Arrived in Boston
Boston,
Massachusetts,
United States
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Boston/Cambridge
Words to Wiki (www.wikipedia.org):
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Harvard Square
Central Square, Cambridge
May 20, 2008 - Arrived in Boston and took the train to Harvard Square. Met up with my uncle there. So looking forward to spending time with my family in Boston. Ate dinner at Fire & Ice in Cambridge then chatted with my uncles all nigh about so many things. Hit the bed around 1am. All in all a great day.
May 21, 2008 - Awoke wide-eyed, rested and ready to go @ 7:30 in the morning (that NEVER happens). Went for a morning jog to do a little exploring. I awoke feeling excited and supported. What does Berkeley, CA and Boston, Mass have in common I wonder ... what I do know is that they feel very much the same in so many ways. I feel the same here as I did there. Man, this is my kind of weather, crisp and cool.
A GREAT DAY overall! Went to Skyview to see the city from up high, Chinatown (much-much smaller than the one in San Francisco, but fun all the same), then did a walk-about for a little shopping. Great evening at my uncles' home with dinner and wine. It is really a pleasure not to have to think or make decisions. PS - I absolutely love the subways here.
May 22, 2008 - Good day, up at 7:30am again, ready to go ... go figure! Went to the Aquarium, then for a beer, and then visited a lot of squares in Cambridge. Now that I'm getting a handle on where everything is, I plan on exploring it all later.
May 24, 2008 - Restaurants here don't always have bathrooms ... go figure. Didn't see that one coming!
I saw the most amazing Argentinean musical trio on the streets of Harvard Square this night. Two guitarists and a percussionist playing a drum box that he was sitting on. They were absolutely awesome. It was such a pleasure to hear. In fact there is street music everywhere; in the squares, on the subways. It's always great to happen upon a performance.
May 25, 2008 - Went to a choral performance at Harvard. The performance was of works from the man once-dubbed as the "black Mozart" from the late 1800's. I was really craving classical music too, so it was a wonderful treat. Afterwards I and my uncles went to Cambridge Commons for dinner ... mmm ... good!
May 26, 2008 - Full day. Went to JFK Park to play my new soprano saxophone under a tree. Such a great park. I had discovered this little find earlier, and had planned to come back for some outdoor lounging. Even my uncles didn't know it was all that it was and they're people in the know. Later hung out in Charles Square, then we all moseyed on down to the Folk Music Festival at the Famous "Passim". Saw the bands, Tripping Lilies, Hanukah Castle, Ronald Reagan (Sax duo, and not very, um,... folk). Tripping Lilies were my favorite.
May 27, 2008 - Explored Central Square (area) today. People here aren't as closed as elsewhere in Boston and Cambridge. The cities in Boston are not very friendly or outgoing; at least, not what I'm used to. I liked Central a lot. It also had nice mix of people as well. Felt more like a place where I could hang out or live ...
May 29, 2008 - Worked on my travel plans till 6am, so I slept late. My uncle made this wonderful breakfast for me. We visited my aunt, and then went to see Esperanza Spaulding at her CD release party at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge. She gave a most impressive show. (Jazz Vocals and Bass - at the same time). This alone is a feat, not including the fact that she was so amazing at both.
Later, we ate Buffalo burgers at Charles Kitchen in Cambridge. Mmm ... beer and grease ... so good!
