So the second part of our adventure starts on Wednesday a.m. Nicole had to go back to work, & Brian to school. The rest of us got up, packed our belongings back into the car and took off down the highway, back towards Boston. Along the way Alan stopped so I could take picture- he's good like that.
Now mind you, before we left home I had in my mind reflection pictures I wanted to capture. Up until today I had been very disappointed. As we were driving south on 89 through New Hampshire, I happened to take a look at the map and saw what appeared to be a lake between exits 12 and 12A. I asked Alan if we couldn't take an exit and see what we could find. We got off and wandered through an area that we thought would take us to the lake. As we passed house after house we could see the lake/water through their backyards, but it appeared that we couldn't get to it that way. So we got out of that area and moved on. We finally found a spot we could stop and I crossed the street and this is what I saw!!!
I was absolutely delighted!! There was a small stream across the road and Alan wanted pictures of that also. I was happy to oblige.
After that I wasn't worried about getting more shots, and I guarded my memory card with my life!! I had some of the pics printed up at CVS, but did not find their quality very great (had much better results when I got back home). But at least I could see them bigger than on the back of my camera.
We headed down to Boston and Alan bored Eliza with showing her places where Britt used to go to school (Boston University). I took Eliza to McDonald's (I do like their fruit n yogurt parfait). Kaitlyn & Alan did sushi. The we headed for Boston commons to start the Freedom Trail. After all one cannot come to Boston and not at least do some of the Freedom Trail.. This is a historic walk that one can follow to see the historic sites of Boston. The trail is a self-lead walk. It is designated by a red line on the ground (painted on concrete in some parts, inlayed in red brick in others).
Eliza was not all that excited for this particular activity. But I gave her the job of finding us a place to get an ice cream cone. She didn't really whine too much. She also had to keep us following the trail. We didn't find an ice cream cone, but we did pay an outrageous price (more than I think we paid in Italy) for a couple gelatos.
Some of the things we saw on the trail were the cemetery where Paul Revere was buried,
the Massechesetts State House
the Old State House
Faneuil Hall
The old North Church- one if by land, two if by sea.
A statue of Paul Revere behind the church-
Though it is not actually part of the Freedom Trail, along the trail is the New England Holocaust Memorial.
The following info has been copied from -http://www.nehm.org/intro.html
""Look at these towers, passerby, and try to imagine what they really mean - what they symbolize - what they evoke. They evoke an era of incommensurate darkness, an era in history when civilization lost its humanity and humanity its soul . . ."
"We must look at these towers of memory and say to ourselves, No one should ever deprive a human being of his or her right to dignity. No one should ever deprive anyone of his or her right to be a sovereign human being. No one should ever speak again about racial superiority... We cannot give evil another chance."
- Elie Wiesel
The New England Holocaust Memorial was built to foster memory of and reflection on one of the great tragedies of our time, the Holocaust (Shoah). The effort was begun by a group of survivors of Nazi concentration camps who have found new homes and new lives in the Boston area. Dedicated in October, 1995, over 3000 individuals and organizations from across the community joined in sponsoring the project.
The Freedom Trail location, in downtown Boston, is near Faneuil Hall and many other treasures of America's history. The site offers a unique opportunity for reflection on the meaning of freedom and oppression and on the importance of a society's respect for human rights.
The design utilizes uniquely powerful symbols of the Holocaust. The Memorial features six luminous glass towers, each 54 feet high. The towers are lit internally to gleam at night. They are set on a black granite path, each one over a dark chamber which carries the name of one of the principal Nazi death camps. Smoke rises from charred embers at the bottom of these chambers. Six million numbers are etched in glass in an orderly pattern, suggesting the infamous tattooed numbers and ghostly ledgers of the Nazi bureaucracy. Evocative and rich in metaphor, the six towers recall the six main death camps, the six million Jews who died, or a menorah of memorial candles."
