Boylston
That’s the name of one of the subway stops. Locals call ‘em the T trains. Or ‘the big caboose’. Jk I just made that last one up.
So the trail of freedom. That’s what I did today. I had another fantastic breakfast experience. There’s this place called Trident Bookstore and Cafe that is both a bookstore and a cafe. Don’t you love a self describing thing? Like the word WHACK or Self-rising yeast? Alright I’m starting to make less sense. I’m deleriously tired again :)
so here’s Norah Jones singing as I take a video of the book/food place. Shop. Quest. Thing.
So the trail of freedom. That’s what I did today. I had another fantastic breakfast experience. There’s this place called Trident Bookstore and Cafe that is both a bookstore and a cafe. Don’t you love a self describing thing? Like the word WHACK or Self-rising yeast? Alright I’m starting to make less sense. I’m deleriously tired again :)
so here’s Norah Jones singing as I take a video of the book/food place. Shop. Quest. Thing.
Cool eh? I went upstairs and ordered a hot chocolate. When it came to me (it didn’t come by itself a waitress brought it) I took a sip. And then I looked at the cup and said to my hot chocolate (in my head- I haven’t gone that crazy yet) “when I think of the lucky women who find heaven in your arms” #moviequote. And then I wondered if my kids (students) know about personification. And then I made a mental note to teach them about it if they don’t
Sometimes my train of thought is less like a train and more like something jumbled. I can’t think of a good comparison right now.
without further ado here is a picture I took of my hot chocolate and then a picture I took WITH my hot chocolate. Take pictures with things you love hahahaha. #ihavenofriends
Sometimes my train of thought is less like a train and more like something jumbled. I can’t think of a good comparison right now.
without further ado here is a picture I took of my hot chocolate and then a picture I took WITH my hot chocolate. Take pictures with things you love hahahaha. #ihavenofriends
For eating (redundant?) I had a monte cristo. Look.
I wandered around the shop afterwards taking notes of books I want to read. Safe to say I was a big fan of that place!
Freedom Trail. I had debated doing a tour with a tour guide or walking the trail by me onesies and I found this audio guide I downloaded and took myself on a tour. Is it a tour if you take yourself?
Best way to do it in my opinion. I went at my own pace... stopped when I wanted and I could replay parts that I missed.
I actually liked the trail a lot more than I thought I would. I mean, I teach history and I knew I would find it interesting, but there’s something special about standing next to the spot where Samuel Adams is buried. I actually got goosebumps when I was standing on the memorial for the Boston Massacre. Maybe it became much more real for me actually being there.
I got a teacher discount at the Old South Meetinghouse. They were doing a literary lecture there on Ralph Waldo Emerson which I listened to for a couple of minutes. I thought I had moved on from the stage in my life where I take pictures of museum plaques. Friends, I have not. Don’t worry I’ll spare you the notes and gory details and just include what I consider the most interesting stuff:
Best way to do it in my opinion. I went at my own pace... stopped when I wanted and I could replay parts that I missed.
I actually liked the trail a lot more than I thought I would. I mean, I teach history and I knew I would find it interesting, but there’s something special about standing next to the spot where Samuel Adams is buried. I actually got goosebumps when I was standing on the memorial for the Boston Massacre. Maybe it became much more real for me actually being there.
I got a teacher discount at the Old South Meetinghouse. They were doing a literary lecture there on Ralph Waldo Emerson which I listened to for a couple of minutes. I thought I had moved on from the stage in my life where I take pictures of museum plaques. Friends, I have not. Don’t worry I’ll spare you the notes and gory details and just include what I consider the most interesting stuff:
There’s a really famous restaurant (like they had a wall covered with names of celebrities who have visited the place) called Union Oyster House where I went for lunch. Though it was more like a snack. I was pretty full from breakfast and I just wanted some traditional Boston Baked Beans and some cornbread. I tried to get it to-go but they only did chowder to-go so I was seated and then I ordered a side of baked beans and some cornbread.
I’m pretty sure my waitress was less than thrilled when she heared my piddly order. Here is what I imagined her inner-dialogue to be:
“is this young maiden for real? Who doth she think she is barging in unannounced and demanding a seat for one? Beans? For lunch? Does she not know that Sarah Palin ate here? Jay Leno? This is a fine establishment dag nabit !”
