Trip to Boston

We had a great walking tour of Boston's North End and down to the waterfront while the sun was still sparkling and just before sunset yesterday.

After stumbling down the old narrow cobblestoned roads of Boston's "Little Italy", we came upon one of our destinations -
"Pizzeria Regina" - a place for Boston's tastiest and original pizza pies...since 1926.

We weren't the only ones who had this idea as we waited outside in line for about 20 minutes. Every time the door opened to let in the next party a wonderful aroma drifted out to remind us all why we were standing out there and not giving up for something less than the best!

We were coached to be prepared to place our order quickly and ask no questions, as the brusque waitresses had no time to dally around in the tight quarters where they spend their workday. A couple large pizzas, beers and only one waitress sneer of inconvenience later, we were more than satisfied and headed out the door for the rest of our impromptu walking tour of Boston.

Off through the Paul Revere Park with the spire of the Old North Church peeking through the newly budding trees. Then down to the Waterfront where we slipped over to the New England Aquarium for a visit with the seals frolicking in the outside tank.

A brisk and delightful hour+long walking tour of this part of the city. Thanks to our friends Jeannie and Wade!

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Funny, people come from all over the world to visit here. We live in the area and never take the time to do little day trips like this...glad we did.

I Love a Parade!

I never knew the fun of a hometown parade until I moved up to this part of New England.

Something about celebrating Patriot's Day right in the heart of where the "shot heard around the world" happened.

People from all over the world flock to see the Old North Bridge and love to don the tri-corner hats that the Minutemen of old wore as they fought the Redcoats for their independence from England.

Sometimes I think the importance of all of that history is lost on people and even I get caught up in enjoying just the pure beauty of watching all sorts of people --- "be the parade!"

Kids on their bicycles come zooming by to let us know that the parade is coming...young teenage girls cluster together, sharing tunes, earbuds hanging between them and self-consciously giggling at some boys oogling them in the crowd...flags waving...young kids standing on the side of the road waiting eagerly for "The Parade!"....vendors, loving the warm sunny day that brought out a good crowd who are hopefully ready to buy, buy, buy...armed with inflatable Dora the Explorers, SpongeBobs, balloons, flags, plastic horns tooting, and pop-guns...lots of horns tooting and pop-guns popping...mothers pushing baby carriages in a flank of 5, chatting away, not realizing that they are now the parade for those of us on the sidewalk watching...old folks coming up to the edge of the curb with their chairs ready to get a front row seat. The sun is sparkling and in the distance we hear the rat-a-tat-tat of the drums and a faint trill of the fife flutes a-piping.

Here comes the parade!

Motorcycle-flashing police lead the way....

Local Minutemen with muskets in arm follow...

Boy scouts, Girls scouts....

US Navy Band members...

Special town dignitaries...

Militia troops from Wisconsin, New York and Virginia - no less?!

Bagpipers...

and, oh yes....the Redcoats...

"The British are Coming!"

The sun is shining...

Horns tooting and

pop guns popping...

Dora and SpongeBob float overhead...

the parade continues on...

and

Life is good....

: )

Mating Calls

There was finally a hint of spring in the air so I decided to walk to town to take care of my weekend errands. The sun was out, but that was about it for the "hint" of spring - the temp was only 40 degrees and there was a sharp breeze at my back.

I pulled my black beret down over my ears and forehead as far as it would go as I walked briskly about my business. I did stop for a brief moment to watch a pair of newly arrived robins flit about with each other in the still bare-leafed trees. A couple of grey squirrels were at the same business on the other side of the wooded area - one chasing the other, tails flashing as they jumped from limb to limb.

Ah, the mating rituals of springtime...even with the wind cutting down my neck, I had to smile at the thought that this long winter was finally looking like it was behind us!

Deep in my own thoughts I really wasn't aware of the character walking on the opposite side of the street. I heard something, but didn't pay much attention. When I heard a second loud whistle and a sort of "Yip!" I looked over and saw the guy whom Ace calls Rocky Raccoon and I call the Mongolian Dishwasher. We don't know him, but he looks Nepalese or Mongolian and often wears a turban-like towel around his head as he walks to and from his apartment and his job as a dishwasher at the local diner.

Today he had a dark beret-like hat pulled down low over his ears, sunglasses and a black coat and he was looking right at me as he stopped walking and once again whistled, following it up with his funny "Yip!" sound. As there was no one else around that he could be communicating with, I figured he must be acknowledging me, so I mildly smiled and nodded as I moved on with my errands.

It wasn't until I got home and told Ace the story, complete with details of how the guy was dressed. Ace started to laugh and said, "Well, look at you. Rocky Raccoon thought you were his long-lost twin - black beret pulled down, sunglasses on, black coat and boots...!"

And, that's when I realized that indeed I was dressed almost exactly like this guy and maybe that's what his whistling and "Yips!" were all about...either that, or remembering the robins and squirrels frisking around on my walk, maybe it's some sort of Mongolian mating call!!
Rocky you met your match!?

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Any other noted or not beret wearers to add to the list?!