More of Boston

Two days ago, Peter and I joined the thousands of tourists and locals enjoying a bright, sunny afternoon in Boston on the Fourth of July. As we left the marina, we encountered two men dressed in colonial garb playing the fife and drum--a great start to our explorations.

Musicians on the waterfront in Boston

We walked by the unique carousel on the Rose Kennedy Greenway; the hand-carved characters are creatures native to New England based on artwork from local schoolchildren, including a green sea turtle, a peregrine falcon, an otter, a fox, a squid, a lobster, a butterfly, an owl and a grasshopper.

Otter and green sea turtle on the carousel

Green sea turtle, owl and lobster on the carousel

Falcon, owl and grasshopper

Along the Freedom Trail, we stopped to read the plaques on buildings and sculptures such as the Old State House and the Boston Irish Famine Monument depicting three thin Irish children in rags juxtaposed with three well-dressed, well-fed Boston children ignoring them.

Starving Irish children

Well-fed Boston children

At Boston Commons (America's oldest public park, established in 1634), we rested by fountains and circled monuments as we strolled along the paths winding along the green lawns. Many children splashed around and enjoyed the fountain in the middle of Frog Pond and I joined them. Peter sat on a bench. In the Boston Public Gardens, we ambled around the large lake and searched for and found the sculpture in honor of the beloved children's book, Make Way for Ducklings. 

Brewer Fountain in Boston Commons

Frog sculpture at Frog Pond

Sherri in Frog Pond

Frog Sculpture

Make Way for Ducklings (with added scarfs)

Finally, we ended up at the Esplanade, surprised to find that people were still be admitted to the oval in front of the Hatch Memorial Shell for the Boston Pops' Fireworks Spectacular concert. We had neglected to bring a blanket, so Peter tore in half a paper bag from Walgreen's for our seats. Our first choice of location on the ground proved to be problematic as people kept standing in front of us, frustrating us as well as others around us who had been waiting for hours for the concert to begin. Finally, we moved to the center of the oval where we could see the performers on the stage unobstructed by the backs of rude people. In addition to the symphony orchestra itself, there were guest artists including the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Tony and Grammy award winner Heather Headley, Javier Colon and Chaka Khan. I was awed by the powerful voice of Headley and the soulfulness of Colon. Near the end of the concert, the Boston Pops played the William Tell Overture, with real cannons fired by field artillary members. Afterwards, the fireworks over the Charles River delighted the half a million concert attendees. We walked back along Beacon Street and through part of downtown to return to Mantra and a very late dinner just before midnight. 

Boston Pops concert

Boston Pops concert

Fireworks over the Charles River

Yesterday morning (Tuesday, July 5), we did various tasks in preparation for moving farther north. I cleaned the insides of the two deck boxes, which were disgustingly moldy; washed clothes and the pilot house seat cushion covers; went for a much-needed haircut; and bought a few provisions. Of course, I passed by several iconic Boston sights as I ran errands. The bronze relief sculpture commemorating Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts Fifty-Fourth Division; the monument, by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, unveiled in 1897, was the first to commemorate African American soldiers. It faces the Massachusetts State House. I walked to the right of this facade down from Beacon Hill and discovered a part of the building I had never realized existed. It is totally different than the Bulfinch designed neoclassical federal style brick facade seen from Beacon Street and striking in itself.

Shaw Memorial

Massachusetts State House from Ashburton Park

At 1 p.m. yesterday, we cast off the dock in Boston. A half hour later, drizzling rain set in, decreasing visibility, but it was an easy trip otherwise to Salem Harbor, where we were greeted by the harbormaster's boat and guided to a good anchorage area. Since it was raining, we stayed on board the rest of the day. I took two naps and then, along with Peter, went to bed by 10 p.m. and slept until 10 a.m. this morning. I guess I was exhausted from the thrills of Boston and having guests on board for three weeks (although we enjoyed having family with us and they were always willing to help out). 

Today there are blue skies decorated with a few puffy white clouds and it is warm. Right now the wind is high, but I will try to persuade Peter to risk getting wet in the dinghy in the choppy water to reach shore and explore Salem, the city famous for witch trials in addition to its other colonial and maritime history. However, he is reluctant; he has been quite busy since he woke up pondering the issues with the alternator and reviewing and drawing his own electrical circuit diagrams. But there are no Diet Coke's on board!!!