She tried her best to hide her annoyance but I could see the fire in her eyes.
I’m pretty sure my waitress was less than thrilled when she heared my piddly order. Here is what I imagined her inner-dialogue to be:
“is this young maiden for real? Who doth she think she is barging in unannounced and demanding a seat for one? Beans? For lunch? Does she not know that Sarah Palin ate here? Jay Leno? This is a fine establishment dag nabit !”
She tried her best to hide her annoyance but I could see the fire in her eyes.
I finished the trail after beans. I did the long version. The one that takes all day.
So I wore my Slytherin sweater today. It caught some people’s attention. As I was turning a corner, 🌽 on the freedom trail, a guy who was trying to get people to donate to his charity commented on my sweater (not the Joe-Jr-type-sweater-comment #WhileYouWereSleeping). This sweater-commenting-charity-selling guy proceeded to try to convince me to donate to save the children. For like 23 minutes. (The persuading was 23 minutes. Usually the actual saving of the children takes longer). I usually don’t get sucked in to sales pitches. I have a talent for being mean and brushing people off #thustheSlytherin. But he was nice. I hate when they’re nice- That’s when I strighle. And I spelled struggle wrong but it was so poetic that I decided to keep the mis-type😂
This guy used all the good sales tactics. Plus it was a charity for children! Things like- saying my name- bringing in facts about me I had told him earlier in the conversation. Asking my permission to ask a ‘funny’ or ‘honest’ question. Curses- how did he know I value humor and honesty above all else!?!?
He he was using mind tricks (not the Jedi kind) on me and I could pick it out but I was powerless. I found myself being friendly back! What was I doing!? We high-fived to sharing the best birth year (1990) and laughed about Harry Potter and children. It was only when he started to get slightly accusatory that I could break free. #ohnohedinnit
I have never been that taken in by a salesperson. (I know it was a charity but I didn’t know what else to call him)
Anyway I shut him down pretty hard and then walked away impressed at his tactics. Like I think I’m going to spend more time on the art of persuasion when I teach psychology next semester.
I spend end a lot of time writing about random human-interactions eh?
This guy used all the good sales tactics. Plus it was a charity for children! Things like- saying my name- bringing in facts about me I had told him earlier in the conversation. Asking my permission to ask a ‘funny’ or ‘honest’ question. Curses- how did he know I value humor and honesty above all else!?!?
He he was using mind tricks (not the Jedi kind) on me and I could pick it out but I was powerless. I found myself being friendly back! What was I doing!? We high-fived to sharing the best birth year (1990) and laughed about Harry Potter and children. It was only when he started to get slightly accusatory that I could break free. #ohnohedinnit
I have never been that taken in by a salesperson. (I know it was a charity but I didn’t know what else to call him)
Anyway I shut him down pretty hard and then walked away impressed at his tactics. Like I think I’m going to spend more time on the art of persuasion when I teach psychology next semester.
I spend end a lot of time writing about random human-interactions eh?
. speaking of human-interactions I just had a long convo with my flatmate (he’s not my flat mate I’ve just always wanted to be British and say that) (he’s staying in the same AirBnB) (he’s from Brazil and sometimes I can’t understand his English) (but I’ll admit I flirted a little)
back-track to dinner. There’s this bakery called Flour I wanted to try. I had no idea how good it would be. Best meal I’ve had in Boston. Like I even looked up the bakery website and watched the video story of how they came to be. I had a sandwich with apple, sweet potato, pesto, blue cheese etc on it. It was so so good. Then I had Boston Cream Pie for dessert. I’m defs going back there before the end of my trip. I have to get the famous sticky buns that beat Bobby Flay!
back-track to dinner. There’s this bakery called Flour I wanted to try. I had no idea how good it would be. Best meal I’ve had in Boston. Like I even looked up the bakery website and watched the video story of how they came to be. I had a sandwich with apple, sweet potato, pesto, blue cheese etc on it. It was so so good. Then I had Boston Cream Pie for dessert. I’m defs going back there before the end of my trip. I have to get the famous sticky buns that beat Bobby Flay!