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Published: November 6th 2007
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Days 67-72: Obfuscator writes - Monadnock State Park was fairly pretty in the morning light, but there was little to see without doing a lot more hiking, and we didn't have the time for that. We got moving, and decided how to spend our day before we were due to arrive in Boston. A site in our atlas caught our eyes, which was America's Stonehenge.
America's Stonehenge is a large and and fascinating site. Apparently after many years of study, they've figured out that this massive formation of standing stones is about 4000 years old. Theories about its uses vary wildly, but there seems to be strong evidence that it is built with astronomical significance, much like the Incan temples, or the more famous Stonehenge. It also has what could be a sacrificial alter (complete with blood groove), and a temple-ish looking structure. The site is privately owned and operated, and it does cost about $10 per person to get in. The strangest thing is the owner's seemingly strong interest in showing that the site was made by prehistoric Celts who then would have had to have discovered America long before even Leif Erikson, let alone Columbus. Apparently, actual native
Ancient temple?
It is complete with a hidden chamber in the wall, which in turn has a speaking tube hidding under the altar above the temple. Our other thought is that it might be a stone age fast food joint with a drive through. "Welcome to McDruids, how would you like your goat flesh?" Americans didn't look at the stars and sun according to the current owners of the place.
Having been warned by our friend imagisme in Boston that Red Sox madness had shut down most of the downtown, we devised a round-about and creative route into the city. Rather than attempting a blow by blow of the entire stay in Boston, allow me to simply point out some of the highlights. The Ghosts and Graveyards Tour of Boston is a lot of fun. Luckily for us, we were able to take the tour for free, due to imagisme having interesting and useful friends. Turns out that the tickets to this tour are rather pricey, so I doubt we would have taken it otherwise.
We were also able to see the Massachusetts State House, Bunker Hill, USS Constitution, King's Chapel, Old North church, and a fair amount of downtown Boston. The State House was really nice, though they didn't want us taking pictures in the Senate, since they were technically in session (even though they were on recess). The House was swearing in a new member, so even though normally they don't allow pictures when in session, they made an exception.
sacrificial altar
...or perhaps the chopping block for McDruids? The House is also home to Massachusetts famed Sacred Cod, which according to Wikipedia is a carving 5 feet long, which represents the importance of fishing to the colony, and was carved in 1783. The cod is so important that they have a smaller replica hanging in the senate as well. There's also a huge statue of General Hooker in front of the building. On sort of a dare from the friend who got us into Ghosts and Graveyards, I climbed the statue, with quite a boost from Onaxthiel. Apparently a woman walking out of the capitol said that she had worked there for six years and never seen anyone do that.
We were once again able to take advantage of knowing the right people in Boston when we visited King's Chapel. Imagisme and Doongar both work there, so we got Doongar to show us around. He was able to bring us up to the bell tower, where the Chapel has an original Paul Revere bell, onto the roof, and down into the catacombs. He also showed us the only stained glass in King's Chapel, a piece given to the church after the Civil War as a gift, which
For bonus points
Can anyone tell us what movie used this hotel, and for what purpose? the congregation now sadly keeps covered up at almost all times.
On the North End, near the Old North church of Paul Revere fame, there's a great statue of Paul Revere. After the little adventure with General Hooker, I couldn't really go by it without giving it a try. Again, with a great boost from Onaxthiel, I was able to climb up, though this time I was also able to mount the horse. There were a lot of people taking pictures of this spectacle. Onaxthiel adds: Apparently, the tourists of Boston don't often get to see people climb up 12 foot bronze horses. All traffic stops until the climber descends.
The Constitution posed somewhat of a problem for us. The first time we were going to try to get to it, we were planning on taking a ferry across Boston Harbor, and catching the last tour there. The ferry was late though, and we discovered when it did finally arrive, that it wouldn't take Doongar's pass, even though it took all the other kinds of transit passes. Onaxthiel and I tried again the following day without Doongar, and got on the ferry (JETBOAT!!!) successfully, only to find that
the ferry in fact went nowhere near the Constitution. In fact, it went in exactly the opposite direction. When we eventually got to Quincy, we were pleased to find that they had a WWII heavy cruiser (U.S.S. Salem) on display. According to their information, the only heavy cruiser on display in the world. Unfortunately, during the off season, the Salem is only open for tours on the weekends, and we were there on a Friday. Between bad weather and other plans on Saturday, we didn't make it back to the Constitution until Sunday. The oldest commissioned, floating combat vessel in the world, the Constitution is a heck of a sight, even if the top 2/3 of the masts have been removed for the winter as they were when we visited.
Onaxthiel adds: It's a good thing that the navy keeps it fully manned with enlisted personnel to keep the decks nicely swabbed and the brass nicely polished. Otherwise, I doubt that the ship would look even half as nice.
Bunker Hill is nearby, which makes for a nice little trip you can take in Charlestown. Of course, getting to the top of the monument requires going up 294
steps, which is definitely a bit much if you're not feeling fairly ambitious. There is also a deep, dark shaft down the middle of the obelisk to a tombstone/memorial for those killed in the battle. Also at the top, on display, is one of four cannons that the founding fathers saw fit to liberate from the British prior to the start of the revolution. These cannons were major targets of the British raid on Lexington and Concord that finally kicked off the rebellion.
We were also able to see the museum of natural history at Harvard, which had a remarkable collection of glass flowers, and more preserved animal carcasses, bones, and fossils than you can shake a stick at.
Or a hunting rifle, since Harvard hasn't been out hunting big game in decades. Onaxthiel thought the stuffed corpses looked like they needed reupholstering, as they have worn through in many places.
For Halloween, we obtained some extremely large pumpkins, and carved ghastly visages, including a coiled rattlesnake, Cthulu, a demon, a cyclops, and a rather creepy face.
Beyond that, we just had a great time hanging out with Catalyst, imagisme, and Doongar. We walked around a lot
Copps hill cemetary
Or is it Beacon hill? One way or another, the first stop on the Ghosts and Gravestones tour. of downtown Boston, ate at a lot of good restaurants, and just generally amused ourselves. We even managed to fit in a LAN party. Thanks to all three for showing us a great time in Boston, and especially to Catalyst and imagisme for putting us up for so long!
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Michelle
non-member comment
That hotel in the picture
I have never seen the movie but I want to say that hotel was in The Age of Innocence (that is what other people have told me at least). Does that qualify for half a bonus point?