Day 8

The Freedom Trail. Proving that Boston is probabaly the most historically patriotic place in America, and that this city is the best place to be for the 4th of July celebrations. Today was also probably one of the worst days to do the Freedom Trail, as pretty much everyone else was too, as it is a pilgrimage of sorts here.

Anyway, this is the beautiful old State House. Originally designed by Charles Bulfinch, the dome was first made from wood, themn coated in copper by Paul Revere and then finally coated in 23-karat gold leaf in 1874. The original tennants were John Hancock’s cows. The building is now used today, like Melbourne’s parliament house is.

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The Boston Common. I wish we had commons, that is parks in the center of a specific area, as opposed to on the outskirts. They provide fantastic views. The Boston Common is also America’s oldest public park.

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The streets of Boston.

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Old City Hall. Now a Steak House!

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The old South Meeting House. Where protesters gathered to rally against the English rule (the Boston Tea Party for example).

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Boston architecture. The amount of copper around here is just beautiful.

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The old State House. This building housed the colony’s government.

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Around Quincy Market.

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A very non-descript building with a LOT of American flags hanging from the facade, had this in the window.

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Rose F. kennedy Park, named after JFK’s mother.

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The Paul Revere House. The biggest and most intact colonial house, it was built around 1680.

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Lunch! We ate at Gennaro’s in North Square (right next to Paul Revere’s House). I had vegan ravioli with antipasto. It was beautiful! Highly recommend.

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Boston has some very pretty streets.

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This church stuck out so much mum thought it was the one used to signal the rebels, “one if by land, two if by sea.” Turns out, it was the next block over. But it looks nice, and there was a pretty interesting looking pharmacy on the corner. What is with that old timey mortar and pestle?

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This is the correct church spire. With the statue and everything.

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And also, Boston has corner buildings as well. I guess they’re more a form of architecture unique to America more so than just New York. That being said though, this type of building is very common in New York.

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Boston Harbour.

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Charlestown. Filled with quaint little houses.

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Beacon Hill monument. Which funnily enough is actually on Breeds Hill. The leader of the rebels was supposed to fortify Bunker Hill, but instead decided to fortify Breeds Hill.

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The USS Constitution (and museum). A very old, very cool, copper plated (at least on the base) old American navy vessel. Inside the museum you had the option to carve your name onto a copper plate that would go onto the new hull of the ship. My dad engraved it with ‘The Thompsons’. Take from that what you will.

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And finally, I thought I’d share this image I captured on the way home of a statue outside the ice skating stadium.

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Being in Boston, seeing the sheer number of American flags, and completing most of the Freedom Trail, I can really understand how Captain America (or at least the actor who portrays him) comes from here. This is a very partiotic place. So partiotic we’ve already seen a great deal of people in reanactment costumes. That being said though, it is a lot like home and a really nice place to be. The whole town is just seeping with history.