28th October, 2016 - Boston , Massachusetts

I didn't comment in the prior diary update , but our captain departed Har Harbour early to assist in reaching Boston prior to a significant storm.  We had departed early then progressed through the Cape Cod Channel in the dark to ensure we were not in the way of the approaching storm. 

It was a rough night as we transitioned from river to harbour to sea in open waters with strong winds and rough seas approaching.  We berthed in Boston at 8.00 am and there was bedlam at the port as Norwegian Dream unloaded 4,500 people and Seaborne has another ship very close by.  We were unable to contact our guide who wasn't allowed to enter the port area to pick us up.

We eventually made contact, and were picked up some  45 minutes late by our guide for the day, Peter Brennan of local tour guides and proceeded to enjoy a delightful 4-5 hours together doing many different things in Boston.  Jeanette and Ken have visited Boston on 4 previous occasions undertaking both organised and private tours as well as hop on hop off buses.  We were also here during the "big dig" when major roads and freeways were taken below ground through the centre of the city.

So today, we wanted a quick drive through the city, then through the Commons followed by a visit to a spectacular visit to a restored and maintained period home by a leading architect of the city in 1800's and then a visit to Cambridge, MIT, Harvard and Harvard Yard with. A lunch of chowder and sea food at a famous venue that the locals would eat at. 

The weather was wet, windy and cold with a major rain depression arriving early to mid afternoon. 

Our delayed start didn't assist our plans but we found Peter to be an informative and ingenious local guide appreciating that we had seen most of the tourist area on prior visits. 

The first hour was taken up travelling through the wealthy upmarket period homes, beautifully restored. To compare something like a Toorak but with the older homes preserved under law. 

Then we visited a period home of one of the leading planners and architects of Boston, where we were given a private tour over about 50 minutes and had the detail explained.  The weather was deteriorating by the hour. 

From here we ventured back toward the Holocaust Museum, the City Hall, Quincy's Market and other nearby attractions to eat at the famous historical restaurant named " the Oyster Bar" dating from mid 1700's. 

Following this Jeanette and I walked around taking photos before being picked up and driven to Cambridge, Harvard , Harvard Yard and MIT.  This is really one of the most dynamic educational precincts in the world and on the leading edge of global technology developments.  We travelled through these areas for nearly 90 minutes, but were impeded by the sharply deteriorating weather with significant heavy rainfall and hail.  But worse was forecast to arrive in the next 2 hours. 

we completed our visit driving back passed the Boston Commons and University Club, where we have previously stayed and then alongside several of the cemeteries where many of the early patriots and leaders of the Tea Paerty are visited.  We also saw the statue of Paul Rovere, it was too wet to get out. 

This has been an excellent day with our local guide, Peter Brennan, and we took in many different facets of the Boston city. 

Peyer dropped us back at the Port at 3.20pm and the weather continued to deteriorate. 

We changed, had a drink with friends and dined in the specialty Italian Restaurant, Toscani, with Bob and Susan Foster and had an enjoyable day and we were all excited as to our arrival tomorrow in New York. 

The weather was rougher until about 11.00pm, but we enjoyed the second Production Show by the singers and dancers. 

An excellent day, apart from continuing appalling weather.