21th Jan: my goodies!

Today I manged some eggs, and half a waffle for breakfast! There was more yogurt involved but it was a bad choice, it was saturated with high-fructose corn syrup.

We decided to go to Salem on a day trip today. In honor of this occasion I referred to everyone as goodwife or goodie all day. Salem; holder of many witch trials in days of old, is now witch capitol of Massachusetts, dare I say America? So many witches shops for potions, wands, spells, plam reading, psychics, ghost tours, vampire tours, mermaids, tees, pet pampering and nonsense. The statue on the main street was Bewitched! Oh dear.

On three occasions we tried to find the Salem Witch Trial Memorial. After a while we gave up and thought it must have been under a pile of snow, then thought it was the sign near the snow itself. Finally after overhearing someone explaining to their friend what the memorial was we found it. It was a yard, with lovely stones dedicated to each of the accused witches. We even saw the famous goodie Good.
We walked around to the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and out onto the Derby Wharf to see the Derby light (a small light house). The wharf did give a good view of Salem and the harbor.

We completed the McIntire Historic District Walking Trail which was lovely. All the buildings are really so pretty, especially Chestnut Street, each set of buildings had unique architectural styles, that I would like to think we can all now recognize. We popped into the Ropes Mansion Gardens, which were quite lovely. On our way out we met a local, who was too friendly. She had had her first wedding in these gardens, and LOVED Halloween here, and was sad for us that some of the witch attractions here were closed this time of year. I was sad for her that she was missing teeth. Most of the locals here were quite friendly. We received many a "good morning" as we walked the streets. We enjoyed what we could of the Cemeteries, seven Gables house (a gabel = a roof) and the Salem Common too.

We had some lunch in a diner, and then some hot chocolates. Mum was cursed as she walked past an old crone and threw hers on the ground at that point. Lots of people that go to Salem get Psychic readings, and many went to one (who we read a lot about in Trip Adviser) who would tell them they too had a curse, and could be cured for $250! Other people go to Salem expecting to see real ghosts in the Haunted Houses, they get disappointed when pamphlets look good and promise more real ghosts than they can deliver. people were shocked that the ghosts were in fact projections and holograms!

We attempted the African American History Trail. This was such a let down. We walked for AGES, were coming close to nothing, read that a nearby sight was a place where some houses that African Americans had once lived in. Thanks. There was no scale on the map, and in anger (from some) and despair (from others) we gave up the trail, and ended it with the Howard Street Burial Ground.

We caught the train back to Boston and tried to look in the reflection pool on the way home but it was empty for the winter. We had some champagne, and had the most lovely Ethiopian dinner. We went to the nicest restaurant, and ate such delicacies! Oh, it filled my heart with joy! Also we ate / tried to harm Twinkies:

20th Jan: Holy Mackerel

Today there were more glorious make-your-own waffles!!! Oh the joy. Mum and I also ate some yogurt, but it tasted wrong, a little too processed if you know what I mean. The breakfast went off with out a hitch.

We completed the freedom trail today. We started by traversing the Boston Public Gardens, and then the Boston Common where we found the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Boston Massacre Monument, Frog Pond and skating grounds, but struggled to find the Great Elm Site. Now I would have figured that such a great elm once used for hanging people would be fairly easy to spot. This was not the case, we wandered and enjoyed, and then didn't enjoy the common for about half an hour, before resigning to asking the information desk about this mysterious elm.
Sophie: We were wondering where the great elm is?
Man: I'm sorry, the elm fell in the 1800's, there is now a plaque on a small hill dedicated to the elm.
Us: Thanks... (suppressed laughter)

