Saturday, 19 April 2014
Boston to Toronto and looking ahead
As the Porter airlines flight to Toronto did not leave until 3.20pm, we decided to use public transport to get to Boston International Airport. There ended up being three legs to the journey.
The first leg was a street car (tram) that initially travelled at street level before entering the subway system. The second leg required a change to another line in the subway and we travelled by train to another line where we hopped on a bus that initially was on a designated road tunnel.
The 'funny' thing was that it only cost us $1 each for the whole journey. Despite telling the first driver that we weren't seniors, she still charged us senior fares. They quite often ask if we are seniors but i always say no as the age for a senior concession in the US is 61 or 62.
The next 'funny' thing was at the airport in Boston at security. People were removing belts and shoes and Heather enquired that we needed to do this. The lady checked our passports and said yes. It seems that you have to be 75 or older to skip the queue. So they think we're 75ish???
Got to Toronto to be collected by Morgan. Great to see him after such a long time. His apartment is in Liberty Village which is near the lake. A lot of redevelopment in this area and lots of high rise towers, such as Morgan's apartment block.
He gave us a quick tour of the city the next day. Being Good Friday the roads were nice and quiet.
We're quite happy to take it easy here after the past three weeks of travelling.
The next leg of our trip is to Cuba on the 24th where we have accommodation booked in Havana for the first three nights. After that we want to go to Vinales in the west and Trinidad in the south. Once in Havana we need to work out how best to get to those places.
Accommodation is booked in the Cayman Islands. Then it'll be off to Jamaica where we have three nights booked in Kingston. Today I booked the following four nights in Ocho Rios on the north coast and from there we have to head towards Montago Bay. Booked into Negril for 4 nights and then Mo Bay for 2 nights.
We've also booked flights from Toronto to Hawaii and Hawaii to Melbourne, as well as accommodation in Waikiki.
Home on June 1 so Heather can go to work on June 2. Lol
I don't think there's many internet opportunities in Cuba so the blog is likely to be short of updates until May 4.
The first leg was a street car (tram) that initially travelled at street level before entering the subway system. The second leg required a change to another line in the subway and we travelled by train to another line where we hopped on a bus that initially was on a designated road tunnel.
The 'funny' thing was that it only cost us $1 each for the whole journey. Despite telling the first driver that we weren't seniors, she still charged us senior fares. They quite often ask if we are seniors but i always say no as the age for a senior concession in the US is 61 or 62.
The next 'funny' thing was at the airport in Boston at security. People were removing belts and shoes and Heather enquired that we needed to do this. The lady checked our passports and said yes. It seems that you have to be 75 or older to skip the queue. So they think we're 75ish???
Got to Toronto to be collected by Morgan. Great to see him after such a long time. His apartment is in Liberty Village which is near the lake. A lot of redevelopment in this area and lots of high rise towers, such as Morgan's apartment block.
He gave us a quick tour of the city the next day. Being Good Friday the roads were nice and quiet.
We're quite happy to take it easy here after the past three weeks of travelling.
The next leg of our trip is to Cuba on the 24th where we have accommodation booked in Havana for the first three nights. After that we want to go to Vinales in the west and Trinidad in the south. Once in Havana we need to work out how best to get to those places.
Accommodation is booked in the Cayman Islands. Then it'll be off to Jamaica where we have three nights booked in Kingston. Today I booked the following four nights in Ocho Rios on the north coast and from there we have to head towards Montago Bay. Booked into Negril for 4 nights and then Mo Bay for 2 nights.
We've also booked flights from Toronto to Hawaii and Hawaii to Melbourne, as well as accommodation in Waikiki.
Home on June 1 so Heather can go to work on June 2. Lol
I don't think there's many internet opportunities in Cuba so the blog is likely to be short of updates until May 4.
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Fenway Park and Boston Tea Party
After a wet afternoon yesterday, we woke this morning to a clear sky and a temperature of 2 degrees with snow/ice on the ground and an expected maximum of 6 degrees. Yuck. But on a positive note, we'll be in the Caribbean in about one week.
