« We're leaving TODAY! | Main | Angels are warming up... »
October 04, 2004
Boston Uncommon
Well, we made it...finally! It's hard to believe, but it took us about 11 1/2 hours to get here. Why, you ask? Oh, let me tell you. For some reason, hotels.com took us around New York City to get here. We were very excited at first. We saw the Statue of Liberty and The Empire State Building (and I quote Stacey here, "from a safe, "non-mugging" distance). Unfortunately, we also went RIGHT by Newark airport. I felt nauseous for about an hour after watching about 10 planes land and take off right before my eyes. I'm still trying to get over that fear of flying thing. I would not recommend driving by airports when you're trying to get over the fear. We're also really not too far from Logan airport here in Boston... anyway, I digress.
So, we're driving around New York. We come upon the George Washington Bridge, where instead of New York welcoming us into the state, they CHARGE us $6 bucks, traffic stops dead, we inch our way through the outer boroughs for the next hour. It was about 8pm until we stopped for dinner in East Haven, Connecticut, and we were still at least two hours away from Boston. Little did we know we would be inching our way on I-91 for about a half and hour while they were paving, too. So, by now, we're looking at arriving in Boston at about 11:30pm. No problem... or so we thought.
Never in my life have I seen such confusing directions. They didn't make any sense. We spent the next TWO HOURS driving to and fro around the streets of Boston. Across the river and back. Into Cambridge, and back out again. I feel like I have attended MIT for the amount of time I have spent on campus. It was really ridiculous. Finally, at 1:30am, we found our way there, after driving the wrong way on a one way street, and making about 5 illegal maneuvers enroute to the hotel. THEN, we finally got our room, and when we got there, we only had ONE queen size bed. I had to call down, then they moved out room to one with two beds. It was then about 1:45am. Crazy.
But today, today was an altogether better day, after I got over the fact that my email wasn't working this morning. That was really frustrating. I almost threw my computer across the room. Apparently, there was a problem with the network. That would have been good to know before I spent about 45 minutes trying to get it to work.
So, after I finally gave up for the moment, we went downstairs for our FABULOUS continental breakfast. Eggs, sausage, biscuits, danish, and the list goes on and on. But the highlight was the moment when the hobbit stepped off the elevator. I'm not even kidding. A hobbit. Then Aragorn came over and got some coffee before picking up two elf women and leaving before the Lord of the Rings Exhibit at the Science Museum. Ok, so they were people dressed as a hobbit and Aragorn and elves, but they were very well-costumed. It was great.
Stacey and I then accomplished our next hurdle of the day... Mass Transit amidst the Big Dig. We found our way to Government Center, right where we wanted to be, from Lechmere Station, right outside our hotel! I was impressed with us. We rock. The day was great. We shopped all morning, until lunchtime, where we ate at the Purple Shamrock. We then followed the Freedom Trail, a historic guided tour, if you will, of the historic landmarks in downtown Boston. From the Old State House to Paul Revere's House and everything in between. It's a lot of walking, but it was all kinds of fun, and GREAT exercise. It also seems to be true that there is a Starbucks on every corner. Either that or a Dunkin' Donuts. There is a Dunkin's Donuts right down the street from our hotel. Beauty, eh?
So, after all that, for dinner, we ate at the Black Rose. Another spectacular pub. Then, we came back to the hotel to spend the evening mentally preparing for the day that will be tomorrow... The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Exhibition! It should be awesome!
Posted by karen at October 4, 2004 06:34 PM
Comments
You do know you two stink right? I love you crazy Boston girls!!! Did you mention that the people are attractive?
Posted by: Mindy at October 4, 2004 08:48 PM
Yes, I must agree Mindy, I'm jealous too!! Have a fabulous time today. Update us later. And for Pete's sake... go online before you leave and get some good directions for the way home. I don't want you guys getting lost again. Love ya much!!
Posted by: Heidi at October 5, 2004 07:28 AM