24hrs in Boston

We'd just departed my favourite city - New York City. How would Boston compare? It had 24 hours to show Samantha and I its best side. 

It didn't look too great at first. Samantha and I arrived at the bus depot and approached a taxi van. The driver suggested we ride in the taxi down the front of the line because a van would cost us extra. We thanked him and lugged our suitcases to the front of the line. 

"Where are you going?" spurted the taxi driver. 

"The Charlesmark."

"The Charle? What? Where is it? Is it in Boston?"

"The Charlesmark," I annunciated. "Yes, it is in Boston." At this point it was clear he knew the location of the hotel, but was reluctant to drive us the apparently short distance. 

After a discussion where I told the driver we could most definitely fit all our suitcases in the taxi, Samantha and I slid in. The ride to our hotel consisted of forced small talk about opposite seasons. This was between the driver complaining he shouldn't have to drive us, while I repeated it wasn't our fault he was the first taxi down the line. 

Upon double parking at our destination I pulled out my card to pay, which immediately prompted the taxi driver to yell, "No card! Only cash! You pay me $15!" Samantha handed over a $20 note and requested her change, which was provided in singles. 

At this point we hadn't given him a tip and based on the service he'd provided, I was fine with that. Samantha, on the other hand, was deciding how much to tip him when he walked around the side of the car and declared, "You did not tip. You get your own suitcases." 

He also suggested I didn't know how it works in this country, to which I responded, "I've lived here for a year and I know how it works. This isn't at all like catching a taxi New York." After telling me this wasn't New York he hurried back to the driver's seat, slammed his door and sped off. 

Argument with a taxi driver in the middle of a Boston street? Tick that off the bucket list. 

Thankfully, that was the worst experience of my American adventures. Boston revealed a much friendlier side after that unfortunate altercation. 

We couldn't find a cheap hotel, so booked moderately priced accommodation - The Charlesmark. 

We walked straight into a free upgrade (after a 4 for $4 lunch at Wendy's) because we had so much luggage. Things had certainly turned around. 

Samantha's former workmate, Amanda showed us some sights. 

The sights included Quincy Market

and Faneuil Hall. 

We had a sneak peek at The Great Hall. 

Then continued our tour on foot past the Massachusetts State House

and Boston Common. 

We took a stroll past Harvard. That's closer than many others get to an Ivy League education. 

We saw some other potentially historic buildings. If you know the names of any of them feel free to let me know. I only knew what the Massachusetts State House was because there was a drawing of it in a children's picture book. 

Amanda then took us to dinner at Fire and Ice. I think the "ice" was the weather outside, while the "fire" was the heat in the restaurant. Here you select all your ingredients from the bar. 

Then a chef stirs and fries your food. 

Amanda was so lovely that she paid for dinner - not just hers, but she paid for Samantha and I too.  

Samantha and I travelled back to the Charlesmark on Boston's efficient rail system. 

It was early, but we were exhausted, so we spent the night listening to show tunes on a music channel. 

The next morning started with a "free" continental breakfast. (Sometimes you forget things are included in the original cost.) Today's start to the day included donuts that tasted like cake because, you know, DFEM (Dessert For Every Meal).

Then it was time for the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museums. 

Before I travelled to Boston all I knew about the place was the Boston Tea Party. I imagined a Mad Hatter tea party, but all the Wonderland characters had Boston accents. Hard to believe, but that was completely inaccurate. 

On this private tour (because nobody else came) Samantha and I discovered that tea was thrown into the sea because the Bostonians had been charged tax without a parliamentary representative. 

Samantha and I got to throw some tea into the sea. 

Followed by steering a stationary replica of a ship. 

Boston had definitely improved after that first interaction with the taxi driver. 

We took a stroll past the harbour

and I had a chinwag with a local. 

We took our token ears photo in front of Faneuil Hall. 

Then we read recounts from the Holocaust. 

We realised America likes its libraries fancy.

Because no library is complete without intricate architecture, monuments and statues. Oh, wait. That should be books. No library is complete without books. I couldn't tell you where they were in this library. 

We saw a few more old buildings. 

Before we knew it 24 hours in Boston were over. Boston had been beautiful, historic and (mostly) friendly. But now it was time to head over to Wisconsin. 

"What's there to do in Wisconsin?" I hear you ask. You'll just have to wait for the next blog posts to find out.