Day 18

Today (6th) we had a tour of Boston, thanks to Brett being our tour guide. Our first stop was a park cemetery that has a lookout tower that has a fabulous view of Boston. It was also the best-looking cemetery we have ever seen (didn't think I would ever say that about a cemetery).

We went to Harvard Square, hopping with many people and great architecture (as well as weird faces).

Other sights in Harvard square included some dancing vegan animals. We were moved by their devotion to the cause (seeing that it was in the high 80s and muggy!). If you ask me, I think a way to reduce global warming for the pig is to take off that costume!

Lastly in the square we saw, for the first time a glass harmonica. This lady (who even has CDs out) has put together glass bowls tuned to specific notes and was taking requests for all sorts of songs to play. She dips her fingers into water, has someone turn the crank for her and she begins to play! What a sight!

Harvard is within walking distance to Brett's home, so we were able to get a special tour from one of Harvard Law's students (thanks Brett!).

The statue of John Harvard in the historical area of Harvard has a pretty worn down (shiny) shoe (it is the part people can reach and touch as shown below). Brett let us in on a little tradition of students urinating on the shoe through out year before they graduate! Now, all of those tourists are touching it! YUCK. Every statue that Donna looked at for the rest of the day that had a polished portion, she wondered if others relieved themselves on them. (who knows if she will ever touch a statue again...)

Donna discovered the smallest door on the Harvard campus. She knocked but no one answered...

Going to the hub of Boston, we walked much of the Freedom Trail, which has a lot of historic landmarks that revolve around the revolution and such. It is a 2.5 mile walk that has red bricks leading to the various spots.

Stop #3 on the Freedom Trail is Park Church, in which we attended the 4pm service. Oddly enough, both Donna and Corey saw unexpected friends from the past in this church! Donna saw a friend that was in the dorms with her 8 years ago and Corey saw a friend that he knew back at Cal Poly over 11 years ago. Small world... the fact we would see friends across the country!

We walked through Boston Common Park, the oldest park in the country (est. in 1634). We saw a man in a wheelchair attempting to fly a kite using a fishing pole, a man covered in tattoos staggering as if drunk in the little wading pool, and also a mother throwing bread on her daughter's back, letting pigeons jump up on her. Gross! Donna said it was like placing cheese on your child's back and letting rats climb all over them!

After walking all around downtown Boston, we decided to reward ourselves with delicious pizza from Boston's first pizza place called, Pizzeria Regina. We could either wait 2 hours to sit in the restaurant or order while we were walking and take it out to eat. We decided to order out. Brett and Corey, young Knights of Columbus (or so pretended), eating good pizza.

Our last stop for the evening, before our feet gave out from exhaustion, was en route to the metro. The Boston Bridge, quite an interesting bridge. Corey was impressed at who the architect for this project "really" is...