Well — 5 days in Boston was a delight.

Flying from LA to Boston on a clear day produced some stunning vistas

We stayed right in the North End (on Hanover Street) – part of the “Freedom Trail” – the designated city walk that connects up all the important locations and events that led up to the Revolution, the Declaration of Independence and the drafting of the Constitution. The City and the National Parks people run free guided walking tours that you can join and leave as you wish. Together with the ‘Red Bus” tour of the city we quickly got the feel of the place.

Being here for the 4th of July – made the historical aspects of the City even more prominent.

Taking selfies brought back memories of our Tibetan adventures

But we got it right eventually.

We took a trip to Harvard University – what a wonderful campus. The entire surrounding district is owned by the University – providing student housing and fabulous research facilities. They currently have an endowment of around 35bn dollars to underpin the operation and expansion of the university. MIT (next door) have around half that. — So you can see how easy it would be to move from our government subsidised system to a US style system and get a couple of our universities into the top 20 — we just need a few people to leave around $50bn in their wills to a couple of universities – and do it quickly please!

Harvard “Yard”

 

 

This is the main Harvard Library – second in size only to the Library of Congress – built by a small donation from the Mother of a student who died on the Titanic in 1912.

 

Here we are at the Statue of (Not) John Harvard – apparently it was sculpted after his death and there are no photos (being the 17th century!) – never mind it has his name on it and everyone wants a photo next to it.

Here I am exiting the main gate.

In 1971 I applied to do a Masters course at MIT in Boston and was accepted. I also got accepted at Imperial College London and decided to accept the offer. I have long wondered what  life in Boston would have been like and how my life would have been different. The visit confirmed that Boston would have been much more fun than our previous 2 years in Washington DC – but London it was — and no regrets.

Here’s Quincy market – contains a great array of eating establishments inside and market stalls alongside.

Here’s Cheers!

This is Faneuil Hall – the centre of Community meetings in Boston since the 1650’s and a central location for the debates about liberty and freedom – around the time of the Revolution.

Here we are at the “Ball Game” – Boston Red Sox Vs Chicago Cubs – at Fenway Park. I am living the boyhood dream here and couldn’t resist wearing the stars and stripes. Please note that Linda is drinking Chardonnay – from a plastic cup – with Ice!!!! Thats my Girl – – almost had her drinking beer!!

The “Soxs” went down 2-1 to the Cubs in a pretty boring game.

 

On 4th July I went downtown to the State House where the Declaration of Independence was first read from that balcony. The re-enactment was to take place at 10.30 – but they moved it because of the threat of rain but didn’t tell anyone. Oh well – I got a picture of a hot-dog stand being set-up.

Boston is definitely worth a visit – put it on your list.

 

It is located less than 30 minutes from LA airport – and was our intended “wind-down” spot before heading for home. That is, before we had to turn around and head for London.

The coastline goes north from here for many miles looking just like this. Nice low-rise development all the way – and a boardwalk for bikes, skate boards and walkers. No sign of the Beach Boys but plenty of beach lovers making the most of the sun.

Here’s some old codger soaking some up.

Back alongside the boardwalk the television crew is broadcasting some exercise fanatics being driven along by a few young nubile types with microphones, tight bums and 6-packs (and thats the women).

A nice piece of design – water for the adults, the kids and the dogs.

Here we are at the Hermosa Beach Comedy Club – for a meal and to watch ten great stand-up acts. This place has seen many Aussies – Adam Hills and Wil Anderson and providing a starting venue for Jay Leno, and Seinfeld

 

Of course the bars are full of World Cup fanatics and SIlvio’s Brazilian Bar was particularly popular when Brazil scraped home against Chile in a penalty shootout.

After three relaxing days at Hermosa we are off to Boston.

No — we are not back in New York – despite the Statue of Liberty behind us.

Plenty of gambling opportunities here – and this is just in the arrivals area of the airport!!

We stayed in a modest little hotel called the MGM Grand. They have an 8 lane entry drive way !!!

Combine the Casino, the eateries and the shops with the hotel — it is bigger than Doncaster shopping town. And so it goes down the Strip – new worlds being created for our “pleasure”.

New York

Venice

Olde England

 

Paris

No wonder Americans don’t need passports.

 

Getting lost is normal at the MGM Grand, as is queuing up – to check-in, to eat at a restaurant, to get a coffee (from Starbucks – Yes! I was reduced to it).

On day 2 we found the Walgrens supermarket down the street (the “Strip” rather!) to collect lunch and breakfast supplies so we could avoid the waiting. The other thing we avoided was the hamburger joint next door!!

Well it was fun while it lasted. Now off to Hermosa Beach which is located in the real world.