Boston: Special Breakfast, Church and Freedom Trail

Delightedly, we met Dana Sadji, Sharolyn's friend from her Turkey experience last summer. Dana speaks four languages and reads seven and is a both a fun and intelligent friend who is a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Boston College. She treated us to a delicious breakfast at City Table, where the girls were most impressed with the restroom with real towels. It was lovely to catch up, and we were happy to catch Dana before she leaves for two weeks in Spain tomorrow for research and pleasure.

We attended a church service at Old South Church, a Congregationalist church. It had a splendid organist and a good little choir. Avery even got to sing a favorite hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," which is not in our hymnal. It was neat to sing with a big powerful organ, and it was a good experience for us. 

We spent the rest of the day walking the Freedom Trail in Boston. The kids were troopers, though I'm not sure they completely share their mother's zeal for history. :-)

Boston Public Garden, where Make Way for Ducklings, a favorite book was inspired. See the swan boats?

At John Hancock's grave. 

Remember Paul Revere!

Franklin's parents' grave. Franklin was born a few blocks from here. 

Victims of the Boston "Massacre"

Resting place of our most famous patriot. 

Inside King's Chapel. This is the oldest congregation in Boston and at the time of the Revolution represented everything the patriots hated about England. This church had mostly Loyalists, though one of the riders who went out with Revere attended. 

King's Chapel burial ground

Old Boston City Hall

Old South Meeting House. This is where the Tea Party really got started and was very important during the Revolution as a meeting place. 

Sadly, the Old Bookstore, and one of the oldest buildings in the city, is now a chain restaurant.  I so wish it were still a bookstore. 

The old State House. Before that a cabin stood where Benjamin Franklin was born. This place also has much history. 

On this end of the State House the Declaration of Independence was first read in Boston, and below it, the Boston Massacre occurred in March 1770. 

Fanuiel Hall

A bustling place always, especially on a Sunday. 

Randall taught us a lot about cars on this trip. Close to our next stop, we ran into this Lamborghini, which had to be temporarily admired. :-)

In front of Paul Revere's house. I went in on my last visit and decided it wasn't worth the extra expense. It is so cool that it was preserved. 

We sat in the shade across from the house and ate our cannolis that we stood  in line for at Mike's Pastry. Boy, were they delicious!

We watched a street parade pass in the Italian District while we are lunch in a little sandwich shop. 

Continuing our walk on the Freedom Trail, we visited the Old North Church. This is the iconic landmark of Boston for centuries now and is where the lanterns signaled that the Regulars were out. 

At the Revere statue on the church grounds. 

The church created this memorial to show all of the dead in the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Each dog tag represents a solider killed in action. It was humbling. 

A couple more shots or the Old North Church and steeple. 

At Copp's Hill buriel ground. More lesser knowns are laid here, as it was for the lower classes, generally. 

Many of the headstones are quite grim. 

The Mather family (of Salem Witch Hunts) were buried here though. 

Then it was on to the U.S. Constitution, or Old Ironsides, which was important in the 2nd War for Independence, the War of 1812. 

These girls can be captains any day!

Our last big stop was at Bunker Hill. The monument was closed to climb, but we walked around and read about how though the patriots lost, the British lost many more men. 

Then we made an almost 2 mile walk back to the hotel. This is crossing the Charles River on the way back. What a terrific day!