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Wednesday Walk Boston Style

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019 · 6 min read

Welcome to Boston! There is no denying that it is rich in history, art and the culture is amazing at its worst. There is Fenway Park, Boston Commons and we can even have a Tea Party if you want. Oh, scratch that, it's been done! Why don't we just go for our #WednesdayWalk instead? Get acquainted with the neighborhood and see if we can find anything of interest on our way.

Today is #WednesdayWalk with @Tattoodjay. It was a challenge started by him to get people up and moving, all the while, looking for something to photograph. You can find his current post here! along with the ~~rules~~ guidelines to the challenge.

Boston is much smaller than most people realize. Most of the historical sites are FREE! That is a huge bonus. You can also walk the largest part of this section as it is downtown and for anything else, the public transportation is awesome and easy to navigate. Is everyone ready? Let's get this walk started before the day is done.

FULL DISCLOSURE! NOT ALL OF THE COBBLESTONES ARE LEVEL OR EVENLY SPACED... OR, WELL YOU GET THE PICTURE. WATCH YOUR FEET.

Music can be heard, throughout the streets of Boston, on street corners, near the T stations or while you are walking through the Commons. So very soothing to the soul.

As an aside, the subways in Boston are run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority or MBTA. The logo is a large "T" in a circle, and over time, people referred to it as the"T"

The outdoor chess scene in Boston is alive and well! There are really four places that you can find a ChessMate (Oh, excuse the pun!) at any given time, Quincy Market, South Station and Christopher Columbus Park, which is actually in the North End and Harvard Square. This is at Quincy Market and there are always onlookers. Hey! I was one of them.

I think we are going to Quincy Market for #MarketFriday, stay tuned!

I cannot be cruel! I stuck my head inside the Market and grabbed a lobster! See? We are in Boston! Let's celebrate our walk with a little lobster. Steamed and ready for a little lemon and butter. Open wide!

Walking down to "The Common" as Boston Common is called is a short walk and there is so much that I didn't show you, because if I did, we would never get done with our walk. Boston Common is America's oldest public park having been established in 1634. Remember, we haven't been around long. Everything is green and blooming. Oh, I fought the urge to spend the day here, with a blanket on the lawn, inhaling the beauty of the day.

The fountain was a gift to the city by Gardner Brewer, which began to function for the first time on June 3, 1868. It is a copy, in bronze, of a fountain designed by French artist Liénard [Jean Auguste Edouard Liénard, most likely]. The fountain was sculpted for the Paris World's Fair of 1855 [Exposition Universelle de 1855], where it was awarded a gold medal.

The streets are covered in the history of yesterday, the windows reflecting back the wonder of it all, the ivy-covered building with the vines finding their way into the cracks, making their way into the screens and window frames. Oh, do they know that as beautiful as she is, she is a homewrecker?

I couldn't possibly let a tree like this get away from me, now could I? I know it is Wednesday and all, but, let's do a throwback day for this one and give it to @Old-Guy-Photos for #TreeTuesday. Just so you know, old man, you need to put this one in your pocket and hold on to it until next week. M'kay?

I forgot that The Boston Irish Famine Memorial in this small little park, on a plaza between Washington Street and School Street. There is so much to see on this block. We will have to revisit this. There are actually two sets of statues, one of an Irish family during the Great Famine and this one, of a more prosperous family that had chosen to emigrate to America. The Potato Famine was 1845-1852

Boston's Old City Hall used as the city council, 1865 to 1969. It is said to be the first building in the United States to be built in the French Second Empire style. In case you didn't know it, I am totally in love with architecture.

As always, there must be flowers. Always. I want to dedicate this picture to #WednesdayYellow #ColorChallenge by @Kalemandra, who colors my world. Every. Single. Day.

¸.♥´¸.•♥*¨) Let the sun shine in on your life
So the joy may touch your soul
(¸.•´♥ (¸.•´ ♥

And just like that, our walk is over! I hope you enjoyed wandering the streets of Boston today on this #WednesdayWalk, and, I can say that there will be more coming. There is always more. Boston is not huge, but, it is packed with wonderfulness. Just you wait and see. As always, I wish you all an amazing day and thank you for coming along on this walk with me.

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Thank you for visiting my post 💖 Because of you, I come back to post again and again, I am encouraged by you, for the time you take to visit, comment or even upvote. For all of these reasons, I am eternally grateful. Don't ever forget what a wonderful world we live in, people. Let's hold hands around the globe and make this earth really spin. Some days, it is not as easy to see, how wonderful it really is. Kindness counts. Wherever you go, whatever you do.

