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.