Boston - Day 1

As we sat in traffic on the hour long drive back from Lexington & Concord to the trailer, Ron had an idea.  When we drive into Boston (another hour) the next day, why not just pack a bag and stay the night.  And because I'm a premium member with Marriott with a lot of points to use, we could book at a hotel near where we wanted to visit, give the truck to the valet, and spend two days exploring the city.  Within minutes, we had reservations and were ready to make the trek the next day.  A mini vacation!

We started the day at the battle of Bunker Hill Memorial.  On June 17, 1775 New England soldiers faced the British Army for the first time in a pitched battle.  Though the British forces claimed the field, the casualties inflicted by the provincial soldiers from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire were staggering.  Of the 2400 British soldiers engaged, some 1,000 were wounded or killed.  The battle actually took place on Breed's Hill which was mistaken for the nearby Bunker Hill in and around the area of Charlestown, directly across from the city of Boston.

Bunker Hill Monument

It's unfortunate that very little of the original battleground has been preserved as a city has grown and surrounded the small portion left that houses the monument.

There was a demonstration going on which showed specifics of the use of weapons.

And, of course, a statue.

William Prescott was an American colonel who commanded the patriot forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill.  He is known for his order to his soldiers, "Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes", such that the rebel troops may shoot at the enemy at shorter ranges.  It is debated whether Prescott or someone earlier coined this memorable phrase.

We then walked across the street to the museum.

This was a good visual of the battle.

These are some cannon balls that were used during the battle. 

Time to check in to the hotel and dump the truck.  We had a fantastic room with an awesome view.  Stay tuned for photos later in the day/night.

The hotel was in the North End neighborhood which has the distinction of being the city's oldest residential community where Europeans have continuously inhabited since it was colonized in the 1630s.  At only .36 square miles, the neighborhood has nearly one hundred establishments and a variety of tourist attractions.  It is known for its Italian American population and Italian-themed restaurants.

From a recommendation from our daughter years ago, we took a walk to our favorite restaurant, Giacomos.

As with many establishments in the area, they accept cash only and diners line up waiting to get a table.  We were there at about 2:00 and just after we were seated on the sidewalk, the line started to form.

We had some entertainment when a car parade passed by our table.

And then, the main event.  I'm sure people get tired of seeing what we eat but this was just too good to pass by.

The view of the street from our table.

We moved on to the Old North Church, which is officially Christ Church.  This is the location from which the famous "One if by land, two if by sea" signal is said to have been sent.  The phrase is related to Paul Revere's midnight ride of April 18, 1775, which preceded the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

The church was built in 1723 and is the oldest standing church building in Boston and is a National Historic Landmark.  Inside the church is a bust of George Washington, which General Lafayette reportedly remarked was the best likeness of the first president he had ever seen.

George Washington

We took a self-guided tour inside the church.

The pews were rented to individual families or sometimes a house.  

This is one of the more "famous" family pews.

Of course, back then it was tough to keep the church warm.  So this was used as a type of heater - hot bricks would be put in to emit heat.

The giving box is still in use today.

Look for the initials "CC" for Christ Church and the year 1724 carved into the lid of the box.

This is the window where the church sexton, Robert Newman, and Vestryman Capt. John Pulling, Jr. climbed the steeple and held high two lanterns as a signal from Paul Revere that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord by sea across the Charles River and were not advancing by land via the Boston Neck.

Under the church is the crypt.  I didn't really know anything about the crypt so when I bought the tickets for the tour, I asked the representative who was buried in the crypt.  His answer?  About 1100 people.

In 2009, an archeologist began examining the 1100 bodies buried in 37 tombs in the basement of the church.  The crypt was in use between 1732 and 1860, and each tomb is sealed with a wooden or slate door, with many doors covered over by plaster as ordered by the city of Boston in the 1850x.

It was a little creepy as we entered the crypt.  Of course being a California girl I immediately wondered what would happen if there was an earthquake while we were underground.

Notable burials include founding rector Rev. Timothy Cutler and his wife, who are buried under the altar together.  Other notables include British Marine Major John Pitcairn, who was in command of the advance party that marched on Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 which began the American War of Independence.  A few months later he was killed in action at the Battle of Bunker Hill and was entombed along with many other soldiers killed in the battle.  Captain Samuel Nicholson of the USS Constitution is also buried in the crypt.  

Another example of a marker.  The guide explained that the cost in the early days was $1.00 for children and $5.00 for an adult.

Someone on the tour asked if the crypt was still being used today.  The guide answered that the original crypt is not in use for new interments; however, there is a new section where cremains are interred currently.

After leaving the crypt we walked through the courtyard and saw a statue of Paul Revere.

And then just a few blocks away, was his house.

We were exhausted and it was hot so we skipped the interior of the house for another time.

As the evening wore on, we were captivated by the view from our room.

Whew, what a day!