Day 15 - Boston, MA.

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5-28-10
We gladly left our hotel this morning, the beds were hard, but the hotel had really great free breakfast. We headed to Boston, MA today and visited the Freedom Trail. We started at the Boston Commons, where I accidentally drove through a pedestrian walk way that the police officer said was blocked off, but I drove through, not knowing. He said it was a $50 ticket, but was nice and didn’t give it to me and told Pam to navigate better.

I then drove around and found by accident, Beacon Hill, it was so pretty there.

Once Pam got the address to Breeds Hill she put it in the Tom Tom, we were off to the Battle of Bunker Hill Site, where they had a miniature Washington Monument. Inside is a statue, I have attached pictures. The kids went all the way to the top and they never came down. Pam went up, she said the stairs were a killer there were 294 steps. Rylan from what I heard, was going up and down like they were nothing, and the adults were really struggling that were going up and making comments about him. Youth! Well the kids did come down after awhile, and left their grandma up in the monument. She was rubbery legged when she was found sometime later at the bottom on the bench. Breeds Hill was really neat, and when asked at dinner what monument they liked best they said Breeds Hill where the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought.

We then proceeded to the USS Constitution also known as Old Ironside. We took a tour of the inside and learned that being in the Navy at that time wasn’t pleasant. We learned a lot of history and living conditions and how the long guns were shot, the ship took approx. 450 men to run the guns, with only one cook, and fifty more to sail and such. Each man had only one gallon of water per day to choose to wash clothes, bath, or drink. The tour man said they drank their water. Yucky smelly men! The USS Constitution is 212 yrs old, is still a military working ship, it sails 6 - 8 times a year, is on a Navy Base and run by the Navy. The ship has 3 ½ levels, made of white oak, had 30 long guns each weighs little over 2,000 lbs, and the guns took only 90 seconds to reload each. The men that ran the guns had to train constantly to be able to be up to the 90 sec. reload. The sleeping deck didn’t have any light and the picture with the hammocks, is where they slept, the little round windows were added 25 yrs later after the revolutionary war. So the men stunk and had to live with out fresh air and light down in the 2nd deck.

We then visited the Old North Church, that had the light on the night of Paul Revere famous ride. We also went to Paul Revere’s home and park. We didn’t get to go into these because we couldn’t find any parking. We are over 7 ft. tall and cannot fit into a parking garage, so we had to forfeit these tours.

We then visited the site of the Boston Massacre, and the Old State House, down town in the heart of Boston. We again couldn’t find parking here and there wasn’t much to see.

So now we are in for the night about 30 minutes from New Hampshire.
-Heidi

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Photos

Charlestown Map
This is where Breeds Hill is located, The Battle of Bunker Hill

Bunker Hill Monument
This looks like a mini-Washington Monument

Breeds Hill
Monument inside the Minature Look-a-like Washington Monument

Park Next to USS Constitution
Small Park where we found another infamous geocache.

Geocache
This was located in a court yard type area in downtown Boston

30 Long Guns
on the USS Constitution

New Air Holes
These were added after the Revolutionary War so the men had air & light in the bunks

Comments

[Barbara]

Wow
This is your best blog. The info is educational and interesting for family. The pictures are outstanding. Thank you. Have a happy "homecoming" tomorrow Heidi. I love you, Grandma