Beantown

When we weren't hitting the road for day trips we were either walking across the bridge to the North End or hopping the ferry to Long Wharf to experience as much of Boston as we could. Our time in Boston was our shortest leg of our trip thus far, three weeks, and to say we felt a bit rushed is an understatement. Fortunately Boston is a city that we have spent time in before, so the typical tourist clichés we've done before. Crossing off Cheers and the Freedom trail from our list of must do’s was pretty easy since we've “been there, done that,” it gave us more time to focus on getting to know the neighborhoods and taking part in community events, exploring the real Boston.

Square in the North End

Now the Freedom Trail as I mentioned in a previous post was right outside our front door and although it wasn't part of our agenda, we couldn't avoid running into it, so we got to wave hello to many of history’s famous places on a daily basis and some days being so close to tourist central proved more difficult than others. Those days included my morning runs when I’d chance upon the Freedom trail, where I felt like I was playing “Frogger” with tourists, but hey, I looked like a savvy local and I got really good at navigating and recommending places to stop for coffee. Plus, constantly seeing historical landmarks is pretty impressive; especially on the days that they take the U.S.S. Constitution out of her slip for a quick sail, which by the way, requires a lot of effort by the Navy and the Boston PD, and seeing such an old ship at full mast is phenomenal!

The Freedom Trail

Some days were mellow and just involved us strolling the cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill or the North End, stopping and sitting for coffee and a pastry in the community square, or perusing the local shops and sitting back and taking the time to visit with some boisterous natives. Other days, perfection was offered up by just popping a squat in Boston’s Public Garden and watching the Swan Boats pedal by or getting lost for hours at Brattle BookShop; running my fingers across books wrapped in plastic, books older than my great grandparents, and just letting the smell of wisdom and the written word envelop me. Days like this, while casual, were blissful and full of cherished memories.

Beacon Hill

Then there some days, you stumble upon Fisherman’s Feast, a festival that has been occurring annually in the North End since 1910.  This is a gala that dates back to the 16^th century and the tradition was brought over by the devoted fisherman from Sicily. Their ancestors still honoring the Madonna del Soccorso by throwing her a party every year while she sits at its center after being moved from her home at the Fisherman’s Club. She is gallantly carried by those faithful to her where she sits witness to the festivities at a chapel at epicenter for the four day celebration. Tom and I witnessed this time honored homage as they returned the Madonna to her resting home for the year - the fireworks, the streamers and the prayers in her honor in return for her blessings of help and protection; a wonderful sight and one of those gems we will relish having witnessed.

Madonna del Soccorso

Other days, we wore our tourist caps and would visit revered Universities, hoping the mass brain power would some way rub off; as if just being in the presence of the genius would in turn, by association increase our IQ. Perusing Harvard’s Old Yard, touching the foot of the bronzed John Harvard for good luck and immediately regretting the decision and wishing I had brought baby wipes with me - but hey, I do feel lucky so it must have worked even with the plethora of germs we may have contracted.

John Harvard

Overall, Boston was too short a stay. It is a city unique and full of its own captivating charms, a city that we will greatly miss, especially those crisp evenings and our strolls along the harbor. It was one of the harder ones to bid adieu to and one we look forward to returning to soon. In the meantime here are some more photos from our time there and hopefully they'll hold us all over. 

USS Constitution

Swan Boats in the Public Garden

Boston Sunset

Bunker Hill

Brattle Books

Home Sweet Boston

Front of Complex

We found our Boston home smack in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Charlestown dawns the prestige of being the oldest neighborhood in the metropolis of Boston, as well as home to the U.S.S. Constitution and BunkerHill. Being situated right on the Boston Harbor and Mystic River, makes for an excellent front row seat to the sunrise over the city and lovely evening walks for the family right along the harbor; we really couldn't have asked for a more perfect location to stay while here.

A little history on the area: Charlestown was the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony all the way back to 1629 and it is home to the oldest Navy Yard in the country. The U.S.S. Independence, the very first Navy ship, was built right down the road from us and the area we are staying is now part of the National Park Service. Our home in Boston isn't to be excluded from this history either, it was once the metal shop for the Navy, of course completely rehabbed but still exudes that character of what it once was.

Our condo represents a plethora of history and when the building was converted in the 1980’s they did an amazing job at leaving the facade of its roots, many of details were left so that you can still see the representation of its rich past. Each unit holds the original windows and the exposed brick interior walls, adding that rustic old feel, while blending with a touch of modern. This is a place where you can feel the history, but still relax in the comfort of current day amenities; I can only begin to imagine the stories these walls hold. Besides beautifully shaped arched windows, this place boasts vaulted ceilings, a giant skylight and a tin roof. The tin roof I had the pleasure of thoroughly enjoying yesterday as a rainstorm came in, listening to the soothing sound of the “tap, tap, tap,” of the rain as it hit the roof; hearing that cleansing rejuvenation of the rain just added to the charm and energy of this place, causing me to fall even more in love with it.

View from Harbor Walk

And to top off the perfection of this place, the building itself as well as the community are very pet friendly. The condo complex has a huge dog park for the resident critters as well as being one block away from the Boston Harbor Walk and kiddie corner from Menino Park along the waterfront. Needless to say, Miss Ethel has plenty of options to mark her territory and explore which makes for a happy girl, which in turn makes for very happy humans.  

Charlestown gives that small community feel while still being able to be part of big city life. We are just a quick walk across the bridge or we can take the ferry over to Long Wharf in Central Boston, depending on where we want to go and what we happen to be up to that day. Being in a walking city again is so refreshing, knowing we never have to pull the Flex out of the parking garage and that we can access anything we need by foot again has breath of fresh air. Who knew we would fall in love with the idea of not having a car and the convenience of public transit; a shocking surprise for both of us and a definite must to wherever we land.

So here is our Airbnb gem and Navy Yard Condo for the month of August: