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Year-long Retirement Odyssey
We parked at Winter Island Maritime Park in Salem, MA, and found a problem with our front landing gear. So the next day, David stayed at our trailer while Arlene and Sharon took Amtrak to Boston. The plan was to meet up with David later, but he was unable to join us because much of the day had passed by the time the trailer was fixed. He was okay with that since he had already visited Boston a few years ago during a visit with Wayne Walker, a Navy buddy who lived in NH at the time.
Trip Advisor helped us find an authentic Italian bakery not far from our train stop, so fueled up with cannoli and cappucino to start.
Then on to the Visitor Center to begin our walk on the Freedom Trail.
We began at Fanueil Hall. We decided to go southbound along the trail marked by a row of red bricks in the center of the sidewalk.
The next stop was the Old State House, where early Boston colonists had their government. .
Then we came upon a circle designating the site of the Boston Massacre of 1770.
Everywhere we looked we could see interesting inscriptions on buildings, signs and the sidewalk.
Then on to the Old South Meeting House, at the time the largest building in Boston, where the Puritans worshiped and other public meetings were held.
On the corner was a statue garden in remembrance of the Great Hunger in Ireland and mass immigration from there to the Boston area.
By 1:15, it was already 79 degrees, very warm for a Boston October afternoon. We came next to the Old Boston City Hall which featured a large statue of Ben Franklin.
On the sidewalk in front of City Hall, we saw a very interesting mosaic in tribute to the Latin School, where many of the founding fathers received their early education.
King's Chapel was the next stop on the trail. This church was the first Anglican congregation in the overwhelmingly Puritan colony.This church has family pews and many are labeled with famous names.
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Across the street I was intrigued to see a small entrance in a multi-story building "Fremont Temple Baptist Church" -- first integrated church in America.
A cemetery where many important Americans of the revolutionary period are buried was our next stop. It's called Granary Burying Ground. See the pictures for graves of famous people we viewed.
We could see a large park ahead, which turned out to be "Boston Common".
We decided to take a subway ride north to the dock where we could board a boat to cross the Charles River to see the USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" and Bunker Hill.
We had a short time to look around on the ship. She's still in commission and the sailors are active US Navy personnel.
Here is the plaque commemorating the town of Charlestown.
We completed our tour of the Freedom Trail by walking back to Boston via the Charlestown Bridge, which accommodates motor and pedestrian traffic. .
It was late in the day, so we made a brief stop at the Old North Church just before it was closing to visitors. This is the church where the Patriots hung lanterns to signal Paul Revere about the movements of British troops so he could take his "Midnight Ride" to warn colonists.
We returned downtown as evening was falling, and were able to locate a neighborhood pizza restaurant that the Italian baker Maria had recommended when we were enjoying her pastry and capuccino at the beginning of the day. It's called Regina Pizza, in business since 1926. We bought a large Regina special to go. We carried it all the way back by train to Salem, where David, Arlene and I enjoyed the best pizza we've ever eaten. What a day!
Trip Advisor helped us find an authentic Italian bakery not far from our train stop, so fueled up with cannoli and cappucino to start.
Then on to the Visitor Center to begin our walk on the Freedom Trail.
We began at Fanueil Hall. We decided to go southbound along the trail marked by a row of red bricks in the center of the sidewalk.
The next stop was the Old State House, where early Boston colonists had their government. .
Then we came upon a circle designating the site of the Boston Massacre of 1770.
Everywhere we looked we could see interesting inscriptions on buildings, signs and the sidewalk.
Then on to the Old South Meeting House, at the time the largest building in Boston, where the Puritans worshiped and other public meetings were held.
On the corner was a statue garden in remembrance of the Great Hunger in Ireland and mass immigration from there to the Boston area.
By 1:15, it was already 79 degrees, very warm for a Boston October afternoon. We came next to the Old Boston City Hall which featured a large statue of Ben Franklin.
On the sidewalk in front of City Hall, we saw a very interesting mosaic in tribute to the Latin School, where many of the founding fathers received their early education.
King's Chapel was the next stop on the trail. This church was the first Anglican congregation in the overwhelmingly Puritan colony.This church has family pews and many are labeled with famous names.
.
Across the street I was intrigued to see a small entrance in a multi-story building "Fremont Temple Baptist Church" -- first integrated church in America.
A cemetery where many important Americans of the revolutionary period are buried was our next stop. It's called Granary Burying Ground. See the pictures for graves of famous people we viewed.
We could see a large park ahead, which turned out to be "Boston Common".
We decided to take a subway ride north to the dock where we could board a boat to cross the Charles River to see the USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" and Bunker Hill.
We had a short time to look around on the ship. She's still in commission and the sailors are active US Navy personnel.
Here is the plaque commemorating the town of Charlestown.
We completed our tour of the Freedom Trail by walking back to Boston via the Charlestown Bridge, which accommodates motor and pedestrian traffic. .
It was late in the day, so we made a brief stop at the Old North Church just before it was closing to visitors. This is the church where the Patriots hung lanterns to signal Paul Revere about the movements of British troops so he could take his "Midnight Ride" to warn colonists.
We returned downtown as evening was falling, and were able to locate a neighborhood pizza restaurant that the Italian baker Maria had recommended when we were enjoying her pastry and capuccino at the beginning of the day. It's called Regina Pizza, in business since 1926. We bought a large Regina special to go. We carried it all the way back by train to Salem, where David, Arlene and I enjoyed the best pizza we've ever eaten. What a day!
- comments
Wayne Walker Enjoyed your pictures and commentary.
Arlene Allen Truly the best pizza I have ever tasted!!!