The Reward Trip: Boston - Part 3 : Freedom Trail Cleanup, State House and Chinatown

Well, I arrived late Tuesday night not knowing what I'd see.  I have to say I saw quite a bit. My travels started early as I had breakfast with my Airbnb host, a lovely older lady, for a quite interesting conversation. Then I drove back from Portland, ME to the Charleston Navy Yard.  I was there to see the USS Constitution, is the oldest Naval ship that is still in the water, launched in 1797.  It was called "Old Ironsides" after a battle with a British ship named "HMS Guerriere," where cannon fire was bouncing off the sides of the ship. I went to visit the museum.

I wanted to go and board the USS Constitutions, but it was out of port.  I was told it was on it's way back when I saw it coming into the yard.

But I was told it'll still be a couple hours until I could board the ship.  So I decided to little go up the hill to see Bunker Hill, the site of the legendary Revolutionary War battle "Battle at Bunker Hill."

To get to the top of the monument, you have to climb up 294 stairs.  Here's the proof:

There's some nice views of Boston from the top:

After I climbed down the monument and Bunker Hill, I returned my rental vehicle and took the subway back to Boston Commons for a tour of the Massachusetts State House.

The Massachusetts State House is the 4th state house that I've toured (MN, TX, CO) being the others.  It's a quite interesting building with some interesting art:

George Washington in a Roman toga.

John Hancock

Boston Tea Party

James Otis's arguing the valid of writs (search warrants). A 26-year old John Adams was there to hear the 5 hour argument, which lost unanimously.  Adams took much of the substance of the argument for his own use through the rest of his political career.

Paul Revere's ride

The Landing of the Mayflower, which struck me for the amount of Christian theme still allowed to be seen to the largely secular Massachusetts populace.

After the tour, I walked down the Freedom Trail on my way to a wharf to pick up a ferry to head back to the Charlestown Navy Yard to board the USS Constitution.  On my journey I made a couple pit stops.

Next to King's Chapel is John Winthrop's grave

Behind Kings Church is the site of the oldest public school in America, Boston Latin School, established in 1635. 

I then walked back down to the local wharf to take a ferry ride back to the ship to head back to the Charleston Navy Yard and got some nice views:

Once I got back to the Charleston Navy Yard, I was able to board the USS Constitution:

Still trying to imagine 500 sailors on that ship.  Sounds like a public health disaster waiting to to happen.

So to end my journey, I decided to have dinner the right way, in Chinatown.

I confess, I ate it all.

So after 3 days in Boston, I am set to head back to Minnesota tomorrow.  I am grateful for this trip and gaining the knowledge of history through these experiences I am very grateful for how the Almighty has set events in America with impeccable timing.  From the Revolutionary War to averting worldwide nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis, I believe the Almighty's hand was in the middle of it.  I also know that I should come back to Boston because I still have much to see, in both sites and people. See ya around!

The Reward Trip: Boston - Part 2 : Freedom Trail and Maine

As I continued on my reward trip, today I rented a SUV (not my choice) and started on my two part journey today.  Part one was to take a tour of a large part of the Freedom Trail.

My journey down the Freedom Trail was to meet my tour guide, Ted, at Boston Commons.

Since Ted told me I was the only one on the tour, it was a personal one.  Never thought I get two personal tours on one trip (one of JFK Library and the other here).   Well, after I learned that the Boston Commons was a cow pasture for about 200 years, that most of current day Boston was water at that time and a grain barn across the street was next to a high society cemetery.  So we went to the cemetery and saw some well known graves.

John Hancock

Samuel Adams, who I heard was quite the polemicist

Paul Revere's original grave (the idea of a the humble coppersmith)

    

Paul Revere's other grave (the fact that he was a wealthy entrepreneur/businessman)

What you see here is the old State House, where many hot debates, court hearings and the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence took place.  Where those folks directly in front of me are standing is where the "Boston Massacre" took place.

So I thanked Ted for his time and continued up the Freedom Trail to Paul Revere's house.

A small house, not quite as small as Herbert Hoover's childhood home.  I did find it odd that Revere entertained folks from his bedroom.

So after I traveled back to my vehicle.  I drove up the coast to Portland, Maine.  It was my first time in Maine and all I hear about is that I need to have the seafood.  So I decided to go to a well-regarded seafood restaurant, The Lobster Shack.

Not a bad location

Food isn't too bad either.  Here's a lobster roll with fries/cole slaw.  I'm generally not a big seafood guy.  But I have to say the lobster roll wasn't bad at all.

I returned to town needing to walk off my dinner.  So I took a walk along the shore on a trail called the Eastern Promenade.

But when I returned to town I thought I end the day on a typical Straitgate type note: Ice cream.

So this trip is two-thirds over.  Guess I'm looking forward to the last third tomorrow...