So having waved goodbye to Chicago, I was back in the shuttle on my way to flight number 33 (i think) of my trip, this time to Boston, where I had absolutely no idea what I would be seeing here. Our lovely shuttle driver gave us a mini tour on the way to the hostel and pointed out a number of things we should have a look at whilst here, it was very helpful. I arrive at the hostel and have got a bottom bunk this time, result!

So having not really done anything this afternoon other than try and work out what i was going to do for the next couple of days, i then discovered the Christmas Tree lights were going to be switched on tonight in the common, so this seemed like I a good thing to do. But first it was time to visit Panera Bread for my daily Autumn Squash soup fix. Full of soup again and armed with an enormous hot chocolate to try and keep the cold out I went in search of the Common and completely lost my bearings so asked a friendly local for directions, at that point i was informed to be careful as there was a load of protestors in the same direction. So i set off and did walk past a large group on the way to the christmas tree. Having reached the Christmas tree switch on section i was met with a very christmassy stage, some local celeb type people and lots of cameras, the christmas tree switch ons over here are massive, and this one was being broadcast i think. They had gospel choirs. singers, bands and cheerleaders. To the left of us there were a large group of protestors that were getting louder and louder and I could see in the street in front the road was beginning to fill with people and placards. I began to feel quite uneasy, only because I wasn't sure what might happen, and i was on my own so was probably being a bit more worried than I should have been. The protest was very peaceful other than a few chants which were doing no harm at all, you can certainly understand why so many people are out on the streets making their views known.

By this point my feet were beginning to go numb and my blister is now enormous and very very sore! it was cold, although not that cold according to a local. At 8pm the tree delivered from Canada was switched and then the fireworks started, christmas is definitely here. By this point i was feeling very tied, i grabbed a slice of pizza, made my way back to the hostel and feel asleep reading my book. I woke up 12 hrs later, yes, i think someone was a little bit tired!

The next day armed with lots of layers, a massive mug of coffee and a couple of maps Lou's walking tour was in full swing. I had decided to do the harbour walk up to one end of the Freedom Trail and then walk back down the Freedom Trial on route back to the hostel. The sun was out, it was a lovely day although cold, it was great and the walk around the harbour was really nice. Boston is great, quite a combination of styles, some cobbled streets with really cute houses, lovely little squares and gardens and then the more cityish parts, a really nice mix. I walked for a couple of hours and then had a little coffee stop in Starbucks and actually managed to have a decent conversation with mum as i finally had found a decent internet connection, so that was really really nice and i was able to put my order in for roast beef and yorkshire puddings the ay i arrive home, some ribena and a decent bacon sandwich with english mustard! The small things i know…… Having warmed up with a hot chocolate my journey continued to towards the Bunker Hill Monument. And because I obviously hadn't walked enough today already i made my way up the 294 steps to the top of the monument for some great views of Boston.

From here it was off to the visitor centre, this is the first visitor centre that i have been too that requires you and your bags to be scanned!! Anyway i was in, and was then able to have a look around a very old boat, from here I then made my way back along the Freedom Trail. So i should say at this point i was following my map very carefully, and then discovered that the lines on the pavement, which i had originally thought was like centre markings on the road to keep the tourist trail moving, it became apparent that this was in fact the route i was supposed to follow. To say i felt a tiny bit stupid was an understatement, the blonde streaks in my hair have affected my brain it would seem. I walked past churches, old buildings, burial sites, all sorts of historic stuff, unfortunately i was knackered, i had been walking for 8 hrs so probably didn't absorb as much info as i should have done, but you can't do everything. I also visited the markets on route back, they had an massive Christmas tree, this was very very cool. I eventually made my way back to the hostel.

It was then hostel pub crawl time, now i actually hadn't planned to go out, but in the spirit of meeting people and being socialable I went, and was glad that i did until passportgate kicked in! So we started at the irish bar, got in no problems with my drivers license which has my ugly mug all over it. We have a nice glass of red, a beer and await the arrival of the hostel bods. We get to the next bar, get in just, with a combination of drivers licence and credit card, and by this point i should point out its now hammering it down. We get to the 3rd bar, and I'm refused entry without a passport, there are 3 very good reasons i don't ever take it out, being lost or my bag getting nicked and its got way too many stamps to lose. Having had quite a lengthy discussion with the bouncer and me demonstrating my frustration a lot i backed down (not that I had any choice - i wasnt getting in without it) and walked the 45 min round journey to the hostel to get said passport. i arrive back looking like a drowned rat, especially considering the furriness of me coat. I apologised to the bouncer for possibly demonstrating my irritation just a touch more than i should've done - thank god he let me in. I then had 15 mins to get a beer down me before we went to the next venue. The club, well, basically like a bad night in digress in London on a Friday night. The blokes were at that horrible creepy drunk stage and the girls already in there were smashed and just hanging off whatever they could……….classy! Taxi! I left, got back to the hostel without incident (with my passport) and went to bed.

I wake up, I have breakfast, I joined the hostel trip to Harvard. $60,000 a year to send your kid here!!!!! It did look very swanky, I bet the dorms are like small hotel suites. It was a lovely area, you will see that from the pictures. Unfortunately the weather was crap today and we got soaked so i had planned to spend the rest of the day wandering around Cambridge, but i had also forgotten i had a date with the hostel laundry and some of the contents of my rucksack……..oh the joys……….and thats it washing done and Ive packed again, there should only be one more packing session to go and that will be for my NYC departure to Heathrow in 7 nights time!

Boston has been great, it was a shame the weather hadn't been a little more favourable today but hey you can't have everything…..

The next stop, the final 6 nights in NYC which I am very excited about!!!

Ps. only 2 more of these to go…… laters… xx