Sunday, May 7, 2017

A Weekend in Boston

I've been doing quite a bit of traveling for work this spring. This past weekend I was in Boston, a lovely city filled with lots of quirky charm. 



As a professor, I had to pay a visit to Harvard. I fell head over heels in love with the campus, especially the brick buildings. I bought a cup of coffee from the graduate student center and thought about what it would be like to go to school here.  





Here's a picture of me in front of the library. I was a little disappointed that entry was restricted to students and faculty, as I believe knowledge should be accessible to everyone who seeks it. 



I took a stroll around Boston Common, which was full of history. It's actually the oldest city park in the U.S., dating back to 1634!


Here's the Massachusetts State House...



...and a very cool memorial to Col. Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment, one of the first African-American units in the Civil War. 



Dating back to 1660, the Old Granary Burial Ground is Boston's third oldest cemetery. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere are all buried here. 



I stopped for a drink and a bite to eat at the Omni Parker House, which featured in Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence. 19th century writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Mark Twain hung out here. So did Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.  



I loved strolling along the waterfront...





...with my favorite travel companion!



Read Traveling Teddy's story here.

I also loved the surprises that seemed to reveal themselves around every corner. 






I'm so glad to have befriended this beautiful city, and I look forward to returning one day...for work or pleasure!




~ Nel

16 comments:

DUTA said...

The contrast between the old burial stones in the cemetery and the blossoming tree overlooking them - is very eye-catching.
So is the contrast beteen the cloudy, grey sky in the waterfront scene and the blue or neutral skies in the other pictures. Boston seems to be a good place for interesting photography.

Jeanie said...

Boston's one of my favorite places so I'm glad you not only had a good time but shared photos that brought back sweet memories!

Sunflowers With Smiles said...

I love Boston too! Especially Harvard Square! Glad you had a great visit!

Walking the Bean said...

Wonderful bean town and so much history! Your photos say a thousand words. Thank you for sharing this adventure.
~Chris

Rose said...

I can't imagine how it feels to walk around there.

Pam said...

Love the buildings esp the ones in the first pic. Thanks for the tour, I have never made it to Boston!! Looks like you had a great time.

TARYTERRE said...

Beautiful, quaint, charming city.

Patricia said...

What lovely pictures of Boston, a city I really enjoyed when we visited years ago. I hope you saw the 'Make Way for Ducklings' sculpture on Boston Common!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

My husband went to BU and we lived in the North Shore for 11 wonderful years. We frequented Boston on Sundays, Saturdays were for Marblehead....we will never forget our young lives there, being struggling students, dreaming.

roughterrain crane said...

Owing to your post, I can feel that the city keeps tradition and tries innovation.

Karen said...

I've never visited Boston. Thanks for sharing these great photos.

Red Rose Alley said...

Thank you for the tea cup. Now, I'll always have something from Boston. : ) ~mom

busyandfab said...

These are interesting structures, I like how you narrated the historic places you've been, it informs me a lot about this city. You look really great!

www.busyandfab.com

piccolina said...

Wow!Harvard, I also dream to see that place. Thanks for sharing us your travel, seems like you made us travel with you too in these photos. Lovely!

Susie said...

Nel, I love this beautiful city. I have only been twice....so much history. I did board the U.S.S. Constitution when it was harbored there. I love all that wonderful history. Thanks for taking us along. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

Terra said...

Now you have made me want to visit Boston again. The buildings in the first photo are strange and how sad you could not enter the library. The university library where I worked let in everyone; on the other hand, they just threw out 80,000 books in one fell swoop. Love the cemetery and the patriots buried there. I am writing a book on the first African American soldiers so the monument is of interest to me.