We went photographing in Boston yesterday. It turned out to be as close to perfect a day as you could ask for. Quite warm, but not humid. Brilliantly sunny, a classic late spring day with everything in full bloom.
Our first stop was Beacon Hill. Garry and I lived on Beacon Hill for a year right after we were married. It was our first place together. A cute, tiny apartment. Emphasis on tiny.
It had a working fireplace which, if lit, would make the flat hot enough to smelt ore. It had a back garden patio. It seemed like a wonderful idea, but turned out to have a resident raccoon who did not wish to share his space. I didn’t feel inclined to argue the point.
Beacon Hill was a fascinating place to be, but living in that apartment was not fun. In addition to all its other problems, it was heavily infested by cockroaches with attitude. It was much too small for us. It might have been too small for anyone. Moving out of there was an incredible relief.
I’ve continued to hold Beacon Hill in great affection. It’s the original Boston, the oldest part of the city, the place from which (in legend) Paul Revere began his ride. Although the first battles of the American Revolution were fought in Lexington and Concord, the war’s true birthplace was Beacon Hill.
We still know our way around which was interesting. We haven’t been back in at least 10 years, maybe longer.
Today it was crawling with tourists. I heard German, Russian, Hebrew, and Italian being spoken by various groups with guides. Virtually no English. The only natives were walking dogs.
We took a great many pictures today. I haven’t processed even half of them. To give you an idea of what I mean, we burned through three batteries. It’s going to take a while.
I hope you enjoy this bright day in the middle of May on Boston’s historic Beacon Hill.
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Categories: American history, Architecture, Boston, Photography
Now that is my kind of day. Great photos and the history is so interesting.
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It was a good day and there is much more to come. We took a LOT of pictures. I’m still sorting through them.
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Lovely architecture.
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Thank you. It is quite elegant.
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Can’t wait to see more pictures. It is a beautiful place. I was there a long time ago with my son.
Exciting .
I enjoyed the story about your first apartment.
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I enjoyed being there, but I’m glad I don’t live in any city. The country is easier.
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Yes, It is.
Even here where we live, still on park property, we are alone most of the time. Alone except for the critters.
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I hate to say it, but for many (not all) of us, older and with physical problems tends to produce a degree of isolation. I don’t mind it nearly as much as I might have thought when i was younger, but I don’t feel up to a really active social life anyhow … and here, in the country, it seems natural.
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Danny and I chose to isolate ourselves early on. We needed to distance ourselves from everyone at the park and near it. We live behind a locked gate now so it is easy to do.
As we get older, we are more grounded to home. We enjoy each other’s company. We always have.
Until a few years ago, I was very social at the park. I knew all the visitors who showed up year after year. We were friends.
Then menopause, age????? came and I became a hermit. I never even realized it was happening.
Now, events like our Roundups that are staff and other park personal only….I want to shy away from.
I love roundups. Or I did.
Now it is all I can do to go and be social. I will end up walking off to the animals. I am comfortable there.
This has made it hard on Danny. He also knows, It is not anything I choose.
I go. I take photos. I also leave as soon as I can.
When I volunteer or work there….I do what ever I need to do. I am friendly with visitors. It is not real.
It’s not as bad as It sounds reading it. But almost.
Nothing interests me. Or rather few things do.
I don’t read much. To anyone that knows me…..that says everything.
I was restless before the long hospital stay this last time. I have had many long term hospital stays. They never affected me like this.
Being on life support. has. I have memories of things/drams….whatever while I was hooked up to the machine. I saw Heaven and Bobby. Sort of. Not sure.
I fought hard to come back to Danny.
Not sure if any of this is making sense. My thoughts are more jumbled than usual.
One thing I do know. I want to be here. I want to live.
Right now I am going through the motions.
I am sure a lot of this in-depth thought process tonight is because of Bobby’s Angel Day tomorrow. Or rather an hour from now. I have already had a cry. Or I almost did.
