Back to Boston

I returned to Boston to visit my friend Eric and his fiancé Martha - we also met up with Colleen(Erin's best friend) who had recently moved to town. I had a good mix of solo-exploring, going out with the friends, and some relaxing as well. Boston is a really fun city to roam and photograph - I think a life there would be tough though. 

Both times I've flown into Boston the views were awesome - the airport is just across the harbor from downtown.

Fort Warren - it was built before the Civil War and active through WWII

On my friend Andy's recommendation I decided to take a water taxi into the city - that is it on the right side of the screen.

It costs 12 bucks for the roughly ten minute ride - obviously worth it for the photo ops/views.




Long Wharf.

My first stop was Boston Public Market - I had some snacks and a coffee. There was also plenty of seasonal produce and other great local items.


All of the cheeses.

It will be great if eventually the new Countryside Market on Sundays(Northside) could eventually expand into something daily like this(and the other great ones I've visited in so many cities). It will definitely take more of downtown residential to come online, though, before the city could support that.

I wrote about the 1712 Old State House last time I was here - but I had to photograph it again - it looks so cool standing amongst the modern giants. Its worth looking up photos of it from various periods of history.


Faneuil Hall Marketplace - a gift to the city in 1742 by a slave trader of the same name. The second floor is a meeting space where many famous people/politicians have spoken.

City Hall - a bit different looking than the nearby historic building.

The Quincy Market, North and South Market buildings make up the four building complex that are part of the Faneuil Marketplace.

Faneuil Hall from the other side.

The dome in the Quincy Market Building.

Next I went for a walk in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.





...and then I headed down into Boston Common.






I had lunch at Democracy Brewing - the beer and food were great.


I stumbled on one of the outdoor farmer's markets that the Boston Public Market puts on.



A view of the Boston Tea Party museum.

My next stop was Trillium Brewing on Anders' recommendation.

The beer was fantastic.

I had found one of the last seats at the bar and enjoyed a few beers while waiting for Eric to get off work.

When Eric arrived he called me from outside - the place had become absolutely packed and there was a line to get in. I guess it is very recently opened - some the of these breweries just seem like licenses to print money.

So we wandered down to another downtown pub and met up with Martha.

...and then had one more back at our favorite spot back in their neighborhood.

Most of Friday we relaxed. Then Eric took us out candlepin bowling - which is similar to bowling but the pins and balls are smaller and you get three rolls on a turn. Also - the pins aren't removed between rolls so you can use the downed pins to knock down more. We had a blast.

I took a bunch of photos - here are a few.












...and then back to Doyle's for a late dinner.

"Doyle's in the Daylight"
from the website:
"Since 1882, Doyle's remains one of Boston's favorite bars and family restaurants. Our casual dining atmosphere and Irish American infused menu draws locals and tourists to experience a fine casual dining experience. Voted Boston's Best Pub, Doyle's is also a historic landmark in Jamaica Plain offering New England's largest selection of draft beer, and the first home of Sam Adams Beer." (Sam Adams original Brewery is just right around the corner)

Turtle Swamp Brewing - just down the road from the house.

I thought these glasses were really cool - I bought one for Erin.


Their upstairs room. I thought these glasses were cool too - they look like plastic cups.

I rode a bikeshare bike back downtown - I didn't visit this place though I had heard about it.

Instead I went to 'Top of the Hub' - a fine dining restaurant at the top of the Prudential Building. I sat at the bar and had a beer and flatbread - the view was amazing. I sat there and watched the planes take off and land at Logan.

I then headed over to Lord Hobo's taproom in Cambridge to meet Colleen, Martha and Eric.

Really good food and beer selection - though most of the beer wasn't theirs.

After dinner Colleen suggested another brewery a few block away so we went and checked it out - their beer was absolutely fantastic.


On Sunday Eric and I walked around his neighborhood and Franklin Park for a while but we mostly enjoyed a chill day - until it was time for me to head home in the evening....