New England USA Mini Road Trip 2020 - Day 2 - Boston #fiveexplore #newenglandroadtripusa2020

DAY 2: Saturday 10th October 2020

We left the hotel to a warm blast of southern air blowing across the parking lot. Today we were visiting Boston, the home of independence. Apparently, Philadelphia is also the home of independence. Either way I knew I was in for a day filled with passive aggressive anti-British commentary.

I travelled to Boston frequently in a previous job. Familiar silhouettes of the Prudential and Hancock towers sprung into view as we turned towards the city. We parked near the harbour and headed for the New England Aquarium to join a duck tour. These well-known tourist attractions use amphibious wartime vehicles to travel across the city and into Charles River. It’s the quickest way to see everything in a short amount of time. This was my first visit to Boston as a tourist and enabled me to experience the city in a different light.

Meanwhile Lyra was looking nervous. I could sense the epochal event about to unfold before we boarded. A loud moan emerged from the seat in front of me. “I don’t want to go in the water. It’s not safe. I don’t want to goooo…”. Familiar animalistic guttural sounds ruined the ambiance for other socially distanced tourists in the vehicle. Sarah tried offering ice cream then resorted to banning her laptop. Neither worked.

An enthusiastic local guide barked orders in a harsh Boston accent. It seemed to jolt Lyra back into line. We were told today is about “Freedom, Fun and First”. We were also told to shout “quack quack” at people on the sidewalk. The girls tried their best to comply. Boston is littered with ornate old buildings, narrow alleys, and steeped in old stories. It feels familiarly European. Many of the North Eastern cities fight for prominence. Boston is where independence was fought, Philadelphia where it was written. New York is a financial and immigration metropolis, Washington a powerful capital strewn with monuments. It struck me this region of the US jostles with money, power, tradition, and ego.

Boston started as small coastal town and soon expanded into a large city through landfills and an over budget project called ‘the big dig’. To the north is Cambridge where the educational elite frequent Harvard and MIT. Interestingly some of the richest Alumni are those who dropped out early (Robert Land and Mark Zuckerberg being two examples).

We wound through Boston Common and Copley Plaza, then down to the river past a large skateboard park designed by Tony Hawkes. It was advised we do not quack at these individuals as we may receive “a digit” in response. Our vehicle drove into the water and transformed into a boat. Lyra was strangely alert and bounced on her seat. This was apparently “the best bit of the journey” and she looked disappointed to return to land. Once back in the city we spent time playing in the water fountains. The temperature was up to 27c.

Our last stop was the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. This attraction was fantastic for the whole family. Enthusiastic actors dressed as 18th century ship workers vigorously played their part, despite face masks and warm costumes. We visited two boats and the children re-enacted throwing tea into the water to rebel against the British. Lyra explained that she “loved a tantrum” and felt she was a suitable person to enlist in their effort. As a British national this felt strange, but I have to say by the end I agreed my ancestors really did sound like a terrible lot. We escaped the obligatory food hall and gift shop, then headed back to the car.

For the last portion of the day we drove due North through New Hampshire and up into Portland, Maine. Beautifully coloured trees lined the road and the blazing sun began to set. Portland is a bustling, beautiful, laid-back city. Streetlamps illuminate the variety of bars, shops, and restaurants. We ordered dinner from the Highroller Lobster Co. and picked up our food. At one point we lost Lyra then realized she had climbed a ladder and was perched above the restaurant. Ignoring any sense of panic, I purchased a selection of Maine beers as a supplementary treat. The family gorged on a variety of Lobster tacos, Lobster cheese and Lobster burger. Hunger crept upon everyone and devoured everything.

Tomorrow we head further up the coast of Maine at the height of fall season. Into the heart of New England.

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