Independence Day. The day we’d all been waiting for, for the crowds, the fireworks and of course the seafood. Why seafood? Because it’s Boston, and Legal Seafood is everywhere. They have the best seafood around and they aren’t overtly expensive. However, me being a vegetarian (who doesn’t mind being a pescatarian every now and then) decided to opt out of the seafood and go for the only vegetarian dish on the menu. Big mistake for someone who doesn’t like chili very much! I asked the server if she thought it was too hot or not, and she said it wasn’t hot at all. I get the dish and I can barely eat any of it. Just proves how different America and Australia are in terms of heat in their foods. At least when it comes to vegetarian food. Seriously, everything I’ve eaten here has had some form of chili in it, because they think it would be too bland for me otherwise. They obviously don’t know many vegetarians. I’d be happy with rabbit food.
Anyway, enough ranting about the dinner (I jumped straight to dinner, because seriously, we did nothing all day, except walk along the harbour, which was actually very pretty). We walked along Longfellow Bridge to get to Cambridge for a good view of the fireworks (and to get to our booking of Legal Seafoods).
The crowds at Cambridge were crazy! At the end of the night there was an ambulance, which was surprising. Given the crowds I would’ve expected more casualties.
There was a blimp floating around with a giant eye on it, staring down at everyone. Funnily enough, it was advertising Hendricks Gin (the only gin made and served with cucumber).
After a lot of waiting and listening to the Boston Pops (the popular orchestra, whioch was actually pretty cool) and a lot of teases with the fireworks, the showfinally started at 10:35 and then proceeded to go for 25 minutes straight. There was music as well, but the only time the fireworks went in time was when they played ‘ode de triumph’ and ‘beautiful world’, which was actually pretty cool. They also had a lot of star shaped, smiley faces, love hearts, and USA shaped fireworks at varying points throughout (although the USA ones only happened twice). It had its moments, but overall the show wasn’t as ‘spectacular’ or as well thought out as we were expecting. I mean, you could at least theme and launch the fireworks to each respective song.
Anyway, PRETTY FIREWORKS!
I couldn’t hear the next day and I had pain in my ears for a while. It was worth it… sort of. The experience was definitely different and more hyped up/extravagent than back home. They actually said that the fireworks presentation would be “brought to you without commercial break”. In what circumstances would there be a commercial break?! It’s freaking fireworks!