Boston Strong!

We were greeted in Boston by blinking road construction signs that repeatedly flashed "Changing lanes?  Use Ya Blinkah".  Speaking of roads... Boston must be the capital of toll roads and tunnels!  We walked the historic Freedom Trail (a red brick line winding around the streets of the city to almost all of the historic landmarks), had some sweets at Quincy market, took a historic harbor cruise, and visited M.I.T. and Harvard.

Boston has its own version of Central Park, known as Boston Common.

Boston Common is the oldest public park in the U.S.

Boston is also home to the oldest integrated school in the nation.

Boston's park system is ranked in the top 3 of the U.S. and most parks feature statues or tributes.

The fallen police and fallen firefighter memorials are adjacent to the state house

The famous state house on top of Beacon Hill.

The Freedom Trail is marked by this brick line you see on the ground behind me.

The Freedom Trail winds through the city bringing you to historical sights,
like this old cemetery where Benjamin Franklin's parents and relatives are buried. 

Beautiful old building can be found nestled alongside modern skyscrapers in downtown Boston.

And the city has certainly kept up most of the older buildings.
Can you imagine Paul Revere shouting, "The Red Coasts are coming! The Red Coats are coming!"?

Quincy Market is near the harbor and is full of yummy food and unique boutiques.

Of course, we had to stop for a huge yummy cookie!

I had to take a picture with the Democratic Donkey!

And of course this guy insisted I pose like him...

There is a lovely park known as Columbus park that runs between Quincy Market and the harbor.
It seems to have been turned into a dog park.

As you can see, the new city has sprung up around the old.

The first Starbucks in Boston

Great city views from the harbor

And they have planted beautiful flowers everywhere!

At the harbor on a dreary day waiting for our cruise

City view from the harbor.  The building with the green domes and archway was once built to welcome new ships to the port but has since become luxury condos.

Not sure what I'm doing here, but our tour guide is explaining how the city has expended into the harbor by dumping dirt and trash into the water to add to their land space.

Mohammad with the skyline

More beautiful flowers around the city!

At Boston Public Garden, which is so beautiful

The Swan Boats in the Boston Public Garden lake have been in operation for more than 130 years!

Boston Public Garden is full of bulbs, especially tulips. 

Luckily, we happened to be in Boston at perfect blooming time!

Of course we have to stop at Harvard

There is an interesting story here.  So it's tradition for tourists and visitors to rub the left foot of John Harvard's statue for success.  Of course, we think of those who made it to Harvard as having achieved something remarkable, and we assume they will go on to greatness.  However, Harvard students have a different tradition.  Every night, Harvard students pee on the statue, claiming their significance as students of Harvard. Though some do rub his toes for good luck, they are in the minority.
The statue has another secret as well.  Besides be named the John Harvard statue, it is known as the statue of three lies.  The first lie is that, brace yourselves, that is not actually a statue of John Harvard.  The statue was constructed at a time when there were no longer any representations of John Harvard left, so the sculptor used a student to model the statue after.  Lie number two, John Harvard was NOT the founder of Harvard University.  Say what??  That's right, though the statue clearly states, John Harvard, Founder,  John Harvard never founded nor attended Harvard University.  He merely donated half of his estate and his library (400 books) to the already existing school.  And finally, lie number three, below "Founder" on John Harvard's, or rather the random student's statue, the founding date is clearly marked as 1638.  Harvard was actually funded in 1636, making it the oldest institution of higher education in the United States (the oldest in the world is Ahvaz Jundishapur University in Ahvaz, Kuzestan, Iran in the year 200 B.C.).  

The campus is gorgeous

And littered with ancient churchs

Mohammad and Robert Bacon, a Secretary of State and promoter of the Panama Canal.
Bacon graduated from Harvard in 1880.

Here, Mohammad is pointing to the Harvard Book Store.

And the famous Harvard Gate which boldly states, "Enter to grow in wisdom".

And finally, what would a trip to Harvard be without watching geniuses playing chess.  The guy on the right in the green jacket is the actual genius.  The original ChessMaster of Harvard Square, is a dropout of Harvard who is quoted as saying, "You can earn your own degree with Chess."   He can be found in this exact location a few months out of the year (he may, in fact, be the man seen on the far left) playing a game against anyone for 2 dollars and always winning.  He is said to make around $10,000 a season.