Greeting all! This Monday just gone was given over to finding and booking a holiday but owing to the fact that there were better things to be doing including watching a film called Victoria, which was over two hours long and filmed in one single continuous take and is worth a watch for any of you film buffs out there.
We plumped for Boston – they throw a really good tea party I hear – thanks to price, which scuppered my plans to riddle you with the original destination of Washington D.C. (heavy comic doing the laundry). Now it’s just a matter of weeks before the flight, nineteen days in fact..
If anybody knows of any out of the way and/or funky places (the obscurer and funkier the better) then please let me know as a week is not a lot of time to explore and do everything, besides and all that history needs looking at as well. Perhaps we may bump into each other as well if you are around the area.
Book to the Future 
Whoah ! ! You’re going on vacation here ? Wow, Ste J ! ! I know a blogger who’s from Boston . I’ll try to get some suggestions from him.
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Thank you my friend, it was a rush job deciding the other day, it’s been two and a half years since I was last over your side of the pond so it’s long overdue another visit. San Francisco was too expensive this time around but there is always next year…
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My cousins rented an apartment…. another cousin, rented a room. It ‘s so much cheaper than hotels. But yeah you’re right…. accomodations are way too expensive in Frisco. Boston is a nice place. Philadelphia too.
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Next year could be the year that I do the West Coast starting your way on and working up to Twin Peaks Fest. It’s just noce to be having a holiday, apart from the four days in Berlin last year, this is my first proper holiday in two and a half years and I’m just happy to fuelling your economy and drinking your coffee.
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Ha! San Francisco is too expensive for those of us who live here….we’re getting poorer by the minute.
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One day I shall boost you local economy, promise!
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How exciting! Already looking forward to travelling vicariously with you through (hopefully) plenty of pics, news and adventures.
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Yes there will be plenty of photos as usual and I am sure I will be able to get a good few posts out of it as well, probably including comedy mishaps and so forth.
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Haha! I am picturing some kind of speeded-up ‘Benny Hill’-style footage of you at various points – at the airport; sightseeing etc. Marvellous.
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Just need some women in bikinis to volunteer for that now lol.
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Extra lol!
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Wow! It just goes to show how out of touch I am, the allusion to “red socks” totally went over my head at first! But then, I’m rooting for the Toronto Blue Jays, so that helps explain that. I used to live in the Boston area, and I think your best bet is to get a good transit map, because the system there, with all its faults (and one of them is price) is quite extensive. Though things may have changed since I was there, there’s a good pub or two in Davis Square, which technically is Somerville, on the Red Line (the different train lines are color-coded).. Then, there are excellent, sometimes pricey restaurants in Waltham (another suburb), which can be reached by the Red Line plus 70 bus, or by the 553 bus from downtown. There’s an extensive commuter rail and bus and train terminal for side trips at South Station. I think also at North Station, but I never used it much. There’s a Silver Line bus out to the airport, and I think possibly the Blue Line still runs the old line out to the airport as well, though you’d have to check on that. The North End is full of great Italian eateries, and Southie (South Boston) is a whole ‘nother world of culture. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Symphony are on the Green Line, Boston College is on the Green Line, as is Boston University. There are all sorts of shows and plays and etc. at the Wang Theater and the theatre district, and there’s an Arboretum somewhere, though I never got there. From the top of the Prudential Center, you can get a bird’s-eye view of the city. Then, there for free are the Boston Public Gardens and the area around Park Street (a public park). There’s the Freedom Trail if you want to walk past historical sites located close to each other downtown in the area from Park St. to Government Center (at least, I think it’s called Freedom Trail on the brochures, hope I’m not confusing it with abolition and the Underground Railroad!), but as far as I’ve heard in the last few years, Government Center (at one end of the Green Line), at least the transit stop, has been closed for repairs, so you might want to check on that before proceding there, you might need to go on foot or by bus. At a few minutes’ walk from Government Center, there’s Fanueil Hall, which is a historical site, and there’s a huge, barn-like building there that houses a low row on either side of all sorts of food and drinks from the area–you can’t possibly eat your way through it, but you can have a good try! There’s also an upscale row of shopping or so nearby there, and then a more folksy restaurant (If it’s still there) where you go upstairs to eat, and sit in a room with strangers at your table whom you’ve probably never met (not an American tradition), with the room being composed of long rows of these tables, and serving one of the best New England boiled dinners (what they call the traditional St. Paddy’s day meal here) around. Whew! I’ve probably forgotten someone or something–Woops! There’s Downtown Crossing, which is a shopping area near Park Street, and just on the far side of that is Chinatown, which people tell me is excellent, though I’ve never eaten there. Anyway, you sound like you’re already in favor of a trip to Fenway Park to watch the baseball, and I have to say, from the one time I could afford to go, that it’s a very impressive site. If you don’t mind nosebleed seats, you might be able to bring the cost down a little. Okay, now I’ve monopolized YOUR site with info, some of which only is an actual part of my own experience from when I lived there. The rest is what I’ve heard recommended by other people and etc. Hope that this has been helpful, and that you don’t shoot me. Good luck, and welcome to this side of the pond!
