Boston, MA

by Brianin Massachusetts, USAon Posted on

During that two week work trip to Rhode Island, our group had the weekend off from work so I brought up the idea of catching the train from Providence to Boston… for less than $12 each way how could we pass up the opportunity?  One of the other guys stayed behind, and my two other Japanese coworkers tagged along for a day trip, while I stayed overnight to make the most of it since I couldn’t imagine planning another trip just to go there.  I managed to schedule everything and plan it for the group based on all the must sees and set them up so they could find their way back on the bus to Newport later that night without me.  All in all, it was a very fulfilling and satisfying day for them and weekend for me… maybe I should go into the tourism industry hehe

Day 1

At the Providence terminal... I like these old departure boards
Waiting room... you can actually buy the ticket from the café in the terminal... there's a dedicated line so don't stand in the food line if you only want a ticket.
Much heavier looking than the trains in Japan
And only one or two of the cars on the entire train were open to sit in... double decker train. It was amusing to hear my Japanese coworkers compare this train to the ones in Japan... I think they got incredibly sleepy from how slow this one went hehe
Made it to South Boston station
Then we had to figure out the public transportation. An employee came over as he noticed me reading the signs for purchasing tickets... he recommended a Charlie card (reloadable) and since the other two guys weren't staying overnight, he said we could all share one card. This was new to me and strange too because we'd have to go through the gate with the card, then pass it back to the next guy so he could go through... I've never been allowed to do that before.
Here's the card. They have different versions of it... we just went with the simple reloadable one. One thing I noticed is the employee automatically assumed we were Chinese and we were going to Harvard.... geez, some people I tell you... but it did give me some insight I suppose.
Definitely not Japans train system but it got us around.... seemed relatively expensive though
First stop, up to Harvard (so I guess the train employee was a quarter right with his statement)
I guess it was interesting to see the campus... we had a lot to do and see so we really just did a quick walk around the yard
They have volunteer students giving tours and whatnot but we didn't have the time or interest for that much
For those who know me, they know I don't care so much about school names and feel you can accomplish just as much, if not more at smaller (and cheaper) schools... It's what you make of it! People who rely simply on their school name to get by in life haven't learned a thing. Of course there's all those ifs ands and buts, I'm just speaking in general terms, so no offense intended.
Lot of memorials everywhere
Harvard Square area
Then we headed back to the school I was most interested in, which is MIT. I do feel like this school earns its reputation more so than others and it instills a different attitude in my mind (perhaps it's because it's a tech school). I would still consider applying here if I found something worthy of going back to school for. Considered this a campus visit for a prospective student
The cool building on campus
Bike share is pretty common but seemed expensive again... maybe I'm just spoiled
Walking back towards Beacon Hill, crossing the Charles River
On the Longfellow Bridge
Our next direction was to walk down Charles St. followed by Boston Common/Public Garden and then on to Newbury St.
Various shops/restaurant line Charles St.
Took a break at the park but then it started raining a little bit
George Washington, history is so rich here...
Made it to Newbury St. which is supposed to be like the expensive shopping street of Boston
Saw the Shake Shack and just had to have a burger hehe
Continued walking west on Newbury on our way to the next destination
Fenway!
A different kind of history here, but still so awesome and cool to actually be there
The team was playing away so we knew we couldn't catch a game (still root for the Giants, go SF!), instead we headed into the Bleacher Bar out in right field for a couple beers and to soak in the atmosphere of the park.
There's a viewing area...
Not the best view, but you can see the Green Monster hehe
One of the other guys was so excited to come here as he's a huge baseball fan and knew way more about the Red Sox than I did lol (he's a Yokohama Baystars fan, and by default so am I haha)
Just a very cool place to hang out... I imagine it gets packed when there's a game going on
You could really feel the history here
Left the bar and continued walking around the outside of the park... we didn't really have time for the entire tour and the other guys didn't really want to pay for it (bit expensive) so we just went to the team store across the street.
Hopped back on the train all the way back to Haymarket
We got off near the Boston Public Market and toured the central downtown area I guess you would call it
The produce was not exactly great quality or anything I would buy... cheap though and that Boston accent is strong here! Great atmosphere
Over to Quincy Market
Not much business here
Cool market area, lots of food and good variety of shops, but by this point we were all pretty tired and not in the mood for shopping. Instead we had dinner at the Black Rose (Irish Restaurant) nearby
Started walking back to the South Boston train station so the other guys could get back to Newport in time
Did a quick walk-by of the Boston Tea Party Museum (I would return the next day). And when I say the history here is rich... I mean it's simply that... everywhere you go in Boston it's like your high school history book just came to life. It's still hard to believe just how much history is here, and you'll see it a lot too... always "the first" or "the original" or "the oldest"... it really is so unique and such a nice feeling... though a bit embarrassing for not remembering my US history so much
After seeing the other two guys off at the train station (they made it back to Newport no problem), I walked back towards the hotel (near Quincy Market) just to take in the night.
Quincy Market at night

