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Published: February 8th 2010
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I stayed at the Hostelling International Hostel in Boston, which was near Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.
After settling in I got chatting to Ann from Hamburg who was studying over in the US and we went out for a few drinks that night. Boston was even stricter than New York for the ID rule but I was forewarned this time and took out my passport. Ann had took an extract from her passport and as it wasn't the complete thing she wasn't allowed in a couple of bars.
The next day I headed off into Boston and visited the Boston Public Library, which I thought was even nicer than New York's. I carried on up Boylston Street (where most of the best bars were to be found) and into Boston Common, the oldest park in the country. The park is almost 50 acres in size.
The "Common" has been used for many different purposes throughout its long history. Until 1830, cattle grazed the Common, and until 1817, public hangings took place here. British troops camped on Boston Common prior to the Revolution and left from here to face colonial resistance at Lexington and Concord
in April, 1775. Following the trail, (which is easy as there is a red line painted on the sidewalk) you get a glimpse of the events that led up to the American Revolution. Obviously the Americans were rejoicing in this, however, being a Brit I didn't share their enthusiasm for beating us in the war - I should let it go shouldn't I:-)
The common was the starting point of the freedom trail, and first stop on the trail was the Massachusetts state house, where the house of representatives' chamber resides. I hooked up with a guide that was already showing some visitors round. There was a bit of excitement in the air as the Governor was giving a press conference as the state was launching an exercise to give out free swine flu shots and the Governor was getting his. Anyway as he was leaving his press conference he passed the tour and shook everybody's hand including mine. I was all of a flutter and when he came to me I shook his hand and said welcome - what the f..... how can I welcome him to his state house - thankfully he let it pass. What was
worse was that before he came to me he was having a full conversation with a 10 year old girl about her missing teeth. The shame of it!!!
After that embarrassment the tour finished and I was trying to find the way out, I must have looked lost (or suspicious) as this guy came up to me and asked if I could help. He pointed me in the direction of the exit but just as I was walking off he asked if I had my flu shot. I said I hadn't but obviously I wasn't from the US, he said it didn't matter, I was still weighing up the pros and cons of this but when he said it was free I just couldn't resist. While I was getting my shot the nurse said I would feel a small prick but after my experience with the Governor I thought it was too late for that. The camera crew was still there filming so I probably ended up on some local news channel!
In boston I stayed at the:
Hostelling International - Boston - near Fenway Park
12 Hemenway St.
Boston, MA 02115
617-536-9455 www.bostonhostel.org
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