First impressions: Boston is cleaner, more restrained and more tasteful than NYC. Manhattan and the outer boroughs lambast one with a million different advertisements on buildings flashing products like clothes, cars and technology. Not so in Boston. There is a quaintness that I appreciated as I walked along the esplanade next to the Charles River. Even in the middle of Summer the nights are cool. Intrigued by American History as I am, I visited the graves of Paul Revere, Sam Adams and the five victims of the Boston Massacre; an event I took a guided tour for later in the day at the place where it actually happened.
Walked along the Boston gardens in full sun shine as the Swan boats ferried eager faced kids and their parents thru the park. Every other male wore a Boston Red Sox hat. Boston Harbor was nautically cool and old feeling with areas where rich people ate expensive food outside at table with fancy umbrellas probably owned a sail boat as well. My friend and guide remarked to me, "There's alot of old money in Boston."
Another impression: Boston is a white-bred city. I haven't heard that much of my own language since I was back in Ohio. What else? Several surrounding neighborhoods with tree lined streets, small yards, huge old houses converted into apartments. Three blocks from where I stayed JFK was born on such a quiet residential street. I walked and saw it from the outside. My Irish Grandma would be smiling knowing I visited his house(being the huge Kennedy fan she was when alive). Safe areas from what I could see in my limited time. I didn't see the ghettos or the run down areas. Saw the statues commemorating the Irish Famine and the emigrants who fled to Boston. I toured King's Chapel and sat in weird box pews I had never seen before. A person could get comfortable in this city yet for some I could see how it might not be enough. Enough what? I am not sure. Better ask Ben Franklin. He split to go live in Philadelphia when he was 16.
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