I don’t want to cry. It was just a moment any way.
I snapped out of it almost right away.
Marilyn, you don’t have to comment on any of this.
The words just came.
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Get some good sleep.
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I wasn’t able to last night but I should be more relaxed today. All is good. How are you? Did you get some sleep?
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Yes, actually I did. Better today than yesterday. I think we picked up some kind of bug because the husband has been off his feed, too.
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Hopefully you both are feeling better, Memorial Weekend starts tomorrow. Any plans?
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None. Like every years 🙂
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Have to love the guy carrying the surfboard…to where? I always enjoy your Massachusetts photos. A trip down memory lane.
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I wondered about that too. Where is he going? The ocean is still VERY cold this far north. Maybe he’s on his way to Hawaii??
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Very cold and very Rocky…even the beaches are a bit far from there. Hmmm..Maybe it’s like his “pet”?
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Kind of like a huge, brightly-colored security blanket?
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Lovely pictures, Marilyn. I think we were in that part of Boston at one point (on the way to get some clam chowder).
Leslie
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Yes, you probably were. It has a unique look. Back Bay looks similar, but the architecture is19th century.
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There’s a lot of character in those old buildings.
Leslie
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Yes. Most of them were built in the early 1700s as pied-a-terres for members of congress and the state senate. The statehouse is just around the corner and many of them came from what was a long trip by horse or buggy back then. That’s probably why they were so small. Non one thought of them as long term housing.
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As Marilyn mentioned, Leslie, the character includes lots of vermin, including the two legged variety on society’s “A” list. Beacon Hill is also the only place I had my car stolen during more than 30 years of living in Boston.
Still, there are lots of fond memories. And, truth be told, it’s beautiful with all that history you can hear if you listen closely.
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I hear it loud and clear!
Leslie
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Oh my Goodness, you described our first apartment “the shoe box” perfectly. We didn’t have a territorial raccoon though. Nice trip back on memory lane and great pictures. I bet you guys had a good time yesterday.
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The raccoon was our “bonus.” He wouldn’t leave and he wouldn’t share. I have no idea how he got in and out, either. There was a wall around the garden 9 feet high. He was big. A solid 50 pounder. Clearly a garbage raider par excellence. I never went back there. I had enough through fending off the roaches.
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Raccoons are slightly more cuddly than cockroaches with an attitude. I’ve dealt with more than my fair share of those back in the day…
I love the expression on the face of the lady walking the dog. I think she noticed someone was taking her picture…
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They LOOK so cute … but wild ones are about as friendly as a bad-humored bear and probably as strong. Over the years, they have managed to do some serious damage to pets (they apparently enjoy killing cats), trash, gardens. They just about dare you to stop them. This guy was the granddaddy of coons. Big. Fat. He hadn’t missed any meals lately. And urban with attitude. Maybe he was the raccoon drug lord for the area.
I’m sure EVERYONE noticed Garry. He spent years with a camera crew in Boston. He just ignores everything except the shot he’s trying to get.
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I did have a couple or three people who recognized me. They wondered if I was on a sabbatical. 14 years into retirement, that’s cool for my vanity.
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You all look alike, dear.
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Squirrel, I didn’t notice the lady’s expression til just now. I really was focused on her furry friend. Perhaps, that’s why she appeared miffed.
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I think it was because she is obliged to pick up the leavings of her GIANT GREAT DANE. Ew.
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Lovely photos and it looks like a lovely spot. Such history
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It is beautiful and there are interesting shops. A good walking part of town, except for the cobblestones which are there entirely so you can catch your heel and fall over. I learned to NEVER wear heels on Boston streets.
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Good tip…I’ll keep that in mind, if I ever get over there
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It’s actually good advice for most American cities. Between the old cities with cobblestones and potholes in the sidewalks, to storm and air vents with metal grills that are perfect for grabbing the heel of a shoe, walking can be a treacherous experience.
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I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll get there one day
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I’ll be here 🙂
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