Destination: Boston, Massachusetts
View of Downtown Boston
I visited Boston during St. Patrick’s Day weekend in March 2016. As luck would have it, the "Luck of the Irish" was the sentiment I experienced for three days. As irony would have it, the team name "Boston Celtics" really goes without saying here. Celtic's pride filled the streets of Boston upon my arrival. I was so eager to take pictures of Boston because the city is absolutely charming.
While visiting a friend at Boston University, I couldn’t help but think how much I’d love going to school on the water. The Charles River was visible from so many parts of the city. This feeling of splendor only intensified once I visited the harbor. Breathtaking that it was, I could have spent the whole evening staring into the Long Wharf. An orange sun mixed with grey skies, atop restless water made for a great photo opp. The sun set directly on the horizon in a way that was so still, it unaffected from the bustling of downtown Boston. I was fortunate enough to have dinner at the Chart House where I tried my first raw oyster and New England Calm Chowder.
While in the North End of Boston, I got lucky with free dinner at Giacomo's in the North End from a mother visiting colleges with her daughter from San Antonio, Texas. There I had the ziti with shrimp, scallop, and broccoli covered with amazing garlic cream sauce. The meal was absolutely delicious. I also ventured over to Mike's Pastry where I had a chocolate chip cannoli. I was even luckier to receive $3,000 in free rides from Fasten, a transportation service very similar to Uber. Through those credits I barely paid for transportation in Boston.
Boston offered a refreshing view to what I consider a populated city. Each neighborhood offered a distinctively unique vibe. It was clear where college students roamed, where hipsters thrived, where families blossomed, and where the wealthy sat atop the winding array of brown stones on Beacon Hill. During a walk through Beacon Hill, the cobblestone streets seemed unaltered from the early days of the revolution.
While I was in Boston, I was fortunate enough to visit Faneuil Hall, Museum of African-American History, Institute of Contemporary Art, and Newbury Street. Such landmarks allowed me to feel like the ideal tourist. Faneuil Hall and Newbury Street offered a combination of shopping and endless food for every craving. Please check out Thai Basil if you have the chance! My trip to the Museum of African-American History offered me insight on the tribulations of my African-American ancestors. All of the ICA's modern art galleries were an intriguing escape into the visions of all the artists.
Traveling alone was a feat I thought I could never conquer. surprisingly, it was a challenge I came to enjoy. Boston's scenery was one that truly amazed me. I couldn't shake the feeling of needing to come back again. Even today I gush about my trip because visiting Boston was truly refreshing.
Rowe's Wharf Across from the ICA
- Manessa Lo.
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