Boston

It is one of my regrets that we didn’t allow for more time in Boston, I thought it was a great city – although I would have had to sell my body to lonely sailors in order to pay for a few more days in the hostel.  

So due to budgetary constraints we only allowed for a 4-day visit. We had hoped to meet up with Jenna from the Oz Experience while there - she had sent us an email inviting us to a Red Sox game, but by the time we arrived, Jenna had disappeared off the face of the Earth. (I do not wish to dwell on what that means she really thought of us.)  

Still, it meant we had more time to explore the city, which we did by the Grayline tour bus.  We had hoped to take The Boston Duck, a bizarre looking fleet of vehicles that drive around the city and then into the bay, but it was booked solid (I mention this if you ever decide you want to take it yourselves).

The tour bus was a lot of fun.  Our guide was a very excitable little woman called "L'il Bean" - "Okay now we are going to see THEEEEEEEE CHURCH where Paul Revere began his Midnight Ride!!! 

WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!  

But first a word from Richard Nixon..." This was the cue for the safety procedures tape, read by Tricky Dicky which went something like, "Please keep your arms inside the bus at all times, no smoking, no drinking, no taping, no break-ins and no governmental cover-ups during the tour please." 

So it was all good fun, we heard all about the Minutemen, the two lanterns by sea thingy, the Boston Tea Party, Bunker Hill and were encouraged the whole way by L'il Bean, woo-hooing her head off and impersonating WWF wrestlers, muppets and rock stars for all she was worth.  

Then we changed bus drivers and the atmosphere suddenly changed.  "I'm leaving this job next week," he announced flatly before driving us on in complete silence except for the odd comment like, "We are now heading down Charles Street," as we passed a sign saying "Charles Street".  Then as we passed an impressively large building with "BOSTON EYE AND EAR CLINIC" written on the side, "That is the Boston Ear and Eye Clinic - where they specialise in the treatment of the ear, and uh - also the eye, I believe." 

You don't say!

But we also saw the Cheers Bar flash past, which was a bit of a thrill for a tv junkie such as myself. There's also a "Three Cheers" bar apparently, except the sign says, "Three Cheers" so they can cash in without getting sued.  Apparently, it's the "Three Cheers" that has an interior just like bar Where Everybody Knows Your Name.  Now you know, should you ever want to go and sit on Norm's barstool. ("NORM!!!")