20060618 - We walk the Freedom Trail in Boston

Twenty + years ago (1982-1983) Rich and I took 1 year to drive around the US and Mexico. Two of the most memorable things that happened to us in Boston were: 1) the horrible roads in the downtown area, [I remember that although we could clearly see where we wanted to go, with the one way streets we could not get there.] and 2) strangers, dressed in business suits, stopping to ask us if they could help us find something. Today I drove to Boston and Rich was the navigator [generally a successful strategy for us] but once again, though Rich knew where he wanted to go [and sometimes we could see it] we could not drive there. Instead, we drove in ever widening circles until we found a road going in the correct direction. Eventually we found a parking lot not too far off Boston Commons, the beginning of the ‘Freedom Trail” which we had decided to walk.










The Old State House












Faneuil Hall











Quincy Market


The Freedom rail is 2.5 mile trail through the history of Boston. It begins at the Boston Commons (The oldest public park in the US) and travels through Boston to the USS Constitution in Charleston Navy Yard. Today the trail is marked by a red brick line. I think that is new since we were here before as that was why we needed help, and this time we did not. The trail passes many historical buildings including (but not limited to): The Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, Paul Revere House, and the Old North Church. I have been reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and Paul Revere is one of his examples. So I really got a hit of Paul Revere. We had lunch in Quincy Market, it was like a big food court.

We walked to the Constitution but although the trail goes up to Bunker Hill, we did not. The Constitution was very interesting although we were unable to tour below deck. It was the hottest day they have had in Boston this year and very muggy.

Boston was trying to raise money for Cancer research with artistic cows. We saw them everywhere.