So we viewed the elm and all was well. We then began the freedom trail, which involves following a red brick or painted road! First up we saw the Massachusetts State House, where we had a great tour! The lady was so informative, about such trivial matters I loved it. Like Benjamin Franklin wanted America's national bird to be the turkey, and then she pointed out a clock, that was made at the time when the US was undecided about choosing the eagle or the turkey as its bird, so the clock maker made an eagle-turkey to sit atop the clock! There are lucky fish hanging in the senate and the house of reps. Also, Abe Lincoln was an able giant!! He towered over people in his day, and was always self conscious, and never liked to be depicted as standing. But then once he died they made a painting of him standing! How respectful. We then moved on to the the Park Street Church, the Granary Burial ground, where both Mother Goose and Paul Revere were buried. We passed Kings Chapel and Burial ground, the Old City Hall (which has since been turned into a steak house), the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House and the Boston Massacre Site. The trail then led us to Faneuil Hall. We stopped here for lunch at the Quincy Market (home of the Cheers Bar). Boston is famous for its chowder and is lobster. Mum had some chowder and I had some Lobster Bisque! Yay for some local cuisine that I could actually sample. The markets were a gem!

(got lobster - i did!) After lunch we came through Little Italy to Paul Revere house, the Paul Revere Mall, the Old North Church, the Copp's Hill Burial ground. We then crossed the Charlestown Bridge into Charlestown. We tried to see the USS Constitution (which was closed) but we got to see its dockyards and a movie! We walked the last leg to the Bunker-hill Memorial! But could not make it inside the memorial. An unhelpful lady (after some prodding) revealed that it was indeed closed and left it at that! What an anti climax to our once so glorious day!We walked back across the bridge, enjoyed the Harbor and tried to re-enact the Boston Tea Party. We T-ed back home for tea and more amusing candies.

19th Jan: i pahked my cah in hahvard yahd

Today we had a most interesting breakfast experience. Mum and I foolishly picked out some porridge to eat. It was terrible and mysteriously granular... Then I had a big struggle with the waffle iron. I thought I was so pro spraying on the 'waffle-off' non stick spray (with fresh baked smell) on the iron, and then pouring in the waffle mix evenly, but the machine beeped and beeped at me. I thought these were not waffle noises, and everything was carrying on as normal. A special needs old woman pushes by me, barks something, and flips my iron. I had to face it, she knows how to make waffles, or at least work the iron. A woman eating "sugar free - low fat waffle syrup" laughs at me loudly. I curse her and her diet syrup. The waffles recovered the breakfast feeling, and Sophie even managed to drink some pop!

We got ready and caught the T (Bostons rendition of the subway) to Harvard Square! Ohhhh, the joy, the prestige, the brains, the beauty. Everything! We wandered around whimsically in the snow in the grounds. I tried to get into a few libraries unsuccessfully. We checked out the Harvard co-op. The merch was incredible!!!! It beat the stuffing out of McGill. There was absolutely everything, about one hundred types of T-shirt including designs by Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Hundreds of sweats and usual novelties such as pajamas, high expectation baby wear, socks, jocks and shot glasses highlights included; the Harvard pet collar, the Harvard quilt, the Harvard Christmas cards 2009 edition, the Harvard apron and the Harvard oven mitt. Admittedly I bought a tank top. We did a self guided tour of the grounds and saw cannon ball imprints on the ground below the resident hall windows, as in olden days the students used hot cannon balls for heaters and in the spring they threw them out (literally). Saw many lovely red brick buildings, courtyards frosted in snow, museums, guest houses, gates and the John Harvard statue. Which is interesting because "the inscription reads "John Harvard, Founder, 1638" a student was used to model Mr. Harvard, as no one knew what he looked like when they made the statue, John H did not in fact found the university, it was simply named after him, and the college was founded in 1636 not 1638", so many inaccuracies for such a brainy school! We rubbed his foot for good luck, as is the style. We browsed the bookstores and grabbed one extremely nourishing lunch. Split pea soup, garden salad and hot apple cider! My hearts delight (Sophie and her Harvard mom)

We wandered around more of Cambridge and checked out the common, the burial ground and the Radcliffe grounds. We T-ed back to Back Bay and explored what we could of Copley Square, and the Boston Public Library (an extremely grand library).

Had some cherry beers in our room after such a long hard day, had some tea and planned adventures for the next day.

