We've made it to Boston and if you like history this is the place to be. Boston's first public market, Faneuil Hall adjacent to the site where Quincy market now stands was built in 1792.....and that's where we ate this evening! You will find food of every kind. Boston creme puffs, Chinese, Mexican, hot dogs, pizza, clam chowder...you name it!
I think we will be back there tomorrow to sample yet some more wonderful foods.
Today we toured the USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" it is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat in the world. It was first launched at a shipyard in Boston's north end in 1797. They are doing some work on the sails of the ship and had those down for now.
Inside you can see the guns used so long ago. The sound would have been deafening to those on board. It was told that little boys of 8 years old and older were used as "Powder Monkeys" on board. They would run up and down the stairwells gathering powder and 35 pound balls for ammo. Food on board consisted of fish or beef stew with hard biscuits. Water was limited to 1/2 gallon to 1 gallon per person a day. They would also be given an allotment of rum each day. With the water they could drink it or bathe. For the most part they just drank it.
Below was the place where the crew slept. Only half of the crew would sleep for 4 hours at a time. There would be from 220 to 250 at once sleeping side by side in the swinging hammocks.
Next we visited the Boston Commons a central public park with about 50 acres. Dates from 1634 and is the oldest city park in the USA.
The Central Burying Grounds is located on the Boston Commons. There you will see graves of British Common Soldiers who died in combat or of disease during the revolution. Foreigners and American patriots from the Battle of Bunkers Hill and the Boston Tea Party are also buried there. In the wall of this hill above the metal doors are names of people as well as many tombstones on the hill.
Statues are scattered throughout the park. This one is of a man working.
A very large fountain found in the Boston Commons. People sit and read or just watch as people go by.
Just at the top of the hill of the Boston Commons is the Shaw Memorial. Made by Augustus Saint Gaudens and placed there on May 31st, 1897. It shows Colonel Shaw riding his horse in uniform with his soldiers carrying rifles, packs, and canteens and led by young drummer boys. Above them is an angel holding an olive branch, symbolizing peace and poppies symbolizing death. The expression on the soldiers is one of solidarity.
Across from the Boston Commons....The Massachusetts State House built in 1798. It sits on top of Beacon Hill. The land was once owned by John Hancock. The original wood dome leaked and was covered with copper in 1802 by Paul Revere's company.
Now for some of Boston's finest!
Tomorrow we'll head back into old downtown Boston for a bit more sightseeing and some of that wonderful food.
I must say I'm missing all of my family back home and look forward to returning home on Saturday. Until then.....
Happy Trails.....Ginger
The dad came home today with a present for me.....he got me me my own Nittany Lion (Penn State) T-Shirt - and #1 - which of coarse I am :) Dad forgot to take into account how much fur I have, so it is a little tight but I still look pretty good in it. Of coarse this doesn't mean I am going to start liking that foozeball thing.....I still get so scared when dad is watching it. And the Nittany Lion is a cat and I am not to sure I like cats. Dad also got the mom the cutest "I love my sheltie" thing for hanging in the car window. It is very cool and mom will take a photo of it tomorrow. Hmmmm I wonder if any of the monsters around my house will chew on this T-Shirt?? Dad would probably be very very annoyed if they did.
Oh no, our house is being invaded with monsters!!! Now we have a toy box monsters too and you won't believe it but his name is Reilly too!!!!! This is just getting a little weird that all these monsters have the same name as me. Here I am checking to see if the monster was still in the box - can you believe it threw nearly all my toys out!!!!! Of coarse I did have to take a few out myself just to make sure it wasn't hiding under any of them. Oh there is something else really odd about this Toy Monster. See that fluffy little bed. Well when I was just a wee pupster that was my crate bed...mom says I use to sleep on it all the time and that I only took up space on a quarter of it. Hmmm I think moms pain meds are making her a little gaa gaa - how could I ever of been that small! Anyway - back to the bed. Mom keeps putting the bed away in the cupboard (she was hoping to keep it for if I ever have a little sister) but the toy monster has figured out how to open the cupboard and the bed keeps ending up in my toy box again. Is that one clever toy monster? After I had checked the box, I smiled happily at the mom and said "no mom - there is no toy monster in there now" But you know what isn't fair - the mom is making ME learn to pick up my toys and put them back in the box. THAT ISN'T FAIR - if the toy monster takes them out, he should have to pick them all up and put them back in the box. And darn...... if that wasn't bad enough, the mom used logic and said she picks up after me all the time, so therefore I should pick up after the toy monster. LOGIC is just wrong I think....and shouldn't apply to dogs! The mom also said I have to say thank you to everyone for their kind wishes. Today she is feeling a little better. And for those that asked, the Chiropractor broke the mom's ribs. Her normal Chiropractor was off sick and she had to see someone else and it was just an odd combination of not not laying quite flat and being too tense. She doesn't blame him...it was as mom says "just one of those things". Well I am off to see what the toy monster is up to now and I guess I had better check on all those other "Reilly" monsters too.
The mom seems to be in more pain the last couple of days then the previous few days. I think she is doing to much and she HATES sitting still which isn't a good thing when she is meant to rest. She is worrying about me too.....the tissue monster visited and left shredded tissues on the carpet, and then a sock monster visited too, it found some of dad's sock and had fun playing with those. For some reason mom thinks the tissue and sock monster are the same and they are called Reilly - just like me!!! How weird is that?????? Anyway, mom thinks the monsters are a bit bored so even though she isn't meant too, the mom and I went for a walk this morning in the hope the monsters would follow. It was very very cold and the mom had some trouble catching her breath so we had to go soooooo slow, but I enjoyed the extra long sniffing. This afternoon I have been snoozing by mom's feet, where ever she goes I go. I know she isn't feeling to good, and having me close by makes her feel better. Tomorrow we are expecting a snap freeze in the morning.....I guess winter is really heading our way. Hope you all had good weekends.
The mom has been snapping pics again and this is one she took and then removed the background from. The mom thinks I look sad, the dad thinks my nose looks to long and me - well I just wish she wouldn't keep pointing that thing at me. What I don't understand is why I have to try and stay still while she takes a pic when the only thing I want to do is run and play. She says photographs are memories and she wants to have lots of memories of me, so I guess it is okay.
Okay buddies - the challenge it out. Show your favorite toy, the one that gives you comfort, the one that you like to snooze with, the one you know by name and the one you would miss terribly if you didn't have it. Mine is an blue stuffed moose. As you can see, it has been well loved, chewed, slobbered on and tugged at. We are on the fourth sock covering and he has had just about every part of him stitched and restitched but he is still my favorite toy.