While the freedom trail might bring an emotion of gratitude for the freedoms we have in this great country, the Holocaust memorial brought a sadness to my heart for the cruelties that human beings can bring upon one another. I felt like I spent more quality time, at that memorial (and more tears), than at any of the places we stopped on the Freedom Trail. I am so glad they had this memorial close to the Freedom Trail so that we would stop and look and realize that we do have great freedoms- ones we all too often take for granted.
We finished this day's Freedom Trail experience at the home of Paul Revere. Alan, Eliza & Kaitlyn did the tour (I had already done it) and just barely made it before closing time.
After having done the first part of the Freedom Trail, we called Brittni (who works in downtown Boston) and decided to meet her and then head home. We met her in this great little park somewhere in downtown Boston. It was pretty and unique, and warranted photographs. (Don't go there Alan)
Thursday found us trying to decide where to go next. We decided to head toward the Cape. We didn't quite make it that far, though, as we stopped in Plymouth.
I am in love with all the little towns, even the touristy ones. I love to look in the shops and see what they think the tourists are going to buy. They all seem to carry alot of the same things, most of which I do not need more of at my house. We did buy Alan a long-sleeved t-shirt (he usually doesn't buy himself anything), and I bought Jim a new Boston Red Sox shirt. Eliza bought a gold colored coin like might have been used back in the days of the Mayflower. And Kaitlyn bought herself a shirt. We did visit Plymouth Rock. We had heard that most people are really surprised at how small it was. I was prepared thinking it was REALLY tiny, so I was actually surprised that it was as big as it was.
We looked at, but did not go inside the replica of the Mayflower.
We had lunch in a small eating establishment, and then went back to Boston to finish the Freedom Trail that we hadn't done the day before. We started our second round with Bunker Hill.
The Monument stands 221 feet tall. Yes, I did take pictures of it, they have escaped my memory card, or else I have misplaced one. It is the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution fought on June 17, 1775. We climbed the the 294 steps that lead to the pinnacle.
The site from the top was pretty amazing. 
Then we were on to our final destination for the day- The USS Constitution.
Eliza listened very intently to all the things the guide told us. I think she really did like seeing all the canons and stuff that they used and the hammocks they slept in.
When we were done in the actual ship we had about 5 minutes to see the museum before it closed. Lucky it was small.
Headed home and tried to decide what our adventure would be for the next day. We decided to head up to Maine. Brittni likes lobster, and what better place to get lobster. Plus that would be another state the girls would get to check off their 'been there' list. So the next morning we headed to Maine. We weren't really needing to go very far into Maine to say we had been there, and, to eat lobster in Maine. So we went as far as Kittery. Just so happens there is an outlet mall there. So of course we had to check that out. We started at a candy shop and worked our way through some, but not all, the stores we would like to have seen (when I say 'we', I probably don't mean Alan and Eliza). Kaitlyn, Brittni and I were excited to find some great deals (for instance .99 shirts at Old Navy). I was able to get some Christmas shopping taken care of so I was excited. After we had exhausted our feet as well as our wallets, we headed to a restaurant where Brittni and Alan got lobster, I had shrimp (Eliza decided she liked it also), Eliza had chicked fingers, and Kd went for (wait for the excitement......) a hamburger. Then we made our way back to Britt's.
Saturday found us wanting to relax and not do a ton of driving in the car. Britt & I got up so she could take me to one of her favorite knitting stores. She is going to make me a red scarf and I needed to find the yarn for it. Found it!! Kaitlyn and Eliza stayed back and played on the John Deere.
Jim, thanks for getting some pictures for me. I am not sure if it is Jim's or if Brittni just lets him believe it is his. Either way the girls had a great time ridin' all over the back yard on it. We ran a couple other errands and then just hung out. Had a great time spending it with Britt, Jim & the boys (turtles-Sherm & Norm). Sunday we all had to go to various airports and head for home. A great time had by all, but having to say bye is a bummer. Already planning our next visit!!
