The day I took 332 pictures September 18, 2007

I’m a pictures addict, but I think I’ve never taken so many pictures. Today started early because some of my roomates woke up at 7.00 and then I did the same.
I started with a church close from my hotel (the Christian Science Church), then Trinity Church, then I went to Boston Commons (the park) and followed again the Freedom Trail. This time I did it all, from Boston Commons to Bunker Hill And the USS Constitution. Here’s the whole list: the State House, Park Church, Old Granary Burial Ground, King’s Chapel, the Old Corner Bookstore, the Old State House (I did visit it, but it was forbidden to take pictures), the Boston Massacre site, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the memorial for the victims of World War II (I know it’s not in the Freedom Trail, but I saw it anyway), Paul Revere’s House (did visit it too, no pictures again!!! the house is so old, simple and nice), Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, Bunker Hill (294 steps to get to the top, without lift to have a wonderful view on Boston) and the USS Constitution (did visit it too, and also the Cassin Young, another - and more recent - navy boat). All this was a very long walk but I finished visiting the Cassin Young around 1.30pm, wich allowed me to do other things: I went to the aquarium because I could get my ticket for a short cruise in the harbor. Instead of waiting stupidly 45min for the next cruise, I decided to take the time to visit the aquarium before and took a ticket for the 3.30pm cruise.
The aquarium is small but great. I took a lot of pictures there (like in all the other places today).
The cruise was fun too but the sun wasn’t on the right side to take pictures. You know what? Boston is small!! I shouldn’t have come here after NY!!!
I went to the Science Museum to get a ticket for the “Boston Duck Tour”, a fun tour of the city by car, but it was already too late: almost everything ends at 5.00pm here in Boston!!! It’s incredible!
After this, I went back to the hostel, had something for dinner and went to the top of the Prudential Center , and guess what? It was open today!! It was already the night and the town is just wonderful with all its lights!
Now, I let you because I really need to sleep.

The day I left NY September 17, 2007

This morning I woke up early (6.30am… who said holidays were cool???), had a fast breakfast (a very yummy spices & orange cake I bought on Staten Island yesterday) and took the subway to Chinatown to take my bus. As always, I arrived early because you almost never wait for the subway here and you always find your way easily. While waiting for the bus, I started speaking Russian with an Armenian lady taking the bus to Boston. She has several grand-children living in France… the world is soooo small!!!!

At 9.00, our bus left Chinatown, took Manhattan bridge (it’s very high above the river), crossed the Queens, the Bronx and then left NY. After 4h30 on the highway surrounded by trees, we arrived in Boston. Ahahah!!! The town is muuuuuuch smaller than I imagined!!! Before the bus stopped, I had already seen several buildings and other places I planned to visit. I shouldn’t loose time going from one place to another.
The bus stopped at South station. I took the subway to the hotel, left my luggage there and started my visit at 3.00pm. Tonight, I’m back at the hotel and I’ve seen Boston Common, America’s oldest public park, more than the half of the Freedom Trail : the State House, Park Street Church (under restoration), Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel and its Burying Ground, Old Corner Book Store, Old South Meeting House (I will visit it tomorrow with my GoBoston card), Old State House (I will visit it tomorrow too), Site of the Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall (a good place to eat - you find all kind of food: american, italian, chinese, indian…).
It was already too late to take some nice pictures as the old buildings are smaller than the more recent ones and are in the shadow in the afternoon.
Before going back to the hotel, I went to haymarket to see the bus station to go to Salem. I still hope I will have time to go there.
I also tried to go to the Prudential Tower (the local Empire State building) to have a panoramic view or the area, but it was closed.