I always post this poem down at the bottom of my posts. It is one that has become so near and dear to my heart. I only post the most famous part of it, but, wanted to post it in its entirety today.

they set my aunts house on fire
i cried the way women on tv do
folding at the middle
like a five pound note.
i called the boy who use to love me
tried to ‘okay’ my voice
i said hello
he said warsan, what’s wrong, what’s happened?

i’ve been praying,
and these are what my prayers look like;
dear god
i come from two countries
one is thirsty
the other is on fire
both need water.

later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered,
"where does it hurt?"
it answered,

"everywhere"
"everywhere"
"everywhere"

warsan shire

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dswigle

@dswigle

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Comments

scorpion @sheikh27June 2019

Boston is looking very interesting to traveller, on street musician, a group of people playing chess at outdoor, so much little story and some part of history from boston, you have reffering many of them. Have a good time with Boston.

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

It is a very interesting place and is filled with music, chess players and so many other historical events. Thank you! I always enjoy this place.

!tip

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dswigle @dswigleJuly 2019

Thank you always or the vote and resteem! I am very humbled by being selected! Much appreciation!

old-guy-photos @old-guy-photosJune 2019

Well I am no cobblestone aficionado but seems to me like they need a bit more mortar just maybe?!?

I say the ivy does look so much like it belongs there. Surely adds some style to the places!

You got some great shots, Denise.

BTW I voted this on palnet. My power was better there.

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

Well, they probably need to take a hint from what Old San Juan, Puerto Rico did. They used the cobblestones, but, they RESET them so people could walk on them more comfortably. In saying this, I might add that it actually doesn't bother me, I have walked on them that way most of my life and don't even think about it, but, I know a lot of people find it hard on their feet.

The ivy is always gorgeously dramatic, but, she is like a femme fatale. She looks good, but, isn't good for you. She does a lot of damage all the time. But, I agree, she makes the pictures so much prettier. Boston is one of those places where even a bad shot is okay. It is one of those places you must take the kids and go. To me, it is better suited for history and it is all captured in a walkable distance from each other. I would live up there, but, the winters are worse than Michigans.

Truth. They are always with the misery weather and they are not even far from where I grew up! (although being on the water always makes it more forgiving)

Thanks for the upvote!! It is always and forever appreciated.

!tip

Enjar @enjarJune 2019

Only one lobster? Mmmmhmm! That lobster is as vibration in color as that city is. I’ve never been but I have some family that lives there.

I love the look of cobblestone pathways but you found the issues I see with them over the long run. Somewhat sketchy to be walking on the older ones after a good rain storm.

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

True!! The ones that really are slippery are the ones in Bar Harbor, Maine! Holy moly! I don't mind cobblestones so much as I am used to them, but, if you aren't, they can really hurt your feet after a while!

Only one lobster! LOL I have been on a lobster diet for weeks now. Always when I go near home. LOL Oh, you should at least visit there! It is a fun place and so full of history and culture! Thanks for stopping by and for leaving such kind comments behind!

Have a great night!

!tip

Bengy @bengyJune 2019

I've always heard about how Boston has it's own unique culture and style... I've never really seen photos of it, but it doesn't look like what I would expect an American city to look like!

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

Hehe! That is what many say, but we actually have many cities like this. :)

!tip

Singingwithlight @tattoodjayJune 2019

What an awesome tour of some of the sights of Boston it’s funny I was talking or chatting to someone recently about planning to visit Boston and see the sights when we move to MA
Hmm trying to remember who that someone was

Hmmm
Ohh yeah it was you 😂
This post really makes me want to visit there even more now 👍😎👍😎👍😎

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

Well, I go there frequently and thought perhaps that you needed to keep you interested in going. I didn't even give you a piece of it and I just know that you will love it. It will take the sting off being away from NYC. As much as I was ready to leave NYC, I missed it for the longest time, because, I didn't really realize what I had as I had it my entire life.

I think you will be much the same. Er... maybe. You are ready to leave, I wasn't. :)

I can hardly wait to see your take on this wonderful city! Oh, no! We cannot tip on here, can we?

Singingwithlight @tattoodjayJune 2019

Thanks for that I know I will miss NYC in some ways but I have seen so much of exploring new places will be a whole new adventure for me :)

I am not sure it makes any difference but I don't actually do anything on the palnet platform apart from stoking any PAL that comes in, I do all my posting and commenting on one of the Steemit platforms and that way I can !tip :)

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

Can I post on PAL and comment on Steemit and still make the PAL?

