Walking the Streets of Boston 1 - Getting Acquainted

A walk through Haymarket.

Fruit and vegetable stalls lined several blocks just outside the Faneuil Hall area.  The sights, voices in languages I do not understand, vendors yelling out at the passersby, and smells excited and energized me for the day ahead.  

One of the few restaurants I visited.  Neptunes, located in Little Italy, has a very small dining room,  and the line to get in extends down the sidewalks, but probably one of the best bowls of clam chowder I've ever enjoyed.  

I had a great time walking down populated streets, deserted alleys, through parks, and along the water's edge taking pictures of whatever caught my fancy.

Looking down Newberry Street.

and a stroll through the Public Gardens and the Boston Common

Not Really Loving Frank

"Loving Frank" has been on my to read list for many years.  It seems this is my summer for love stories.  I am hesitant to write my thoughts of this book, because it has already been reviewed so eloquently by so many who know what they are talking about.

I have heard "Loving Frank"  described as a beautiful love story between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney.   I instead found it to be the tragic story of two brilliant, but flawed people always making excuses for their selfishness.  

With that said, I found the book both well researched and beautifully written.   Nancy Horan successfully weaves fact and fiction into a quite believable story.  I found Frank to be a true narcissist; making no excuses for his behavior other than he was a genius and deserved everything he took.  Mamah was an intellect seeking to be true to herself even when it meant abandoning her children.  Who is most guilty?   Even though I found both Frank and Mamah to have few redeeming qualities and their actions most unforgivable,  at some point I found myself drawn into their affair wanting them to find compassion and a happy ending for all.

"Loving Frank" was suggested several years ago as one of our book group reads.  I wish we had selected it.  I can only imagine the lengthy discussion that would have ensued.   This book brings up issues of right and wrong that are as prevalent today as in the early 1900's.

Is hurting someone ever justified by ones own personal happiness?

If the story does not offend, it is good read!

A Tourist in Boston

Trying to find the perfect quote for this post I discovered there are no nice quotes regarding tourists.  Tourists seem to be loathed by all.  At least by those elevated to the height of being frequently quoted.   I suppose that might be why when visiting an area which we do not call home we resist all the baggage which labels us as "tourists".

This week with my map and camera in hand I played the tourist in Boston.  And, I had the most marvelous time.  I don't know why we resist the role so often.

Boston is a most wonderful city!  It is described as a walking city, I took them at their word.   It took but a few minutes of walking on cobblestones to realize we didn't bring the best walking shoes.   Our first purchase.  Please notice,  I needed two pairs.

Roger was my tour guide Saturday.  We spent a lovely Sunday with friends we hadn't seen in many years.  I was on my own the last two days.

There is just too much to tell you about and show you in one post.  I literally returned each evening over stimulated, overheated and starving.  If my computer had been with me you probably would have gotten the blow by blow; I was dying to tell someone about everything.

For my culinary friends, I wish I could say I ate my way through Boston, but I did not.  Most days I actually forgot, was to overwhelmed or just didn't have the time to stop and eat.   Oh, but there was food.

and restaurants

       There was architecture,

art,

history,

literature, 

and you didn't think I would leave out

horticulture.

I had several places I wanted to go and things I wanted to see; I don't think I went or saw any of it, but I saw so much.  I made up my own tour as I walked,  taking pictures of things which interest me and had a blast.  I want to share the Boston I saw through my camera lens with you in the coming days.

Patience Amid Chaos

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." 

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Six days ago with a carefully packed suitcase, a book and some knitting tucked into my duffel,  camera safely in my purse, boarding pass in hand, and, oh yes, my husband... (I actually was tagging along with him) I was headed to Boston.    We would arrive and be at our hotel in time to maybe knock off at least one small thing on my to do list and most certainly to have a nice dinner celebrating my being back in Boston after 20something years.  (Roger's home office is in Boston; he is there often.) All was good!

It didn't take long to realize the trip might not go as smoothly as planned.  It began in the security line when a passenger couldn't not comprehend taking off all the jewelry meant no jewelry.  After several times through the metal detector, a bit of drama and some angry words, she was escorted off for a more intimate check.  The TSA agent finally nodded at me, thanked me for my patience and sent me through.  No bells or whistles for me.  All was good!

Our first flight delay was at our own airport.   Take off was postponed an hour because...well, I don't remember why we were behind.  However, it really wasn't an hour, we were soon boarded and in the air.  The Pilot assured us he could make-up the time and no one would miss connections in Baltimore.  Three hours of undisturbed reading.  All was good!

The trip seemed to zip by (I resisted saying "fly by").  The Pilot announced we would be beginning our descent into Baltimore, but because of delays, caused by storms, we would be hanging out in the air until further notice.  Okay, back to the book.   Once we actually landed, we were diverted off the runway to park until a gate became available.  Just as we began to move, a passenger got up and walked to the front.  After being ask three times to sit down, because we could not move as long as he was out of his seat, he finally made the "walk of shame" back to his seat past some very grumpy passengers and hungry babies.  We had missed our window of opportunity.  So, we miss our connection...I've never been to Baltimore.  All would be good!

Checking the boards upon entering the terminal we found our flight was delayed until 5:45.... wait, 6:20...no, 7:45...oh my 8:00.   Each time I checked the board the time was pushed back.  Reading, knitting, people watching or, maybe... eating!  My morning blueberry muffin was wearing a little thin.

You know, it was all still good!

Finally we were told to line up for boarding around 8:45.  Everyone, including the airline personnel, were tired and a little bit irritable.   After being yelled at by the ticket agent we were finally onboard only to have her come into the plane to have yet another meltdown about a passenger count issue.  I think her days are probably numbered.   We were on the plane, and all was good!

We were in Boston and in our hotel room by midnight.  The only thing I wanted to do was unpack and go to bed.  I opened my suitcase.... my clothes were wet.  I suppose, my suitcase was left uncovered during one of the downpours.  I seriously doubt I was the only one to open up their luggage and find wet items.  

I was really too tired to really care.  Roger helped me hang them around the room  Worse case scenario?  I would send some things to the cleaners.  I'm was almost certain Boston might have one or two.  Most importantly, we had a bed, a bathroom and tomorrow.  All was good!

You know, I think sometimes, we are placed in situations

 forcing us to slow down and relinquish control.

 Often, it really is just what it is.

We have the choice to sit back and enjoy

the ride wherever it may take us. 

Or, we can get angry, try to take control

 and delay our arrival even further.

(life is just too precious)