Adams beer at the end. The smell of the Hallertau hops used to make the beer is so strong and it literally stays with you until departure. Tours are 

Monday-Thursday: 10am- 3pm (last tour starts at 3), Friday: 10am- 5:30, and Saturday: 10am-3pm.

Samuel Adams Brewery

Here is a picture of Andres and I on a short ferry ride out to Charleston Navy Yard to visit the U.S.S Constitution. This is such a great shot of the Boston skyline. I suggest taking the ferry rather than walking or any other form of transportation in order to enjoy a marvelous view. Departing from the Ticket Center downtown, the ferry does not cost more than 5 dollars. 

Here is a photograph of Andres at the U.S.S Constitution. The 45-minute guided and narrated tour takes you aboard the three-masted heavy frigate of the United States. Known as the oldest, floating commissioned naval vessel, the ship stands as a reminder of the Navy's role in war and peace, and it is educationally enriching as it offers information and fun facts about its duties. Museum is also available.

Fun Fact: The ship was first launched in 1797

Tours Operate: Daily, every hour from 10:30am-3:30pm

Here is a photograph of Andres and I aboard the ship, standing with one of its life savers.

Here is a picture of Andres registering for classes at Harvard... :) 

Fans of Will and Grace? The full set of the show is stored in a friend's library at her college in Emerson. 

This is a picture of a T-shirt that we saw inside of airport. I absolutely adored it. This shirt completely mocks the heavy Bostonian accent in which we found almost incomprehensible at times, especially during tours! (Pictures are provided at the end of each sentence which we needed when speaking with half of these natives.)

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed our time in Boston. October was a great time to visit, especially, Halloween weekend. Considering it was a bewitched time to visit, and we were in Boston for the weekend, you did not think that we would actually leave without visiting... Salem?