Playing Tourist Without Leaving Town
Mark (from Paris) is now gone – but I think we all collectively showed him a good time during his first trip to Boston. He stayed with Ben and Brad (the ones who introduced me to him) for the first few nights and with me the last few nights. Between Thursday and Saturday I brought him around various locales within walking distance of my home: North End, Custom House Tower, Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, and Beacon Hill. While on his own, he also did a Duck Tour and walked the Freedom Trail.
Friday night was when he got got together with all of his Boston-based connections: Ben and Brad (his oldest friends), me and Randy, Mike (who went with me to Paris last summer) and his new boyfriend, Bruce, Jason (who I introduced to him last fall) and his boyfriend, Bryan. Phew. We went to the Top of the Hub and, after some stupidity on the part of the restaurant, settled in nicely at two tables by the window overlooking Boston from 52 floors up.
I seem to be very territorial about Boston so I wanted to make sure that Mark had a good time. And unless he’s an incredible liar, I think he enjoyed his trip (from staying with Ben and Brad until leaving on Saturday). In fact, he said that he could even see himself living in the North End (with it’s butcher shops, bakeries, fruit stands, and restaurants all a block or so away).
Though, if I had to chose between Boston or staying in Paris…even I would stick with Paris.
Later on Saturday (after I dropped Mark off at South Station) I met up with my friend, Scott, and his friend, Deano. Scott is taking an architectural photography class so we continued playing tourist and I brought them to Mass General Hospital’s historic Ether Dome (where anesthesia was used for the first time) ad then through Beacon Hill, the Public Garden, and Boston Public Library.
So, being as lazy as I am, that meant that I did absolutely nothing on Sunday (while it rained all day). I never left the apartment. Hell, I didn’t take a shower until 6PM. It was wonderful.
As was the rest of the weekend.
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Sounds fun! What’s a Duck Tour?
A duck tour is the tour that everyone who lives in Boston wants to do, but will never admit to it. On the outside we pretend to be dragged onto it by out-of-town friends like it’s a chore, while inside we’re full of glee and giddy we finally have an excuse to do it.
Is the Ether Dome the same room as the insanely-steeply-raked Amphitheater? They’re tearing that down soon, apparently.
Ah, well, remember, re: Boston vs. Paris, their weather is MUCH gloomier (ask Marin – he chose here over there…and I probably would, too, on that count…but here I am trying to decamp to Providence, so what do I know?!). In response to Keith’s post – MGH would never (and probably never be allowed to) tear down the old Bulfinch building with the Ether Dome – but I dunno about this amphitheatre…what gives? Karl?
Good question. I’m not familiar with another ampitheatre…but there could be one for observing surgeries that isn’t historic.
But I agree with you – I can’t fathom that the the Bulfinch building could be removed. As we toured the property on Saturday there were even remodeling parts of the interior (it appears the Harvard Credit Union is relocating there).