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:
that memorial looks v. cool. also love your outfit in the twinkie photo ;)
ReplyDeleteyou're home so soon!!