Bostin? Austin?

Today I make my way to Boston. This will be my last plane trip until I get to Washington D.C, so I am rather excited about that. O’Hare Airport is quite far away from downtown Chicago and would be a $27 airport shuttle. Not a bad price, but I could get to the airport for $2 on the subway. I chose the latter option as the train I need to get can be taken very close from my hotel Well, what a mistake that was! Little did I realize that the two subway stations that get me to the airport don’t have elevators. So here I am with 40kgs of luggage and trying to get it down two flights of stairs to the platform. I relied on anyone I could locate and did my best damsel in distress look. People did help, but I felt bad to ask. I couldn’t believe that the line that takes people to the airport doesn’t accommodate people with luggage. An elderly couple also on the train, were having difficulty getting down the stairs with their luggage too. One guy did help me and in doing so stole my ticket for the train. Niice. Chicago is a fantastic city and very clean, but once you go underground, it’s a very different story. The subway is the worst I have seen so far. Holes on the platform covered by plywood, smells like urine…you know, all the nice things about train stations. After a 45 minutes train ride and switching trains twice, I got to the airport. Another huge line to get checked in. These US Airports at major cities get very busy. I finally got through and was super relieved I could check in two pieces of luggage because I had bought my ticket prior to the changes in restrictions. It was morning, so I went to hunt down some breakfast and the best I could get was some Maccas. It was so gross, they have whats called a McGriddle. I thought it was their version of an egg and bacon McMuffin. Which it is, but it’s got pancakes as buns. Seriously, so not cool but i hadn’t realized when I bought it! I went to the newsagent and got some mags for the trip and hung around til my flight was boarding.

Thirty minutes later and another American Airlines plane to be boarded. It was a dinky plane for my journey; I guess not many people go to Boston on a Saturday mid morning. My flight was fine except for the kid behind me who kept hitting my seat. I wanted to go Arnie Schwarzenegger on his arse, and break a pencil in one hand in front of him, but I’m dreaming. We got through some very heavy fog on the runway, I was actually worried the pilot wouldn’t know where to land, but obviously he did. The weather was warm but overcast and it had rained earlier In the day. I got through a rather run down airport and to the baggage carousal to pick up my luggage (it took ages!) and then hunted down either a taxi or airport shuttle. I chose an airport shuttle and got one straight away.

After a 15 minute drive from the airport I was in the Financial District of downtown Boston and at my hotel, Harborside Inn. The hotel is at the bottom at State Street right near the piers and harbor. The hotel is fantastic, very modern, doesn’t have rooms with more than one bed, so no children (thank goodness), and a fantastic location. After settling into the hotel it was late afternoon so I thought I’d go for a wonder and see what’s around and get some food somewhere. I started walking the cobbled streets and begun to see how quaint Boston is, you could walk the whole city as it doesn’t appear to be very big. As it’s the weekend, the area wasn’t busy either. I stumbled onto Faneuil Hall market place. It is one of the big attractions of Boston and part of the Freedom Trail. There is three markets, North, South, and Quincy that make up the area. It is mainly filled with small shopping stands, some bigger stores and heaps of dining restaurants. I checked out Gap in a desperate attempt to find a pair of dark denim jeans and I scored! I couldn’t believe that I managed to find a pair of jeans that fit me perfectly in dark denim for $70. So I snapped them up, and left very pleased with myself. Not long after leaving Gap I stumbled upon one of the main reasons I wanted to go to Boston – Cheers! Well not THE Cheers, but the replica bar called Cheers that’s been operating for some time in Boston and owned by the same owner as the actual Cheers on Beacon St near by. I headed in and sat at the bar and ordered myself ‘Frasier’s sandwich’. The bar isn’t all that similar if I’m honest, it just has heaps of Cheers memorabilia on the walls including actual things from the show. I hadn’t realized till I left that I had sat on Norm’s chair at the bar. Next to Cheers is a huge store selling all things Cheers related. It’s amazing how popular the show still is.

After my sandwich, I headed back to the hotel, readied myself for the next day and hit the sack excited to check out Boston.

What I learnt about Chicago & Boston today:

• Honorary street signs are all over Chicago and I think it’s really cool. Like Chicago street, in honor of the band Chicago
• Boston is quite a small city and you can see the history as you pass all the buildings.
• Cheers really isn’t much of a replica, but still worth the visit if you are a fan!

Michigan Lake weaving into downtown Chicago.

My hotel in the Financial District.

Quincy Market Hall. It's one of the three market halls.

In between the markets at Faneuil Hall marketplace.

A statue of Samuel Adams outside of Faneuil Hall. Faneuil Hall was used as the town meeting hall where Bostonians dared to speak against British ruling. Samuel Adams was a governor of Massachusetts & took a leading role in the Boston Tea Party.