Singingwithlight @tattoodjayJune 2019

I believe the two coexist so anything you do on Steemit that is tied to someone with PAL counts for PAl and also the same anything you do on PAL counts on Steemit

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

Thank you for clearing that up for me. :)

Singingwithlight @tattoodjayJune 2019

Well thats what I think anyway I hope I am not leading you astray

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

Lol. It makes sense. Like busy.

Singingwithlight @tattoodjayJune 2019

Thats kind of scary, me making sense lOL

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

Yes! Well, it happens. ;)

Singingwithlight @tattoodjayJune 2019

No to often LOL

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

I refuse to rise to THAT bait! :)

Singingwithlight @tattoodjayJune 2019

That may well be a good call :)

bigtom13 @bigtom13June 2019

How cool. I haven't been to Boston since about '79 when a buddy got married there. Married a back bay girl, matter of fact. The marriage didn't last long but the family had season tickets and I got to sit in a box seat at Fenway.

I keep thinking I should make a 'city tour' again but, well, I really don't like cities all that much. I mean they are ok, except too many people too close together :)

Thanks for a great walk, and a great memory of Boston. It really is a cool place.

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

Oh my! Things have changed a lot since 1979 in Boston. Pretty sad when the marriage doesn't last as long as season tickets do, isn't it? I guess that is the way of the world. Just not my way. But, it is pretty exciting to be able to view those Red Sox from a box seat!

You should make another city tour again and just like Washington DC, I don't think Boston is as busy as people believe. I just never go when I know there's going to be a bunch of tourists, just like when the marathon is in town. I have always been able to move about freely, even when I am going into some of the historical places. I don't know tell me you might want to give it a try off season of course.

Then again, some things are better in my memory and that's where they should stay. LOL thank you for stopping by and saying hello and leaving you're always kind words behind.

!tip

ace108 @ace108June 2019

I enjoyed my trip to Boston several years ago.
MIT, Cambridge U, Lobster, Clam Chowder, drive in the New England during the autumn. Missed it.

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

I did not know that you had been to Boston! You are always a surprise to me with all your traveling. I do love Boston and MIT and Cambridge. I guess it just doesn't get better than that. Boston University is kind of cool also and the Boston Common and Quincy Market and just the entire historical scene there. Having grown up on clam chowder and New England with its beautiful autumns oh, I took most of that for granted and only now, as I am revisiting do I really take notice of things. I miss living in New England but I do not miss the harsh Winters involved in being part of it. If we could take those harsh Winters away oh, I think I would want to move back. Of course, I say that but work is here in the Washington DC area. So, it isn't even a factor. I hope all is well with you and yours and that you are having a most delightful day. Thank you for stopping in and saying hello and leaving your kind words.

!tip

ace108 @ace108June 2019

You're welcome and thanks for the tip.
I don't the winters too. :-)

Pryde Foltz @prydefoltzJune 2019

I never think of Boston when I go to travel but you have changed that. The architecture and the cobbled streets are right up my alley ... or I wish. Lobster and butter ... yeah, I could do that.

I agree. Ivy is indeed a homewrecker and clingy too. She is also ubiquitous today;) As are yellow roses. You and me babe, on the same frequency:)

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

What? Seriously. I thought everybody thought of Boston when they think of travel? Who knew? The cobblestone streets and the architecture are to die for. Because our nation is so young, things aren't as old as in most places but they are historic nonetheless. First public schoolhouse, first this and first that. New England has so much history steeped into that tiny little corner of the United States. I guess I always took it for granted because I'm from there and didn't realize until I started traveling that the rest of the United States is not like that. I encourage you to visit if you ever get a chance. As a bonus, it's very walkable or the public transportation is most excellent. I guess it helps to be a University town and need to be able to get about. Well, let's just say it doesn't hurt.

There are so many people that we leave Ivy growing because it's so beautiful and I agree that she is. But, she has caused more damage to historical buildings than the passage of time could ever.

Oh yes! You and me babe! There was never any question! :)

!tip

Ross @rossfletcherJune 2019

Thank you! It's really fun to get see all these places here : )

dswigle @dswigleJune 2019

Thank you so much, Ross! I love Boston! It is so rich in history and culture! Yes, armchair travel! An awesome way to see the world!

!tip

Ross @rossfletcherJune 2019

I see it in a lot of movies and TV shows! It's weird in a way. Cops and gangsters and baseball and neighborhoods and all sorts of things! :)

Thank you Thnak you