Monday/Tuesday, Boston

Monday: We went to bed about 1:00 a.m. so was glad to sleep in until 6 - 7ish a.m. I went to the cafe for a coffee, bought a muffin, yogurt and banana for our light breakfast. We walked the Paul Revere Mall, lots of plaques, fountain, statue, lots to take in.

We headed out to see where the tea party was held on the harbor, we took the MTBA and walked to the spot. There is a museum that charges $34 per person to enter, go on a replica ship and throw fake boxes of tea into the water - we declined! I did take a tea bag and sprinkled the contents in the harbor (AA wouldn't do it!). So much for a very lame re-enactment!

We walked part of the Harbor Walk then headed to the South Station to go to Chinatown for lunch. We tried a new place, the Q - very good - it had a variety of hot pot on the menu (cooking your food in a boiling broth - we did not do), sushi and traditional Chinese dishes and vegetables.

From there we decided to go back to our room, as Ford's back was giving out on him. After a short rest, AA and I went out on the Freedom Trail to do some more exploring. We spent more time in Paul Revere Park, reading the plaques, went to the Copp Hill Cemetery.

Mike's Pastries - ALWAYS crowded (we bought some back in March too based on Aunti Jean's recommendation - Ford got to try them):

After putting ice on AA's knee, we went to an early dinner at Tonys and Elaine's (AA had a Spanish lesson at 7 p.m. with Laureen). We enjoyed a meatball appetizer - how do they make such huge meatballs that are compact but not dense, so moist and spongy to eat, delicious! Ford ate the Pasta ala Vodka; Leaa makes it homemade, so he decided to try at a restaurant, very good and noted that the pasta/rigatoni was very ala dent, quite firm.

I had the appetizer caprese salad for my dinner, so yummy, heirloom tomatoes and fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese with balsamic dressing. AA had the same she ate back in March, Baked Gnocchi. The house bread was delicious, fresh, fluffy with olive oil. Considering the early hour on a Monday, the restaurant filled up quickly.

AA had her Spanish conversational lesson and we finished the evening relaxing with our Mike's Pastry cannoli's!! Sweet dreams!

Tuesday: I grabbed my usual coffee in the morning, worked on my laptop in the main lobby/cafe until about 8:00 a.m. Light breakfast in the room (yogurt/bagel). See separate post on our Tuesday Tour.

Wednesday, July 26th: Took DownEaster to Portland. Separate post on our family lunch at DiMillo's.

Thursday - Early morning, flew home to Jacksonville!