Boston Getaway - Part 1 - Boston Common and Public Park

This post is a little out of place as it relates to a trip we took over 4 months ago.  But, we've taken so many little trips, I'm having a hard time keeping up!  So forgive me if this post is going to confuse you as to where I am now.  Take note, I am in Belgium currently with lots of stories still to come, but I feel the need to let you know about our Boston Getaway this past November! And attempt to "Get Caught Up"!

Why Boston?  Well, we had some airline tickets we needed to use before coming to Europe.  Stijn suggested Boston knowing that I had been once before and I loved it!  He had never been, and I knew he would love it!

We left November 20 for a two night/3 day stay in Boston's South End.  This was a great area to be with the Boston Rapid Transit just a short walk away from our hotel.  You see, Boston is a great city to visit on foot!  No need for a rental car, besides you would make yourself crazy trying to find a place to park.

The "T" as locals refer to it, takes you to all the tourist areas.  We decide to start with the "Public Garden" and "Boston Common."

The oldest public park in the history of the USA, Boston Common's history goes back as far as 1634, when the area was designated a common pasture.  Now, it's a place for walking, weddings, events, some volleyball or simply sitting and enjoying the wildlife while you browse through your tourist guide book.

Boston Common is littered with historical monuments. Here are a few you may have heard about and quite possibly some you haven't.

Do you know the story of Mrs. Mallard and her eight babies?  "Make Way For Ducklings" was written in 1941 by Robert McCloskey and is about a Mallard family searching for a new place to live.

This bronze sculpture was unveiled in 1987, the 150th anniversary of the Public Garden.

This is one of the smallest suspension bridges in the world and sits at the heart of the Public Garden.

The "Brewer Fountain", donated by Gardner Brewer in 1868, is an exact copy of a fountain which was designed by French artist Liénard for the World Exposition of 1855 in Paris.

The Boston Common Frog Pond is nestled in the heart of America's oldest public park and in Colonial times, real frogs lived in the pond.  In the winter months from mid-November to mid-March  "Frog Pond" transforms into a place to ice skate.

A Classical Revival bandstand "Parkman Bandstand" sits at the center of a particularly lovely network of paths surrounded by stately trees.  It's used for concerts and other events.  The bandstand was named for George Francis Parkman, who died in 1908, leaving the city $5.5 million to be used for the maintenance of the Common.

Well, I think you know who this is......

......and maybe even this guy.

Located on a rise called "Flag Staff Hill", the "Soldiers and Sailors Monument" was erected in memory of Massachusetts soldiers and sailors who died in the U.S. Civil War. Construction began in 1874 and the monument was dedicated on September 17, 1877.

Located across from the Boston Common on the top of Beacon Hill, is the Massachusetts State House built in 1798. The land was once owned by Massachusetts first elected governor, John Hancock. Charles Bullfinch, the leading architect of the day, designed the building.

Bullfinch.....does that name ring a bell?

Yes, "Cheers" is the home of the "Bull and Finch Pub"

This center of Boston truely has some wonderful photo opportunities.  Here are few more of my favorites!

Well I could bore you to death with all the pictures I took!  So let's get some lunch!

When in Boston, eat seafood!

I will warn you now, it's going to be a week or so before I can get back on the computer to give you Part 2.  We have company coming from Bulgaria today to see Taylor Swift in concert here in Brussels.  And then, my honey surprised me with a trip to Cologne Germany this week!  Story to follow, eventually.

If you would like to see more pictures of Boston Common, just click here "Where's Debbie" and then on the album "Boston Getaway-Part 1"