Friday 6th May 2022 Boston is justifiably proud of its role in America gaining independence and there are plenty of informative plaques and signs around the city celebrating this. We decided to save some walking time and complete the Freedom Trail by taking the Red Line subway route into the city and picking up the Trail to walk up to Bunker Hill where, on June 17th 1775 during the Siege of Boston, New England soldiers faced the British army for the first time in battle. The 221 foot granite obelisk erected in 1843 to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill is actually sited on Breeds Hill where most of the fighting took place. Although the British won this particular encounter, the battle provided the patriots with a real boost to morale as it became apparent that, although inexperienced, they could, with determination, overcome superior British numbers. The monument itself is currently closed and we were not able to climb up inside for the views on this visit. From here we walked to the Charlestown Navy Yard, which was established in 1801 following the creation of the new U.S. Department of the Navy in 1798. It was operational until 1974 and […]
Daily Archives: 08/05/2022
Thursday 5th May 2022 Having arrived in Boston and deposited our bags, at the hotel, we took the Red Line subway from Andrew into the centre of Boston to walk around and get our bearings. Boston is proud of its revolutionary credentials and is full of landmarks and historical sites. The Freedom Trail is a walk around the city helpfully delineated by a red brick, or sometimes, painted red line. We started at Boston Common. There was a protest taking place on one side of Boston Common outside the Massachusetts State House which dates from 1798 and is the oldest continually running state capital building in America. Tours are available and we planned to visit the interior the following day. The Freedom Trail took us past Park Street Church and the Granary Burying Ground. This is the third oldest graveyard in Boston and the final resting place of several notable revolutionary patriots including Paul Revere and three of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence – Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Robert Treat Paine. There is also a memorial in the centre of the burying ground to the parents and relatives of Benjamin Franklin, who is himself buried in […]
Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th May 2022 After receiving our test results yesterday, Robert successfully completed on-line check in for Matilda but even after multiple attempts, found he was unable to check himself in. This should have rung alarm bells. Next day at the airport seemed to be a training day: we felt that this was the only way to explain the excessive staffing levels. Matilda felt it did not bode well when, even before checking in our luggage, her passport was marked with a green sticker but Robert’s was branded with a red one. As we came through security, Robert was selected for a random security check, that included a substance test, with a strip wiped across hands, belt and shoes. We then continued through the airport but at the gate, several names, including Robert’s were called and he had to go through for further questioning and scanning. Matilda waited on the other side of the gate, watching while he removed his shoes; unpacked his ruck sack and was questioned by successive members of airport staff and homeland security. She mused upon the potetnial irony of passing the Covid test and still not being allowed to travel. Eventually airport […]