Heighty

Boston Day 5

I had a whole day to amuse myself, while Mo went to work and class, so in the days leading up we collected a few things for me to do. First on my list was to go up the Prudential Tower, to take in the views of Boston. I'm a sucker for a tower - if there's one to ascend, I'll be there, and I'll do my best to get my money's worth from it. So when Mo and I parted ways at the subway that morning I was very happy to see the sun shining and the broad blue skies stretching out over the city. I walked down to the tower, finding the entrance after a little searching, and then got a little lost within the shopping centre. Eventually I was sent in the right direction by a security guard who spotted me a mile off and was amused by my bewildered expression.

Once I zoomed to the top of the lift I found a tired lookout level with spectacular views of the wider Boston area. I say tired - the information around the edges was faded and well-worn after years of kids running their hands along it, and the whole thing felt run down. BUT nothing could take away from the view. The windows were mostly clean, so I could see wonderfully well. I enjoyed listening to the commentary on the zombie phones (you know, those handsets you wander around with, ignoring everything but what they tell you to look at), and made the most of my time up there. I took a good two hours to do a complete circuit, although I'm not sure sure if anyone else could have lasted quite that long….

But the time I descended it was lunchtime, so I went into the first likely source of food I found, which happened to be Starbucks. I almost got a free chocolate croissant there, after they heated up the wrong type for the customer in front of me, but learnt the hard way that 'I won't say no' is a confusing response for American baristas. The poor girl looked completely baffled and wandered off with what should have been my croissant. I got my food and sat in the sun to enjoy it before taking a slow wander back towards the Boston Common.

My next stop was the Old South Church, where the Boston Tea Party set off from. I enjoyed looking at the Puritan church buildings of this era, very plain and airy, but elegant. This museum gave a small history of Boston, which was very useful after my days of wandering around thinking I understood but really just filling in gaps with my imagination - it's very easy to take for granted that everyone knows basic facts of local history.

A trip to a wonderful second hand bookshop was the next task. Any shop that has quotes scattered around the walls and a shop cat gets my vote. I would have loved to have bought things there, but just don't have the room in my luggage.

By this time I was getting fairly tired, so I took a break with a hot drink by the harbour, to read my book for a little while before going to find the North End Church. After regaining my strength I wandered along the water's edge to find the church. It was a very pretty little place, with revolutionary history, and some spectacular floor creaks.

I'd walked a lot, and by the end of the day Mo and I decided it was a good evening to start watching some Firefly. I knew Mo would like it, and sure enough she was very quickly hooked.