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Thank you very much, that is an epic list and we are sure to look up a bunch of things, the baseball will probably be given a miss, as neither me or friend Tom are fans of it and with so much more to do on your bumper list we won’t be short of things to do. I fancy a Chinese now you’ve mentioned it though…
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Have a great trip and lots of adventures that you can tell us about later 🙂
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Thanks, I will make sure there is loads, with all the history and probably getting on wrong trains will make it all worthwhile for you wonderful and loyal readers.
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Don’t forget your camera, Ste J. I grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., if you ever go there, I’ll give you some recommendations. Have a great trip!
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I will make sure I take it everywhere with me and get some in focus shots and everything! I hadn’t really thought of D.C. until the prices seemed decent, then went up by £400 in a matter of days. It would be nice to go there one day though, armed with your recommendations.
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Have a great time Ste! Look forward to your impressions 🙂
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I will be taking my notebook and camera everywhere with me like a proper tourist, at leas this time won’t feel so ignorant when looking at menus. Last minute deals are kinder on the pocket but without those language skills it does make things a bit awkward.
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Bring us back something nice!
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You mean apart from myself!
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Well, if you ever make it to Oz, you know you’ll always have someone to buy you a coffee 🙂
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That, my friend is worth the epic travelling time alone. I’ve never been to a country where everybody is upside down (although the rotate the picture for TV so you look normal ways), I would love to come across…and then live in mortal fear of your poisonous wild life..but with free coffee so that’s alright!
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LOL yes some of our wildlife is poisonous, but I haven’t seen a snake in more than 50 years. Spiders? Yes there are plenty of those around, but if you’re careful when you sit on the loo, you’ll be okay 😀
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Blimey, that’s make me feel vulnerable lol.
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The historical Boston Tea Party… 🙂 My younger sister returned from Boston just a week ago. Though it was an official stay for about six long months, but she enjoyed a lot exploring the city.
Waiting for some wonderful travelogues, I remember your posts after your trip to Germany… 🙂
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Berlin was certainly a city with lots to say for itself, this time I will be more prepared so hopefully you will like what I discover. I am excited to explore already, if your sister has any recommendations I would be more than happy to hear them.
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I will ask her… 🙂
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Thank you!
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Ooh lovely – we’re just waiting to hear back from the cattery before booking a trip to the slightly less exotic delights of Scarborough … have a lovely time. I have an ex there bizarrely but never went as he lived somewhere else when I knew him. I think there are some good bookshops, though.
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I love Sacrborough and Whitby too, with Robin Hood’s Bay nestled in between, lovely stretch of coast as well with Bridlington and Flamborough Head too. I haven’t even gotten around to looking at the bookshops yet, I’m looking forward to bringing a ton of books back with me though!
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Safe travels 🙂 I’ll try and watch Victoria in the meantime
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Thank you! It starts off a little slow but is a good watch and amazing that it was filmed in one continuous take.
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Boston, wonderful! It’s been years since I’ve been so I can’t recommend anything in particular. But I look forward to your photos and musings on the city. Happy travels!
