Met Marilou in Houston and shared the same Southwest flight to Boston. We arrived around 7:30 pm. Bought 7 day subway passes because that was
the same as two one day passes.
We the took the silver line bus to the South Station, the red line to the orange line to Tufts Medical Center. The Marriott is right behind
the center but we headed 180 degrees the wrong direction. I didn't know both sides were part of the Medical Center. We eventually found our way
and checked in, then headed for the Empire Garden Restaurant.
This was Remy's favorite place to eat in the Theatre District/China Town.
They were about to close so we shared an order of seafood, vegetables and noodles. It was a bit chewy for me. Marilou kept thinking she was
seeing a mouse scampering from table to table. I never saw it. We ate the seafood and most of the vegetables, but left most of the noodles.
Friday, September 6th :
We headed to the Boston Commons and ate breakfast at the Panera on our way. Marilou wasn't impressed with her bacon egg wrap. I was ok with
my four cheese souffle, but it wasn't that impressive either. So we didn't make any plans to return there later.
We made our way to the commons and took some photos of some statues, etc. Marilou bought a hat to keep the sun off her eyes.
Then we headed to the site where the bar for Cheers was filmed and took some photos there. Then we roamed around a few streets on Beacon Hill,
viewed some other historical buildings, took pictures, etc.
We ate lunch at the Faneuil Hall marketplace site of the Cheers official restaurant. I had a greasy cheese steak sandwich like back in my
school days at MIT. They are so good they can't be good for you. We then took the subway back to the hotel and rested up for the baseball game.
Later we took the subway to Kenmore Square and walked a couple blocks to Fenway Park. Got there early enough to get our chilly dogs and
fries before the first pitch. It rained a little during the game but not enough to stop play. Fortunately we were under shelter from the
seats above. The Sox beat the Yankees 4 to 1. After the game, the subway was a little crowded as we headed back to the Marriott,
but we made good time.
Saturday, September 7th :
Spent the morning checking out the Museum of Science. The displays were a bit different from my last time there.
Made it a point to see the lightning show from the Van de Graff Generators and the Teslas. I missed the start button on the camera for the
demo of lightning penetrating rubber tires. I did get some good video of the lightning show. Click here to download a
MOV of the
demonstration.
Took the subway to Kendall Square and walked through MIT. Showed Marilou the Nuclear reactor and Co-generator.
Then we got pictures of the Great Dome from Mass Ave and the two middle domes from the courtyard. Proceeded to the Green Building
view and then to the strange architecture of the Gate's Building. Went back and got some photos of Reactor building and the Cogeneration
building. Took the subway back to the hotel.
We walked down the street to the Bootleg Special. Where we ate some spicy Cajun Lobster.
Sunday, September 8th :
Walked a couple blocks to St James the Greater church for 8am Mass. That was their only English for the day. After Mass we again visited the
Empire Garden for Dim Sum breakfast. It was much better than the noodles.
We returned to the Marriott, packed our bags, then took the subway to the airport and got our rental car.
The counting of exit from the roundabouts didn't work out and it took us awhile to get back on track but eventually we connected to I95
and were on our way to New Hampshire. Ate a pretty good Oriental lunch at the Wonton restaurant about 50 miles or so from our destination.
Arrived at the Suites at Eastern Slopes Inn(#5795). Checked in and settled down for the evening.
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Monday, September 9th :
We took a scenic drive loop, stopping at all the overlooks and admiring the scenery. We were a little disappointed that the leaves were only
starting to change colors, but it was an interesting introduction to the area drive.
Tuesday, September 10th :
Yesterday we talked to a couple along the loop that was headed to take the steam powered cog wheel train up Mt. Washington.
They told us the steam train was sold out but we could probably get a trip on the diesel powered train. So that evening I
booked a ride on it.
We headed back up to the Bartlett area and rode the bio-diesel powered cog wheel train to the top of Mount Washington that morning.
We got there in time to see the steam train leaving the station. I took a lot of pictures during our accent of the mountain but didn't
post most of them due to the reflection you get from the window for images taken inside like that.
One of the interesting information the conductor mentioned was the severe weather often experienced there. The hiking trail was marked
with the rock pillars because the fog gets so thick at times the hikers would not be able to follow painted indicators along the trail.
There is also an interesting story on how there came to be a railroad and hotel built on the top of the mountain. see the Wikipedia link
below for a better description than I could recall.
We went back to the timeshare after the trip and rested up for a while before heading out to the Wildcat Tavern for their Tuesday special
of two one pound lobsters for the price of one. It was good.
Wednesday, September 11th :
I did the Arethusa Falls hike which took about an hour to get to the falls. It was a steep climb most of the way.
From the parking lot I followed a paved road up to the actual start of the trail. It was a pleasant walk through
trees with a thick canopy of leaves that you don't see much in Corpus Christi. Saw an occasional colored leaf on the
ground, but the color change overall hadn't started yet.
When I got back to the parking lot I decided to do the Frankenstein Cliffs hike which started at the other side of the parking lot.
It looked short on the map but it turned out to be longer than the falls hike. I lost the trail at the railroad tracks and headed back.
As soon as I turned back I saw a trainload of tourist pass by. We waved to each other.
Marilou stayed back and did her laundry and got a massage in the meantime.
Thursday, September 12th :
We walked from our room to the railroad station to take the scenic train ride that took us back to the Bartlett area.
It was a nice ride with good views. To return we all got off while they switched the engine to the other side of the
cars to bring us back.
Later we both did the nearby Peaked Mountain Trail. It was a little easier than the Arethusa Trail, but still a good exercise for
Marilou, but she did great and made it to the top. The views were good and the stuff growing along the trail interesting.
Friday, September 13th :
We went to the Mount Washington Discovery Center across the street from our Eastern Slope Inn room. They had a web connection to the weather scientist on the
top of the mountain. We didn't go into this center when we took the train to the summit. I'm not sure that they allow the passengers to go
into the research center. Anyway one of the researchers there gave us a tour of the facility and some insight into what they do there and
the weather conditions that they see.
After that we toured the center's displays. I think my camera settings got shifted so most of my pictures didn't come out too clear. Anyhow
they have a lot of displays that cover different weather conditions and how things are measured. It was kind of interesting to me. Not sure
Marilou was that interested. In their gift shop I bought some solar powered assemble kits for the God Kids.
That evening we were able to find another lobster place to eat, The Lobster Trap. To keep with Marilou's philosophy of never eating healthy
we were able to get Bacon Wrapped Scallops for an appetizer.
Saturday, September 14th :
After a quiet morning awakening, we did a short carriage ride through the fields of a farm then along the river. It was kind of a romantic type
deal.
From there I tried to find the Diana's Baths Trail, but apparently my directions were backwards. Fortunately the hikers we asked pointed us in the
right direction. So we found it and did the easy walk to Diana's Baths. It is a series of waterfalls where George Lucy had built a lumber
mill in the 1860's. Later he developed it as a tourist stop.
Following that walk we stopped to eat lunch under a covered bridge that was set up with picnic tables
When we got back I took a few pictures of the timeshare.
That evening we attended Mass at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic church since we had a long drive back to Boston the next day.
Links:
Empire Garden Restaurant, Boston Massachusetts
Marriott Theatre District Boston
Cheers
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Panera Bread - Boston - Stuart Street
St. James the Greater Parish ">
Museum of Science
Bootleg Special
Mount Washington Observatory
History of how Cog came about
Wildcat Inn and Tavern
Arethusa Falls Trail
