Yes, I know it’s “SEA”food not “see”food, but remember the old maxim, “Got a great diet. I see food, I eat it”.
In Boston on Sunday. Met up with the DSD to play tourist in “America’s Walking City”. Duck Tour done. Walked a lot. Hungry. Time for seafood!
So off we go to Legal Sea Foods @ Prudential Center! Got lucky as we arrived just before the dinner rush. Our waiter was pleasant and patient as I’m sure he’s had to deal with hungry tourists who want to devour the entire menu all the time. Dinner selections were classics; the idea is if they can’t make these right, they can’t make any food right at all. Happily, the entire meal was fattening and delicious! I think I’ll begin that detox diet after I get back…
Started with crab cake. Mmmmmm. That plate could actually be a meal.
Whatta deal, crab cake (from real real crab!) and a salad! Ate it all we did...
Clam Chowdah. Mmmm. Really good!
I had a whole lobster (split in half)!
One half is baked. Other half is steamed. So I’ve got stoned, angry lobster halves…
DSD and I have excellent eating skills, honed from devouring shellfish at many, MANY Chinese banquets. The result?
Itsy Bitsy Lobster parts…cracked and sucked clean!
After all that, couldn’t even LOOK at the dessert menu. Walked all the way back to the Common.
Swan Boats in the Boston Public Garden
Must Eat
Duck Tour
It’s Sunday in Boston! What to do, what to do? Well if you’re a complete tourist (and who isn’t when they’re visiting a strange place), you eat and do silly tours. First the silly tour! Eating later!
quack quack, whooooo!
Boston Duck Tours (apparently there are Duck Tours all over the world) is a tour of Boston’s touristy parts in a duck. Well officially a DUKW. WWII surplus that’s still in use today. And still seaworthy. But instead of crossing the Charles River to invade and liberate Cambridge from the forces of the politically correct, we just swam around in the river. Fun! The Duck Tours here are extremely popular and the weekends are usually sold out. Fortunately DSD has a concierge in her hotel who was able to swing some tickets. “the concierge is yr fren!”
A tip of the hat to a WWII phenomonon
The tour itself takes you around downtown and much of the tourist areas that are accessible by road. Of course, if you’ve got time, chances are you’ve seen much of these spots already on foot. But if you’re pressed for time, this is a fun alternative. You also get to see things that don’t have the same impact if you were to see them on foot.
The fancy cable stayed Charles River Bridge.
When we were in the Charles, we went under several bridges and learned about various buildings on the waterfront. The most fun thing was that the guide asked for volunteers (first kids then kid like adults) to steer the boat.
The approach to the river where the duck began to swim…
I didn’t step up BTW. I behaved myself. Although it looked fun…
Somehow things look nicer when seen from da water
See what I mean?
Assorted Bah-ston Landmarks
Bah-ston was where the Revolution began. There’s a LOT of history here.
This is the Park Street Church next to Boston Common. This is NOT the Old North Church where Paul Revere got the signal for his ride.
Elegant Spire
This is the New State House, brand new since 1797. It’s the home of the Massachusetts State Government.
Looks impressive at night
The New State House is at the top of Beacon Hill, a really posh area that’s like stepping back in time (except for all those horseless carriages and stuff).
It’s lit by gaslamp, has bricks laid streets and NO PARKING to speak of
And when you see this hovering above you, you know you’re near Fenway Park!
Yup, a big oil company sign.
Lawyer’s Office!
I was puttering around Hah-vahd Square this afternoon when I looked up and saw that my attorney has offices here!
Say the names out loud to get the joke
I didn’t go up to say hello because then it would be considered an office visit with a one hour minimum consultation fee…
Finally Beans!
I finally made it to the hostel where you can actually see Fenway Park from my window facing Comm Ave.
That’s the park in the middle. The Green Monster must be sleeping…
Getting here was a bit tedious since the T is old and escalators were one of those newfangled inventions that was to be avoided, back in the day. Lots of stairs. Luggage. A guy who just got off the redeye AND the connecting flight. Did I mention that it’s raining here? Priceless.
From BOS, you take a shuttle basi for 10 minutes or so to the T station. There, there was a Massachusetts State Trooper on station. He was armed with an MP5 with a flash suppressor. Serious stuff, so I declined to take a snap.
I took the Blue Line and transferred to the Green Line. The hostel is across the street and down 1/2 block from Kenmore station so it was convenient. And even though check in is at 12 noon, I looked soo knackered that the desk staff found me a room that was ready to go. Nice lah!
The flight in was uneventful. I was actually upgraded! Waaaaaah! So I sat in my big seat, had a cuppa coffee and promptly passed out for the duration of the 1.2 hour flight. So if there WAS anything that happened, I missed it.
I did notice something about people here in Boston. They are FAT. Really fat. As in unhealthy fat. It’s got to do with how they eat. Example: back home, regular coffee means black. Here, it’s tons of cream and sugar. Yeech.
Time for a shower. Got 7+ hours of plane and train on me. Yeech.
IAD Death March
When I arrived at IAD, I had 30 minutes to walk (what seemed to be) at least a kilometer to get from gate C15 to D15.
Can anyone tell me why lidat?
I mean, does “shuttle” or “train” mean anything to the Washington Airports Authority? How about AirCon? Because once you crossed the line that separates Terminals C and D, the AirCon disappeared. Yeech.
Thank goodness it was at this ungodly hour otherwise there would be teeming masses of humanity (and humidity) making it worse still!
On the plane now, going to Boston.
From Gate 83, SFO
Is there EVER a United Airlines flight that:
is NOT packed to the gills? I’m surprised that they don’t sell the seats in the Lavatories…
AND
you can actually use your 500 mile upgrades??
None? I thought so. More from Beantown!
Beantown and the Red Eye
It reads like the City of Boston dealing with an downsized Cylon. More Cylon Cillyness (erm, Centurion) here.
I’m off to Boston on the red-eye. I get to attempt to sleep on the non-stop to DC (hope hope hope the plane is empty!) and then change planes to Boston Logan. So I’ll arrive somewhere around 0830.
I’ve never “done” Boston properly, like I’ve done many of my other destinations (HKG, NRT, SIN, et al). On my previous visits, I’ve always gone there to visit people I knew out there and these trips would often be short. So this trip, I’m staying at a hostel (the most EXPENSIVE hostel I’ve ever stayed at becuase Boston lodging is just THAT expensive), doing touristy stuff and (best of all), eating local speciality food!!
Thank goodness the heat wave that’s been baking the East Coast has finally broken…Pix and food coming soon!
Apparently I’m from Bowling Green, Kentucky…
according to the result of this silly quiz,
I’m a Chevrolet Corvette!
You’re a classic – powerful, athletic, and competitive. You’re all about winning the race and getting the job done. While you have a practical everyday side, you get wild when anyone pushes your pedal. You hate to lose, but you hardly ever do.
Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.
Bourdain in Beirut
Most people that know me know that I watch Anthony Bourdain’s show, No Reservations religiously. He’s also got a new book out and he’s doing a tour to promote it. Interview here.
There’s something cool about a chef who smokes and drinks too much and eats almost anything presented to him getting a travel show. If u dun have cable, not to worry. It’s on the iTunes Music Store too.
Anyway, he was in Beirut filming an episode of No Reservations when all hell broke loose. When he got back to the US, he did a webchat. It began with: “…cleaning out the minibar…” and continues with praise for the US Marines and disdain for the local Embassy.
Sounds about right…