Beantown

I did actually do more than go to baseball games during my time in Boston. Apart from packing in a drink or two I also followed the Freedom Trail (Boston's historical site of interest walking tour) and hung out a little at Harvard in the hope of imbibing some extra IQ.

Beautiful Boston Common.

The Massachusetts State House.

The dome was originally plated in copper by Paul Revere's company.

The Old South Meeting House. Many gatherings of disgruntled Bostonians took place here in the run up to the Revolution. Basic items on the agenda included: "Is having a King totally dud?"

The tomb of the Winthrops, the first family of Massachusetts history.

Paul Revere's grave. Amongst many other interesting highlights in his career Revere led a group of riders out of Boston to warn the militia men in the Eastern Mass. country side that the British garrison had left Boston to come looking for them. This led to the 'battles' of Lexington and Concord, the first real shots of the Revolution.

Paul Revere's house. Not many cities of this size in the world retain any wooden house dating to the early 18th century. Good luck finding one in London.

The old North Church, which lit the first beacon of the back-up warning system lest Revere's famous ride fail.

Inside the North Church. Cool historic flags.

Faneuil Hall. Also a site of important meetings of grumbling.

The scene of many a grumble.

Charlestown, Mass. just across the bay and now contiguous with the city. At the bottom of this hill is a tavern dating to the early 18th century at which many revolutionary types including Samuel Adams are reported to have eaten/drunk. Me and Michael Wood are recent visitors of noteworthy note. Some grumbling was done, mostly about SEC football.

The Bunker Hill monument. There are 300 hundred steps inside to the top. It seems like a great idea to climb it. Let me save you if you've never been but one day will.

IT IS NOT WORTH IT. DO NOT CLIMB THIS.

Great view. Big whoop. Good luck walking home after.

No one sight reminded me how much Boston has changed over the centuries than this. The graves of Revere, Adams and other political heroes were highlighted prominently and well maintained. Me and Michael had to look around for this grave and found it in total disrepair. Increase and Cotton Mather were two of the three most important New England divines in American history. Their histories and theology were milestones in American thought and religious life. Now, they're just dead clerics.

Those changes to Boston at large began here, at Harvard. One time divinity school now elite university. Not so religious these days.

The Harvard boat house on the Charles River. Various domes and spires of HU behind.

Harvard Hall, one of the older buildings.

The first Parish of Cambridge, Mass., dating to 1636. Then it would have been Congregational. Now it is Unitarian Universalist. Another barometer of Harvard-led change.


I don't think the Parish's physical address is supposed to be a joke, but it made me laugh.




This is clearly the most important structure in all of Boston, though for some reason I was the only tourist looking at it. This is Harvard stadium. Built in 1903 it is the first purpose-built college football stadium in America. It hasn't changed since. No seats, no bleachers, no frills. Just a beautiful Greco-Roman revival style for the sole purpose of watching pigskin.

Shame about the fake turf.

Boston's tall ship festival happened to be going on while we were in town, but the harbour was so packed we did no more than walk past. This is the Eagle, the US Coastguard's training Brig.