After nine days of being sick, I finally transitioned from zombie to human thanks to a heavy dose of antibiotics. Since that time, I have been busy exploring the city. Rather than listing what I've done the past two weeks, like a worn tour guide, I decided to focus on some of my observations about Boston and its residents.
1. Two legged transportation
Since we do not have a car, Rory and I are dependent on our legs for transportation. This would be a total nightmare if we still lived in Orange County. Fortunately, Boston is an extremely pedestrian friendly city. Nearly everything is accessible via public transportation. The T (Boston's version of a subway/metro) makes it easy to get anywhere within the city. Rory even walks 25 minutes to work every day. After four years at a sedentary desk job, I cannot describe how good it feels to move. Since I am walking everywhere I do not feel the least bit guilty when I stop at one of the many bakeries for a treat, which seems to be a daily occurrence.
For those occasions when we need a vehicle, we signed up for the Zip Car. The cars are located all over the city and we can rent a zip car by the hour or day. Insurance and gas are included!
2. What sign?
In our first zip car adventure last weekend we quickly realized that Boston has very few traffic or street signs. Rory tells me there are even less signs in England so I should get used to it. When you are unfamiliar with the area it can cause havoc. On our return trip home last weekend (after Rory accidentally deleted the directions from my phone) we took a wrong turn at a fork in the road because there were no signs offering guidance. This wrong turn resulted in an hour detour, which included a drive by Fenway Park just as the baseball game was getting out. Our attempt to back track was met with frustration as there were no street signs so we had no idea what road we were even traveling on! Rory prescribed the following after we finally made it back to our apartment:
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| G'Knight Imperial Red by Oscar Blues |
3. Hometown Pride
It is no secret that the people of Boston are sports fanatics. They are fiercely loyal to the Red Sox, Patriots, and Bruins (which are currently in the Stanley Cup Final). After attending a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, the community spirit and pride is indeed palpable and highly contagious.
4. Headphones Required
After my first few trips on the T I noticed a trend among the riders. All young male and female riders wore earbuds (head phones) or had a historical novel in hand. Failure to have either will make you look like a tourist and subject you to the sales pitches from street vendors or homeless. While my experience on the T has been great, one day a young woman decided to cut her fingernails while sitting next to me. Based upon the glares given by other passengers, including myself, this was not acceptable behavior.
5. Land of CVS and Dunkin Donuts
Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US. Much of the city was constructed when there was no need for parking lots or big box grocery stores. Many stores are the size of a shoe box and carry limited products. It is not unusual to buy milk, sandwiches, or even toilet paper at a CVS drug store. While there are a few scattered Starbucks, it is clear that Boston runs on Dunkin Donuts.
6. Running Junkies
Maybe it is due to the Boston Marathon, but the people here love to run. I've seen hordes of people running (not jogging) at all hours of the day in all areas of the city.
One thing is certain, I am in love with Boston. It is so much more than a chowda capital or home to Fenway Park. It also has the North End (home to the oldest Little Italy and tons of markets, restaurants and bakeries) and Newbury Street (a shopping and eating mecca nestled in the old brownstones). Rory theorizes my love of this city has something to do with the abundance of bakeries. He could be right.
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