My daughter Vikki, my granddaughter Nicole, and I were off to visit my other granddaughter Tonia,
who is studying at the New England Institute of Art.

Vik lives up there on the mountain that you can't see.

After an uneventful 4 1/2 hour ride under overcast skies and rain,
we arrived at the dorm.

Impressive, no?

Vik and Nicole had already met Tonia's boyfriend, Kyle,
but it was my first introduction.

Aren't they adorable?

He's a pretty cool kid, I like him.

I tried not to be too intimidating when I asked about his intentions... :o)

After saying goodbye to Kyle for the day, we set off to explore Boston.

The "T".
The mode of transportation for Boston.
Like Manhattan's subways only way better!
(Sorry, New Yorkers, but it's true!)

Tonia and Nikki lead the way.

Our first stop of course, is the school.  The New England Institute of Art.

Front door

The courtyard at the institute

Very attractive sculpture, IMHO.

Back on the "T", and after a brief ride over and under ground, we've reached our destination.

Tonia and Nikki deciding what's next.

Walking toward Copley Square and looking up - the John Hancock Building.

Wow!

I apologize for the size of this picture
but I don't think there is any other way to show this building,
especially shrouded in fog.

The Boston Public Library.
It's huge.

I could get lost in there with a smile.

Well, here we are!   Copley Square!

It's round.

A beautiful church across the square.

Unfortunately, I didn't get closer shots of the church and I don't know why.

Unless that was when the fire trucks and ambulance came
to the Wendy's (McDonalds?) across the street because two customers
decided to have a fist fight...

We heard they were friends sitting at the same table when
suddenly one kneed the other in the face.

This is another church, and on the left is the front of the library.

Yes, at times I stood in one spot and just took pictures from all directions.
Consider the blessing that I didn't include them all!

Great town, I love it. Lousy weather, though.

I'm sure you've noticed the blue cow, huh?  Right there in the middle of the picture.

Well, that cow is one of the "Parade of Cows" currently on display throughout the square.

Boston is a very artistic town, and her artists have painted these cows
in so many different ways that the mind boggles.  Of course, each
title has something "Cow-ish" about it's name.

Tonia introduces us to "The Cow Who Jumped Over The Moon".

Then there was "Picowso".

Pablo must feel honored. He should, anyway.

I was hooked.

Besides falling in love with Boston itself (or at least what I saw of it),
I became addicted to the cows.

Aren't they just beautiful?

Ya gotta love it.

That's me, that's Vik, that's Nikki, and one of the cows.

I do wish I could remember their names.

Perhaps my next visit to Boston will include better weather and
a better chance to see these Bovine Beauties.

And walking beyond the square we find the Plaza.

It's big.  I think Tonia said that they hold concerts here,
I could be wrong, in which case she will tell me and I will correct this.

One of the views from the Plaza.
"We the People" just seemed like the right name for a business in Boston.

Well, what would a visit to City Hall Plaza be without a picture of City Hall?

Very Impressive

Just a great Boston street scene.  I do love that town.

Tonia had originally wanted to take us to the top of the Prudential Building
where we would be able to see all of Boston.

The weather put a crimp in those plans.

The Prudential Building

Yes, that tall building in the back is where we were going to be heading.

We couldn't see the top of the building, so we decided not to go.

Love this picture at the Plaza.

My family. Vikki, Tonia, and Nicole

Just beyond the Plaza is a rather small area having 5 very tall glass paned "towers".

The Holocaust Memorial

The picture above shows three of the glass towers if you look carefully.

Every pane, and I have to repeat it, every pane on all of the four sides
on all of the five towers is covered in numbers.

One tower for each concentration camp.

The identification numbers of the victims of the Holocaust.

That blurriness on the first "tower" picture above is not due to the weather.
It's all of the victims' numbers etched on the glass.

It's a very simple memorial, and very powerful.
I think it's impossible for the mind to actually comprehend
the number of people whose lives are remembered by these numbers.

This is supposed to be a fun page about a wet weekend in Boston,
but I can't overlook this part of it.

Pictures do not do this justice, it must be seen.
If you are ever in Boston, visit the Holocaust Memorial.

After leaving the Memorial, we walked through a park with odd statuary.

People sized bronzes in people-like poses in real people settings.

Tonia and Vikki joking with the resident statuary.

Still going through the little park, we came upon another
bronze person appearing to be just standing there, looking confused.

Tonia and Nikki decided that they, too, could become memorialized as statues.
They know how to look confused.

Practicing the pose and the look.

Notice it is getting dark out.
Daylight is fading, actually a flashlight would be helpful.

At this point in the day, my legs and my feet and pretty much the rest of me
just wanted to go sit down and have a nice little supper.

TA-DAH!!!

Ok, the name "Quincy Market" does look like a really neat place to do some fresh produce shopping.
Indoor produce markets are few, but what the heck, this is Boston!

Looks are infinitely deceptive.

Gotta love it, Quincy Market is a food mall.
Not like a "food court" in your local mall, this is a FOOD MALL.

What is your pleasure?
Are you a vegetarian or a carnivore?
Want hot or cold?
Spicy or bland?
Regional or local?
Ethnic or home-style?
Quincy Market has it all.

Tonia and Nikki waiting for us.

The ceiling alone gives you an idea how long this building is.
It goes waaaaay back there!

And everyone wants to feed you.  Just don't expect a lot of tables.

There is some really good souvenier shopping outside the Market, too.

Picture-wise I only have one picture left.

For anyone living in Boston, this might well be the most important picture.
It is the symbol of the Big Green Monster, Fenway Park.

I can testify that Boston has the most loyal and faithful baseball fans I have ever seen.
We did a few rides on the "T", I would say 8 out of 10 people
on the "T" wore Red Sox shirts.
The rest were in diapers.

New Yorkers...take note!

Yes, we had something to eat at the Market, and I have no memory of what it was.
Tonia had no air conditioning that day in her dorm,so we brought her with us
for the night, pillow, blanket, sleeping bag...I barely remember.

The following day we kind of got up late and I think we went to Starbucks for breakfast.
I know we went to Starbucks at some time because I was able to get
my TAZO Orange Infusion Tea, which if you haven't tried it,
you haven't lived.

It's that simple, my friend, it's that good.

After getting ourselves repackaged into Vikki's Expedition, we went to do a little regular shopping.

Did you know that Boston is a Shoppers Paradise?

Well, I might exaggerate a bit, the "Christmas Tree Shop" franchise is all over the place,
but what a place to shop.  I kept asking why we were going
to a Christmas store in June, but upon entering...there is nothing in there
that even resembles Christmas.

Not one single elf.

But lots of other good stuff, hoo-boy!

So after shopping and doing all the usual family hugs and vows to be in constant contact,
we left Tonia to her homework and followed the rain back home to Jersey.

Actually, it was more like the rain accompanied us home to make sure we got there.

For what it means, Cracker Barrel has some really good food.
And they are a nice place to be when it's raining.

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