18th Jan: Boston-Rob

Today mostly involved a bus ride, 8 hours worth of bus ride. Woke up early, checked out of the Allen Lee good hostel / bad hotel, ate last banana breakfast and headed for the bus station. Managed to conquer some Swedish Fish Candies. We had a transfer in New York where we consumed more bagels and cream cheese and got on a bus to Boston. Sophie sat next to a woman who was transporting a frog to Boston, its frog-o-sphere leaked, and the frog itself was potentially dead. We arrived and checked into our YWCA. Had some really nice pizza and salad for dinner, and familiarized ourselves with the Berkeley Residence!

17th Jan: Westside Story

More free bananas for breakfast today! I stayed away from the free juice, as its core ingredients were high-fructose corn syrup and water. The problem, high-fructose corn syrup is sweeter than sugar, and can be attributed to obesity and diabetes type two in Americans. It is so cheap to make, and the government subsidizes its production, so it is made and can be bought more cheaply than healthy food. It seems to be in EVERYTHING now that I am aware if it. I feel wrong when I eat it.

We went to the Arlington National Cemetery. This is where the Kennedy's are buried and where the tomb of the unknown soldier can be found, along with the changing of the guard ceremony of the tomb of the unknown soldier. This was a fortunate chance that we should be looking at the tomb and the guards decided to change. To be a guard you have to be at the height of physical fitness, a certain height and weight, and known 7 pages of facts about the cemetery off by heart. Just outside the cemetery is the Marine Corps Memorial. It was a rainy day, and suitably dramatic to be walking around a cemetery for hours. We were quite drenched by the end of the experience.

Had to pop home for a shower before starting the afternoon's activity. We ate some lunch (served by truly scary lunch ladies) at the George Washington University Cafeteria, and set off for Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It has an elephant in the lobby! The exhibits were so glorious, there was a male giant squid and a female giant squid! I was ecstatic! Many giant sloth remains and smaller stuffed sloths for mum. A GREAT rock and mineral exhibit, which had me frothing at the mouth. They even had some chunks of the Burgess Shale (i.e Trilobite party!). It was a quality museum. Sadly some parents didn't think so. When we were having a coffee in the cafe, a single dad had to have a beer at 4:00 to reward himself for spending all that hard time in the museum with his daughter. Good one dad! We enjoyed on into the dark.

Caught the metro home, and were shocked to find no liquor stores open! What would we drink while watching trashy T.V? mmmm! And while wandering the streets we saw so many teens with booze heading off to fraternity and sorority houses to live it up on this long weekend. BOO!

16th Jan: Watergate-gate

Today we experience the full glory of a free breakfast at the Allan Lee. It even included bananas - luxury! After minding the other residents, and not taking too much food for our gobs, we set off in the beautiful 10 degree weather for a day of free monumental glory!

Lincoln MemorialThomas Jefferson MemorailWashington MonumentWhite House
Capitol Hill

First up was the Lincoln Memorial, proceeded by the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr Plaque, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the George Mason Memorial Bench, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, the National World War 2 Monument, the District of Columbia War Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, the Rainbow Pool, the Constitutional Gardens, the glorious White House (where I attempted to wave at Obama). We then strolled up to the other end of National Mall and checked out Capitol Hill, the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, Union Station, a dozen or so proud US men on horses statues and the Watergate! It was ar rich full day indeed. Had some subway and candy for dinner.

15th Jan: hail to the chief

Today we ate our last free breakfast at the American Dream Hostel. I ate so many wheeties!

We wandered around Madison Square Park and tried to buy some shakes from the shake shack. The guys looked to be setting up and opening, but when we asked them, they weren't going to be ready for another hour and a bit. Bastards, we just wanted some tasty shakes in the morning. I shook my fist at the shack, and we continued strolling.We made our way down to the bus terminal, and waited the better part of an hour for our bus. Dam you greyhound! Our bus stopped once, and we bought some novelty candies. We arrived in Washington Dc around 4:30. We payed outrageous cab fare, which charged you for the simplicity of being a passenger, and then having luggage. We checked into the Allan Lee poor hotel / good hostel, and then went for a wander. Had some subway for tea, and drank some Budweiser, as is the style.