About 11am we head off to Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox. We are a little dubious as neither of us have an interest in baseball but our expectations are well and truly exceeded. We went on a tour of the park which is the oldest baseball park in America. The tour guide was very informative and a good time was had by all. It was still freezing during and after the tour.
From there we jumped on a tourist trolley which is a bus that does loops of the city pointing out historic spots or points of interest. There is a 'Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum' attraction which uses re-enactments and multi-media to tell the story of the Boston Tea Party. The holographic effects were brilliant: two ladies talking and you thought they were real until they disappeared like stardust. (Still freezing!)
There is only one actual artifact in the museum and that is a tea crate. The only other surviving crate from those dumped in the river is in Washington.
Tomorrow we fly to Ontario to see the prodigal son. And suffer more cold weather!
About 11am we head off to Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox. We are a little dubious as neither of us have an interest in baseball but our expectations are well and truly exceeded. We went on a tour of the park which is the oldest baseball park in America. The tour guide was very informative and a good time was had by all. It was still freezing during and after the tour.
From there we jumped on a tourist trolley which is a bus that does loops of the city pointing out historic spots or points of interest. There is a 'Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum' attraction which uses re-enactments and multi-media to tell the story of the Boston Tea Party. The holographic effects were brilliant: two ladies talking and you thought they were real until they disappeared like stardust. (Still freezing!)
There is only one actual artifact in the museum and that is a tea crate. The only other surviving crate from those dumped in the river is in Washington.
Tomorrow we fly to Ontario to see the prodigal son. And suffer more cold weather!
Boston
Rather than staying in a hotel, this time we are in a condo with Victoria who we found on airbnb.com. So far we've enjoyed the experience as there's more room, someone to guide us with information, and someone else to chat with.
Victoria is 38 and airbnb shows she's been on their website since 2011 and she has 89 reviews. Her fridge is fully stocked and it's 'help yourself to whatever you want', but we've generally bought our own food and drinks. No Ouzo, and the scotch bottle was nearly empty so i partook in her Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum with coca cola. White wine and coronas in the fridge.
At 38 she still works so the house is ours, so to speak!
After a late night chatting to Victoria and visitor, Steve, we get up the next morning and head into town to find the freedom trail. This is about 2.5 miles long and takes walkers past historic sites. Very good but about halfway through it started raining so we had to pop into cafes etc along the way when the rain was too heavy. We didn't quite finish it but saw enough and particularly liked the North End part of Boston with its narrow streets and Irish and Italian bars, cafes and pubs. Paul Revere rode from here on his famous midnight ride to advise that the British would march on Lexington and Concord via the sea route (we all knew that!!??).
Today was the first anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings with VP Joe Biden in town. Lots of news crews and security, you probably saw it on TV. Sadly it rained on their parade.
Hope you enjoy the photos. Sorry that there is not a notation to each photo but the blog is misbehaving, or is it just me?
Victoria is 38 and airbnb shows she's been on their website since 2011 and she has 89 reviews. Her fridge is fully stocked and it's 'help yourself to whatever you want', but we've generally bought our own food and drinks. No Ouzo, and the scotch bottle was nearly empty so i partook in her Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum with coca cola. White wine and coronas in the fridge.
At 38 she still works so the house is ours, so to speak!
After a late night chatting to Victoria and visitor, Steve, we get up the next morning and head into town to find the freedom trail. This is about 2.5 miles long and takes walkers past historic sites. Very good but about halfway through it started raining so we had to pop into cafes etc along the way when the rain was too heavy. We didn't quite finish it but saw enough and particularly liked the North End part of Boston with its narrow streets and Irish and Italian bars, cafes and pubs. Paul Revere rode from here on his famous midnight ride to advise that the British would march on Lexington and Concord via the sea route (we all knew that!!??).
Today was the first anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings with VP Joe Biden in town. Lots of news crews and security, you probably saw it on TV. Sadly it rained on their parade.
Hope you enjoy the photos. Sorry that there is not a notation to each photo but the blog is misbehaving, or is it just me?
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