From the air - Washington to Boston
View just after takeoff from Washington
From the air - clouds between Washington and Boston
They looked pretty from the air, but caused cloudy & foggy conditions for the next few days in Boston.
River from the air
Check out the snaky path of this river.
The most expensive gatehouse ever....
At Harvard, there is some tension between the Uni and Cambridge - the town. One example of this - in order to get this gatehouse installed it took more than 300 submissions and is the most expensive piece of real estate at Harvard - $57,000 per square foot.
Johnston Gate
Tradition has it that a student should only walk through this gate twice - once when commencing their academic career and then as they graduate. Otherwise bad luck ensues. Students are very superstitious - not one passed through the gate, they all swerved to the side to go through one of the other two side gates.
Iron Daisies
Just really liked this detail on the iron fence near the above gate.
Science Building at Harvard.
Legend has it that Polaroid supplied some money, which is why this building looks a little like a polaroid camera (in the same way the stars look like a hunter etc). It is also said that the more important the work you do, the higher up in this building you study, which is why the Arts students take science in the basement! A philosophy student told us that.
Memorial Hall
This is the student dining hall & large concert/lecture theatre. It commemorates all Harvard students that died in the Civil War (only on the Union side though - the 15 that fought for the Confederates didn't get a look in!)
Stained Glass Window
Although Memorial Hall is meant to be secular in nature, despite looking a lot like a church, the Masons managed to sneak in a few symbols, the most prominent of which is the compass at the bottom of the windows.
John Harvard
Well - an artists interpretation of John Harvard as there are no known portraits of him, so when it came to putting up a statue they had to do the best they could & made it like President Hoar. John Harvard was a founding benefactor - he donated his entire library in 1636 and that was the beginning of Harvard with 12 students.
Rub his foot for luck.... or maybe not
It used to be tradition to rub his foot for luck, but now students like to play tricks on the visitors and sometimes place unpleasant products (I'll leave it to your imagination to work it out - it was unspecified on our tour too!) so best not too. Our tour guides said people would often still rub his foot even after people were warned not to....
Ornament over a gate
Just liked the boar's head over the gate.
Wadsworth House
George Washington stayed here once. It was built in 1726. Really can't remember anything else about it.
The original library (well the 3rd version of the library)
The first time the building collapsed, the second time it burnt down. This one has hung around for a bit - since the 1700s I think. When it burnt down, the entire collection, bar 1 book was lost. The one book was saved as a student snuck it out of the library to continue reading it overnight, with plans to return it in the morning, although this was a clear violation of school rules. When he went to return it, he found the building destroyed. He confessed to the College President that he had the only book remaining from the founding collection. The President then suspended and then expelled the student!
Harvard Yard
The grassy lawn surrounded by first year (freshmen) dorms.
Emergency light in Boston
In Boston, if you wish to contact the fire brigade, no need to call 911 - simply find the nearest glowing red light - below that is the means to call the fire brigade.
Donkey Statue
Outside the Old City Hall in Boston - there is a Donkey, with a set of footprints to stand in - signifying the opposition. The donkey is the symbol of the democratic party.
Benjamin Franklin statue - the last one....
Old Ben Franklin certainly got about a bit - here's yet another statue of him!
Park Street Church
Here's the Park Street Church part of the Boston Freedom Trail. Due to the poor weather, we didn't get a chance to walk much of it & what we did was at night!
State House
Here's another stop on the Freedom Trail & as you can see was also viewed at night. The dome on top of the building is lavishly covered in gold leaf.
Fog in Boston
IT was very foggy in Boston - from the time we arrived. Here it had lifted a little!
Fine Art Museum
A really good gallery, with a decent collection of Rembrants, Van Gogh and Monets. This particular piece of art was just fascinating. See if you can work out how it is done as logically you should be able to see me in the photo!
More of the same exhibit
A close up, just to prove that you can't see me!
Earrings
These are just amazing - have a look at the fine work done on them. When do you think they were produced - 300 years ago? 700 years ago? Try nearly 3000 years ago.
Abraham Lincoln = please touch statue
This statue is a much smaller (and in bronze) replica of the one in Washington - the difference is that you're allowed to touch this one!
Squirrel whisperer?
The squirrels are bold in Boston - we saw a woman being chased by one. This guy was surrounded by them, attempting to take a photo.
Ducklings
Located in the Boston Public Garden, this statue is a tribute to the story "Make Way for Ducklings".
Boston has some unusual buildings
Here's an example - in proportion to its size, it rests on a tiny foundation.
Another unusual building
This one has a gap in it! No idea why.
View from the hotel window
Not too bad - weather wise.
Its pretty foggy at 10am
Can't see too far today - barely even the Children's museum on the other side of the river.
On the last morning
Boston does have a bay after all - this shot is slightly to the left of the others - on the last morning of the trip.
Clock
I just really liked this clock - so here's a photo of it.
Paul Revere's house
Here's his house - also on the Freedom Trail & again seen at night!
Blue Lights of Boston
Here are some blue lights in a public park in Boston - no idea what they are meant to symbolise - but they were quite pretty.
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