Beantown - Day 3

Day 3: To celebrate Pioneer Day, we decided to start it out the way they would have--eating donuts. Okay, may not quite pioneerish, but a great way to start the day. But we did walk and walk and walk.

Then we took the train to Fenway Park to take the tour. We wanted to go to a game, but they were playing the Yankees while we were there, and, unless we wanted to spend a small fortune, we weren't going to get tickets. On the train out there, we weren't exactly sure where to get off, or which way to go. But I spotted a mom and a couple of boys decked out in Sox gear. I knew that if we just followed them, we'd get there. I was right. They led us right to the ticket office. Here's a shot of the street outside by the office.

Our tour guide was a college-age girl named Lindsay, who sure loves the Red Sox. She knew a lot about them and the park. Plus, she was funny, and that always makes for a better tour. Because I took quite a few pictures in the park, I'll just list out here what all of them are. 1) Standing with the Green Monster over my left shoulder 2) Jenn and I sitting in the press box 3) Our view from the press box 4) Kristin and I sitting on the Green Monster 5) Me sitting on the Green Monster (although it could just be me getting a passport picture taken) 6) Our view from the Green Monster.





While we were sitting on the Green Monster, it started to rain, hard. We dashed to the covered seats as quickly as we could, so Lindsay could finish her thing. There were quite a few broken-hearted boys when they found out we weren't going on the field. And to be honest, almost all I could think about while I was there was of "Fever Pitch."

We went to a souvenir shop to look around and wait out the rain, but again, no luck. So we braved out way to the T station in the downpour. On our way there, a car drove by and absolutely drenched us. The best part was we were all laughing about it. And we discovered that Kristin's shoes foamed. I think she must have stepped in the rabies virus on the sidewalk. So weird, but funny, too.
I think Jenn didn't want Kristin to have all the attention, so she fell down the stairs to the T station as we were going down. Show-off.

After Fenway (which was more fun than I thought it would be), we took off for the Boston Public Library, the first in the country. Very cool building. We used the facilities while we were there, and on our way back to the main building we came across this picture opportunity. So random and awesome.
We didn't know it until we got there, but there was an exhibit on publications of Shakespeare's works, so of course we had to see it. There were books there from the 1500s. Dang cool.

The older part of the building was beautiful. Here the lions by the staircases. And below that is the entrance.

I have no more photographic evidence that we spent the rest of the day in Boston, but we did. Lunch was at Legal Seafood (the one place everyone told us to eat at). They knew what they were talking about. The crab cakes were divine. The best part of the meal, though, was Kristin pointing out that it was hard to feel sophisticated (the decor was nice) while you were sitting there in wet underwear. We all agreed.

The post-lunch activity for the day was the Museum of Fine Art. I was definitely looking forward to this. And I was not disappointed. I got to see mummies (they have more there than anywhere else, excluding Cairo), looks of Greek urns that made me think of Keats, and lots of impressionists' painting. They have the most Monets outside of France. My favorite were all the paintings by Degas. Amazing. They also had, on loan, his sculpture "The Tiny Dancer." So, so cool to see it in real life. There were also quite a few paintings by Rembrandt as well. I looooved it.

And, big surprise, it was raining when we left. It was a bit of a soggy day.

For dinner, we met up with Ellen's cousin and his wife, who live in Boston. Kristin's friend had recommended an Italian place in the north end, so we went there. Fabulous recommendation. Jenn and I split a meal of chicken and veal in a lovely lemon sauce. So yummy.

To be continued . . .