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Thank you my friend, I am sure I will come back armed with many blog posts and decent photos.
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Great choice! Boston is actually just around the corner from me, so I make it there more often than I do to many places. What are your current plans/dates?
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We are around from the 19th until the 26th, nothing is really set in stone yet plans wise, there is still time to research places to go but I’m a pretty go with the flow kind of guy so am happy to mix stuff up. For some reason i had it in mind you were further inland, not sure why I thought that…
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Haha it’s understandable, New Hampshire is one of those states that even people in this country often find tricky to place!
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Walden Pond is as nice park, they swim there in the summer, it’s a good ways from town. Sat, I’ll be in London in June. If I can get up to your neck of the woods for a couple of beers.
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What dates are you around? I am sure we can meet up somewhere if I am not crossing over the pond which would be just typical. Walden Pond is a way out, we will probably focus closer to the city but if the fancy takes me, I could dip a toe into the pond.
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I was actually writing in to add even one more thing to the list (a world-class Aquarium downtown, which I have even seen, and which even has penguins. I don’t know why I first blanked on this one, except to say that I’m a mammalian sort of gal, fish leave me cold-blooded, he! he!), and then I saw Bumba’s to you above. If you really want to see Walden Pond, Thoreau’s house there, etc., probably the best way is to get a bus to Concord, if there is one. Then, you just leave downtown Concord and follow the signs, and Walden Pond is a good walk across a four-lane highway, but at an intersection that has a stoplight. While in Concord, you can see Hawthorne’s and Emerson’s residences as well. Don’t forget that also at another closer-to-town end of the commuter rail, there’s Salem, where you can see the Customs House where Hawthorne worked, and the original House of the Seven Gables. A lot of Salem now is geared to touristy stuff, and latter-day witchy stuff, but you stand a chance of meeting some genuine New Age witches there, who will show you their town with pride. They used to have a great pub there called In a Pig’s Eye, but sadly I believe it is no longer. But you should still be able to find a pub to serve you a traditional beer serving of 5 different shades of beer, each sample in a small size pint-shaped glass. Always fun. Sorry. I’d forgotten my own early days of going about. I hope I haven’t just bored you.
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No, no not at all, there is so much to pick from which is better than joining everybody at the two attractions in town. You captured me with all the literary links of course but then penguin too…and only 15 days until I go to the plane stop…or airport as people would have it.
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We’ll be in London July 7 for a week. I don’t know yet how much or how far north we get. Email me your phone.
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Depending on which train station it’s around about two hours from Nottingham to London direct but if you let me know your plans, I am sure we can meet up somewhere else, whatever is convenient really. I’m Steasy like that! I shall email you in a bit.
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Sounds good
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I would recommend Mamma Maria’s italian restaurant in the North End. It’s a little pricey, but tasty. And I would definitely visit the MIT Museum in Cambridge: http://web.mit.edu/museum/exhibitions/currently-on-view.html
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Excellent thanks for the info, how I am going to squeeze everything in I do not know!
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Have a great time! I hope there are some murals in Boston! It’s my first day off in 10 days & it feels so amazing to do not much, and some blogging.
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Finally you can put your feet up, you certainly deserve it. I shall keep an eye out for murals and will have my camera and notebook on me every day to make sure I miss nothing.
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Oh Ste J, have fun when on your holiday, you deserve it old friend! How are you? Judging by this post, I’m glad you’re more than ok. Have a lovely weekend.
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I am doing alright, my friend, trying to pack in a lot of things with regards to bookish contacts and such, that side is easy. Fitting them into my day is more of a challenge. It will be strange to be without the computer and blog for a week but it will perhaps give me a bit of calm!
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Maybe you could watch ‘Russian Ark’ on your way to Boston – 96 minute long sequence shot. Very beautiful.
I don’t doubt you will have great time in Boston so I’ll just say – bon voyage!
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I wonder if that will be on the plane…I will certainly have a look although I doubt there will be many less well known films on the flight, here’s hoping though. It’s not long until I go, I am anticipating awesomeness!
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