Day 2

So if you research anything about what to do in Boston, you'll inevitably come across something called the Freedom Trail. It's basically a predetermined route, designed to be done on foot, with or without a guide, that takes you past all the major historical sites throughout the city. This was my mission for Day 2 (or whatever I could finish anyway).
Being on my own I could just take my time and wander as I usually do in my travels lately. Pros and cons of travelling solo vs. with a group is still highly debatable and I imagine it will continue to be.... not included in this category is travelling with a significant other... completely different.
First major stop, Paul Revere's old old house
Most things I looked at for a min, took a picture for another minute, thought about it for a minute, maybe learned something from reading a nearby sign... and then moved on hehe (efficiency). Obviously, this is a house... and like most other things on the trail, hard to say much more about it.
Walked through North End and headed over the Charlestown Bridge
Charlestown Bridge
Looking at Charlestown from the bridge
Hadn't eaten breakfast and walked past a little café that seemed to be quite popular (there was a line) so I stopped in for coffee and pastries at Sorelle's. Made small talk with an elderly couple which is always entertaining... they were so confused by what I was doing there on a random Sunday just wandering around but through them I learned there was a big annual parade going on that day where they dress up in all the old war clothes and do reenactments... unfortunately it was later in the afternoon and I couldn't stay for it though
Right up the street from Sorelle's was the Bunker Hill Monument. Can't miss it, really sticks out hehe
The visitors center/museum
You can purchase a ticket to walk all the way to the top of the tower, but I was already doing enough walking that day and short on time to get back to the hotel for check-out
I only caught on to this at this point, but I believe this is a freedom trail marker, and I can't be certain it traces the path out through the entire city but wouldn't that be cool?
From Bunker Hill I walked over to the USS Constitution. Working on ships, this was of some interest to me, especially seeing it in dry dock and learning about the naval history behind it.
Launched all the way back in 1797 and pivotal in the War of 1812... that's over 200 years ago... amazing.
Stepped into the museum, admission is by donation with recommended amounts posted at entryway
Took a break at the other dock
You can see people dressed for the upcoming parade
Had to head back to the hotel, decided to walk through Paul Revere Park and along the waterway locks there
Went back to the Boston Public Market... inside is pretty fancy and expensive though
Scoping out lunch spots...
The Oldest Tavern in America? See, I mentioned earlier these things are everywhere here hehe
The Old State House, site of the Boston Massacre
Sam Adams Statue
After I checked out of the hotel, I went back to the Union Oyster House.. It's signs like these that really just set you back and change your perspective on things here
This restaurant is supposedly comparable to Tadich Grill in San Francisco, at least from a historical aspect
Yum
Boston Clam Chowder... a bit thicker than the Rhode Island chowder which is soupier, but none could beat the portugese fish chowder I had at Anthony's Seafood in Middletown (near Newport). Also had Sam Adams beer and Boston Baked Beans too hehe
And to keep the Boston theme going, I headed back to the Bell In Hand Tavern (oldest one in America right?) to have a local beer and some Boston cream pie... but by this point I was so stuffed I was really worried about continuing to walk so much.
But onward we must go! Picking back up on the Freedom Trail, at the Old South Meeting House on Washington St.
Then over to the Granary Burial Ground, to which I don't normally make a point to visit let alone take pictures but it seemed ok this time. At the entrance a guy hands out his own homemade maps of where the popular people are buried and in return you can make a donation to him if you like by leaving a tip in the folder... seems like a good enough idea and at least he put some effort into it.
Even Benjamin Franklin's parents are buried here... THE Benjamin Franklin. It's just crazy to be this close to history.... and then you (or maybe it's just me) but then you start to think about how modern history in Hawaii is new compared to US history, then you compare US history to say other countries in Europe or Asia and how far back those go.... it's all so relative and you can get lost in those kinds of thoughts... perhaps that's what travelling does to you sometimes though... and isn't that the point? To discover?
Back at Boston Commons
Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment memorial
The fans catching the away game at the park. I really like this idea of bringing people together even for away games and they do this all the time at Yokohama Stadium. Just winding down my day at this point, taking my time at the park before the train back to Providence departed.
Walked back to South Station to buy my train ticket and then headed back to the Boston Tea Party Museum... just a fun little place with history behind it... killed some time in the souvenir shop and then headed back to the train station to make my way back to Newport.
Departure shot

As I mentioned before, just a very satisfying trip to Boston, even if for only two days… such a unique, cool atmosphere filled with history that before this I’ve only read or watched movies about.  It is a bit embarrassing to not know more of US history (similar to that time I went to Colonial Williamsburg with a US history major and lawyer haha) but at the same time it really makes you proud to be American, cliché or not.   One of my Japanese coworkers used the words “very satisfied” and that’s really the best way I can think of to describe the short trip to Boston.  Now, would I live there? That’s a different story, perhaps if I ever get into MIT hehe, just kidding?

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