Update: The wrong (i.e.: uneditted) version of some photos have been uploaded but I'm too tired to fix it now. Will do so tomorrow.
I took Mom up to New England this weekend ... specifically, Boston, with a side of New England. And lots of Diet Coke. The whole point about Mom coming down in the fall was ... well, the fall colors. And what better place to see the colors than Massachussets and New Hampshire? ... Well, probably Vernmont, Maine, and Conneticut, but sweeping that trivial fact aside ...
We went up to Boston on Thursday night, and stayed at the Marriott Long Wharf. Quite a nice little Marriott ... 7 floors long floors, with the whole building pointing into the sea. It apparently mimics the design of a ship, but I honestly think the architect was probably high. This unfortunately meant that none of the rooms, except the concierge lounge, had a view of the sea. Our room, for example, faced north, to Christopher Columbus Park, and North End. The two extemes of our view were downtown & the marina.
Anyway ...
Friday morning, we made our way down to Harvard. Spent the morning walking around the Square, and the grounds, taking in the sights. Following lunch at the Algiers Cafe (interesting decor, but extremley slow), we headed back in town, and the Prudential Center. We went up to the Skywalk, where on a clear, sunny afternoon, I fell in love with Boston. Continuing on, we took a ride on the Duck Tour, and were shown around the city by Major Tom Foolery. We stopped by The Cheesecake Fatory for a slice of heart disease before heading back to the hotel. We met up with Gowri for dinner ... I think it's been ten years since I last met her. Yeah, I think it was when I visited Vee and Malz in Mysore that I met Gowri for the first, and only other time! So here's hoping that another decade doesn't pass before the next encounter!
Andy very kindly (and after much emotional blackmail) agreed to join us on a drive into New Hampshire. Based on some frantic Googling, and hurried consultations with Gowri the prior evening, we'd decided to drive upto the lakes in Central New Hampshire. I must admit being pretty nervous about the trip ... it's been close to 18 months since I last drove (upto Scranton, PA as devoted readers <cough>Gowri<cough> recalled). Anyway, the trip passed without a hitch. We drove to Weir Beach, and around Lake Winnipesaukee. Halfway along the north coast of the lake (as an aside, do lakes have "coasts"?) we saw signs to the Castle in the Clouds, and decided to take a break from driving around, and stretch our legs a bit. As these
photos
go to show, it was definitely
worth
the break!
Andy has the bulk of photos of the trip, taken on his digital SLR. I was too busy praying I didnt crash doing 60mph around the blind turns.
Sunday was pretty tame in comparison. Had a late start, and headed up to the Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity (rolls off the toungue, doesn't it?) to look at the Mapparium. Its essentally a stained-glass globe depicting the political world as it was known in 1935. Which is to say Rhodesia is on the map, as was a combined Indo-Pakistani subcontinent. And the acoustics in the chamber are extraordinary. Because of the enclosed space, anything said in the center of the room is reflected back from all around you ... the ultimate surround-sound system, if you will! It's definitely worth the $6 admission fee!
After the quick trip to the Mapparium, Mom & I headed back to the hotel, stopping by Covent Gard .. er ... Quincy Market for a quick lunch at the food court. From there it was to South Station, Amrtrak and home!
Phew! That has to be the longest writeup in a while!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 11:31PM 
