Day 4 of Vacation 2012

We got up early this morning and headed into Boston.  This is the parking garage we used.  I was joking around and said oh I bet that is a car elevator and they put your car in it and take it down.  Ha,ha,ha!

Sure enough it was no joke!  I really didn't think they would do that...but here goes!

They even had to turn the side view mirrors in to get it to fit.

They drove it in very slow.  Terrie was probably making the valet nervous because she was standing their documenting the whole process with her camera.

So far so good.

Now just need to get the elevator door closed.

A random shot!  Pizza delivery!  How fun!

Just some random buildings in Boston

And some more!  If you notice the sidewalks are not kept up very well!

Just walking and taking in the sites...on our way to our first tour of the day!

Once again I find this interesting!

Putting on sunscreen...Jas making sure his mom doesn't get a sunburn!  Meaghan looking on!

Just a sparkly banner hanging down between buildings????  It did look pretty cool!

Tim waiting for our Freedom Trail Tour to start!

The Boston Common!  Pretty Cool!

An arched window on the Old State House

The tower of the Old State House.

 If you click on this picture you can read more about Boston Commons.

Memorial plaque to Paul Revere

This is one of the original cemeteries located in down town Boston.

Not sure what Terrie is taking a picture of.

Two different pictures of the cemetery.  Not only are some of the Founding Fathers buried here but Mother Goose is as well. Her name is Elizabeth Goose.

Tonya, Jess and Jas listening to our tour guide.

Headstone for the victims of the Boston Massacre.

This was our tour guide for the day.  She did a very good job.

Headstone of Samuel Adams who is commonly referred to as the 'Instigator" of the Revolution.

Final resting place of Robert Treat Paine, one the the original signers of the Deceleration of Independence.

Paul Revere's headstone.  He was married twice and had 16 children. 

You will notice all of the pennies on Paul Revere's grave.  This is a tribute to his work in the copper industry.  He opened the first copper mill in North America in Canton, which is just South of Boston. 

John Hancock's monument.  He was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence.

King's Chapel is where the British attended church at.  Ironically, the bell in the church was cast by Paul Revere.

More pictures of downtown Boston.

This is the Parker House Hotel where both parker house rolls and boston cream pie were created. 

 Once again I found this to be interesting!  It's the only one I seen.  Weird!

This is the original Massachusetts State House.  It was from this balcony that the Declaration of Independence was first read to the public. 

First floor of the State House.  Right in front of the Statehouse is where the Boston Massacre occurred.

These next two pictures are of the plaque memorializing the spot of the Boston Massacre.

Another view of the Statehouse.

 The building in the background is Faneuil Hall which was built in 1742.  It was the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis and others who encouraged independence from Great Britain.  It is also referred to as "the Cradle of Liberty."

The grasshopper weather vane is a well known symbol of Boston. Knowledge of the grasshopper was used as a way to find British spies during the Revolution period. The people would ask suspected spies the identity of the object on the top of Faneuil Hall; if they answered correctly, then they were free; if not, they were suspected as British spies.

Close up of the grasshopper.  When they restored it in the early 1900's, they discovered a time capsule in it.  Inside Faneuil Hall is a museum on the second and third floors.  We'll talk more about that when we post those pictures. 

Josh and Jas waiting for their lunch!

Jessie, Tonya and Meaghan waiting for their lunch...Josh stealing Tim straw!  Ha,ha,ha!  Look at that face!

Got caught!  Jas is hanging up his hat!  At least that is what I think he is doing!

Rose Kennedy Rose Garden...there are 104 Rose bushes in it for the 104 years that she lived.

While on our tour we ran into a parade.  They do these every weekend during the summer in Little Italy for a different Patron Saint.  This one was for Madonna. 

A very slow parade!

The band, complete with bag pipes.

Okay, it's a weird parade!  And anyone can join if you want but it mostly people from the church.  Look at the cool building in the background!

 

A view of the crazy streets in Little Italy

The house in the middle just over the white cap is Paul Revere's house.

Some more cool buildings in Little Italy!~  I love how different they are!

Thought this was interesting.... a door coming our onto the roof?  Didn't look like there was a deck there, but it is a really nice door!

The red bricks are the Freedom Trail...you can follow it all around and see the sites from times past!

Statue of Paul Revere located in Paul Revere Square which is right across from the Old North Church.

Inside the Old North Church

The Old North Church was the tallest building in Boston at the time of the American Revolution which is why the lanterns were hung from there.  They were only hung for about 5 to 10 seconds because the British patrols were on the lookout for signals. 

If you look close you can see the bell.  Three guesses who cast it :). 

Paul Revere's statue again.  The horse has one leg up in the air which signifies the rider was wounded in battle. 

Another part of Paul Revere Square.

These dog tags are a memorial to the fallen soldiers of the Iraq War.

This is a bust of President Washington in his later years.  Its located inside of Old North Church.

Organ pipes of Old North Church.

Another interesting street.  People actually live here!  My point being no front or back yard!

After the tour...Tim and Meaghan

Our fun group with the tour guide...Tonya, Jason, Tim, Jessie, the tour guide, Meaghan, Jas and Josh.

Ok another funny thing...really 3rd step on the stairs is into the house?  Or what ever it is!  Weird that there is even steps going down ;o)

Jas liked this one!  It was just about his size but he would even have to duck to get in...but no steps down to it!  It is on the same street as the last one!

Weird, I wonder where it goes!

Showing how small the streets are here.  And of course the cool buildings once again!  I love the round/bay type ones!

Goody Glover was one of the first one hanged in the Salem Witch trials and later found to be not guilty.  They have a Bistro named after her!

Yahoo we get to go to on the subway!  Yikes!

Looks a little Harry Potterish to me!  Ha,ha,ha!

Stay tuned for the next post which is a continuation of this one!  The rest of day 4....I told you were ran from Sun up to way past Sun down!