From Boston To London

We returned home from England Monday and I’ve been getting over a grotty cold ever since. I took my car Ruby to get an oil change this morning and noticed the mechanic had ‘You’ll never walk alone’ tattooed on his arm (from Liverpool Football Club) and it reminded me I hadn’t done my blog! We flew from Boston Airport, kindly Kim’s parents gave us a ride to the airport.

Logan Airport shops aren’t really as good as London airports, I never realised how good our airports in England were compared to other countries (except Norwich Airport which was truly shit). We shuffled through security like cattle and then headed off to browse the few shops. I found another Jesus magazine, like last time, no one in the store found this amusing except me. This is how I looked when waiting to board:

I think because it was a night flight the wait felt super long. Although we saw a little mouse scurrying about in the seating area that amused us for quite some time. I resisted the urge to buy something to feed it with.

Eventually we were able to board, amazingly for once I did not get seated near any children, let alone screaming babies. I think they must reserve this special treatment for when I fly alone, perhaps Kim broke the curse.

We flew with British Airways and got some little wines to make spritzers.

I like aeroplane food, I got a chicken curry although precisely the time it was served we got a lot of turbulence so trying to eat was quite funny jostling all over the place.

Eventually after lots of bumping about and crappy sleep we arrived at Heathrow.

They’d re-vamped the airport since I was last there with some English themed decorations… some of the decorations I think would be misleading to foreigners…

Then we traveled to my Uncle’s house in Upminster. My Uncle lives part of the year in Cyprus and his house was empty so he kindly let us stay for a couple of days which was nice because we got to visit with my Great Auntie Lily who lives in Barking and see my Mum’s cousin Elaine who we are close to.

On the Tuesday we made our way back into central London on the underground.

And we went for lunch in the Walkie-Talkie building with my brother, his girlfriend and my Dad who we almost didn’t recognise because he’d grown a beard!

I didn’t even realise you could go in the walkie talkie building but it had a beautiful sky garden and viewing platform. I think we went on quite a good day because you could see pretty far.

So we had a nice long lunch and a good catch up.

Charles had sorted us out train tickets to go to Wiltshire but we had some time to kill so we walked along the river Thames (pronounced ‘tems’ not ‘thay-mes’).

Uncle Jim had left us some vouchers for London attractions so I think we paid about £3.50 to go to the Clink prison museum.

For £3.50 it wasn’t bad and we got a silly photo for free afterwards.

Boston – Day Two

Day two was a bit manic, we got the subway (no rats sadly) to downtown Boston.

Then we went to take a historical freedom trail tour through parts of the freedom trail for an hour and a half.

It was really good, the guide was dressed up in period costume (he must have been so hot in the sun!) and was very funny.

As the only English person on the tour I was the enemy of course but it was all in good fun.

Then we took a really quick trip to Salem, we’d planned to spend the afternoon there and left our luggage at the train station but the left luggage place closed at 5 (lame) so we only got to spend an hour and a half looking round.

And buying tat… And watching witches get dragged through the street.

The graveyard was interesting and sad, there were lots of children and young people that had died.

Then it was time for ice cream (this was a small).

And a walk back to the train station where we had to wait for five long hours

😦

The Melting Pot

I thought this post deserved to be separate, this is where we ate in boston – The Melting Pot. It’s a fondue restaurant and each table has a hot plate on it per two people.

And the waiter brings ingredients to your table and makes the fondue in front of you.

And you get things to dip like veggies and bread.

Next they brought us like this stock and you had things like prawn and chicken and potatoes and you added them in then took them out to eat a few minutes later.

Here’s some of the stuff we had to cook.

Lastly the chocolate fondue… I was so full but I powered through just for this.

Milk chocolate and peanut butter fondue… Then I had to be rolled down the street back to our hotel. Yum.

Boston – Day One

So we took a greyhound coach to Boston (Bwoarston!), which was surprisingly comfy and had free wifi (score).

You guys, the USA has prettier motorways than we do, they’re so scenic. And so far during my stay I’ve seen loads of deer and 3 groundhogs. FYI groundhogs look so cute.

Then we checked in our hotel, and got out to see the city.

We went and got lunch at Cheers, one of the replica Cheers bars which was busy but very nice.

Nom nom nom.

Then we looked round Quincy Market and I got a Christmas decoration shaped like a lobster and some Boston Red Sox red socks.

There were loads of street performers there, apparently you have to audition before you’re allowed to perform.

After we mooched round, my dear friend Kim and I went for a Duck Boat tour which was surprisingly really good.

It went round the city and then into the water and round the harbour (haahbaa). This is the US Constitution, looks a bit piratey doesn’t it? Apparently it’s still in active naval service but like… Come on… It’s obviously not is it. Who’d send that to war?

Anyways more later about my trip to Boston.