Still in Boston (the Post that won't end...)

More travelogue! Here are even MORE photos and stories of our trip to Boston! Actually the last day in the city had some of my most favorite things. We started out by going to the USS Constitution, or "Old Iron Sides" as they like to call her in the Navy. She is the oldest commissioned navy ship still in use, which says something when you learn about the history of this craft.

Check out all those riggings! The navy cadets who spend time at this post get an experience unlike any other learning how to set sails.

Old Iron Sides has done battle in numerous battles since the Revolutionary War and has an undefeated record. The wood that was used to build this ship was a very particular type and it is incredibly strong. When other ships would shoot cannonballs at it, the cannonballs would literally bounce off the sides and fall into the water. There were numerous times that the captain would sail the ship right up to an attacking ship and they could see the whites of the eyes of the people on the other ship before the captain would give the order to fire. Iron Sides would sail in perform the attack and sail out with little to no damage. 

One of the many, many cannons on board

While the ship was incredible, it was easy to see how uncomfortable sea life would be on a primitive vessel. Like when Carnival had all those electrical problems on one of their boats last year and it was all over the news for the stench and rotting food and lack of drinking water--well, on this boat it would have been kind of like that all the time. 

 The boat is still in use, but only ceremoniously. Can you imagine taking a perfect piece of history like this and matching it up against the war weapons of today. It would be tragic. But it still sits in the harbor and dons its sails a couple of times a year and sails out into the harbor with active members of the navy manning the ship.

I love my darling sailor!

And can't get enough of his scurvish antics!

A short walk from the USS Constitution is the Bunker Hill Monument. When I saw it, I felt like it looked familiar. Can you help me place why that would be?

Look familiar?

 What's cool about the monument is that you can climb a spiral staircase inside all the way to the top for an incredible view of the city.

You're about halfway Ryan!

Once at the top, WOW! What a view. It's awesome to look out over everything from each side of the monument.

After lunch we headed to the most prestigious universities in the USA. I wish we'd had much more time here. I caught snippets of things as I heard other guided tours walking around, and they were fascinating. They told stories of things that have happened or ways that Harvard has changed over the years. Probably my one do-over of Boston would be to take a guided tour of the campus. The campus really is lovely and is surprisingly small.

I know architecture styles go in cycles, but I can't wait until Gothic styles come back in.

There were inspiring quotes inscribed throughout campus arches and walls

That night we drove back up to Manchester, NH so Dan and Erin could catch a flight back to DC early Sunday morning, however Ryan and I weren't leaving until Monday afternoon. So in the morning after they left we went to church at a local ward. I think we collected 3 dinner invitations from the kind people there, but we'd already planned to eat Thanksgiving leftovers and then go down to Concord, MA. We'd actually stopped there with Dan and Erin the evening before, but it was getting dark and they wanted to get back to the hotel. So we decided we'd come back because we saw a flyer for a Christmas festival on Sunday evening. I forgot to take any pictures, but it was one of our most favorite parts of the trip!

They had all kinds of free foods they were giving out at various stations. Everything from hot chocolate and cookies, to clam chowder, to slices of chocolate cake! It was great! What was amazing also was that we think the whole town turned out for the event! The parade was kind of a non-event. They roped off the streets, but then I think there were 4 groups that participated in the parade, so it lasted all of about 2 minutes, but it was so fun to see everyone out there enjoying the festival. All the shops were open, they lit the town Christmas tree, and there were carolers. It was such a fun Christmasy activity to do. We were so glad that was how we got to end our wonderful trip to Boston!