Last Stop Boston

 Almost Home

Why you ask did I chose to stop in Boston?   Well, the short answer is I have not seen Boston up close. The real answer is because of the flights I needed to take to get from Seville, Spain to little ‘ol San Jose airport would be long and uncomfortable flights.  I could get a better flight to San Jose within the states.  If I was going to stop in Boston, I might as well stop for a while to sightsee. 

The Spain to Boston flight was good.  I did change seats so a father could sit next to his son. That put me in the middle seat where I would have been in the window seat had I refused.  In the end, there was plenty of room.  The girl, teen, or woman next to me was curled up with a hood on for the whole 9 hours.  It was almost like she wasn’t there.  I don’t think I ever saw her face. She didn’t eat or drink or talk.  The guy on the other side of me who was originally in the middle seat, asked to be on the aisle since he was so tall. Again, I acquiesced.  By the glances we gave each other, both of us agreed---that girl, teen, woman was weird. 

I made it through the flight without much hacking. Days are much better than nights but still had a few coughs in me.  

Got to Boston, took a cab to the apartment. NO, wait. Took a cab to pick up the key to the apartment.  I am not sure if this is a new thing, but I feel as if I am repeating the treasure hunt I did in Toulouse.  The taxicab driver was fine when I told him I had to stop at 7-11 to pick up a key.  The Apartment managers would send me the code at 3pm on the nose, thankfully, it was past three when I got there.  Found the key and ready to find the apartment.  All checked in. 

My apartment in the black building, top floor, two right windows.  Downstairs was the 21st amendment, eating and drinking til all hours with outdoor seating. The traffic was loud, with tour buses (open air--human narrated), trucks honking, police sirens, and motorcycles zooming.  And my windows had to open all night. It did quiet down between 3 and 4, before everyone started up again.  

Tuesday I was able to find MassGen Urgent care, a short walking distance away on the other side of Boston Common where I was staying. 

The NP saw me after about an hour wait.  I told her my symptoms of not pretty mucus, headache, cough (now laryngitis), etc.   She found lungs clear, no covid-RSV-Flu, throat little red, ears clear (?), and what made her think it was nothing--I didn’t scream in pain when she touched my face.  I guess I talked her into it, but she gave me amoxicillin.  I was feeling better the next few days.   I don’t exactly know what it was--but it felt to me a like an infection that was irritating my throat (postnasal drip). 

While in Boston, I saw a few sights.  

                                                From the Hop on-Hop off bus. 

                                  Feneuil Hall. Not sure what I was to see here. But had a nice lunch. 

                                         Lots of traffic.  The bus took over an hour to get to last stop. 

                           This is an example above of the Duck Tour boat going by the apartment every 1/2 hour. 

                                        Part of Freedom Trail. 

                                                        This is how to walk a dog in Boston. 

                                                         I liked the old against the new look. 

                                                        A cemetery not on the Freedom Trail. 

                         Rock Hopper at the Aquarium.  Not even close to Monterey Bay Aquarium. Why bother?

                                                        Love this building. 

The weather went from cloudy warm to hot cloudy to pouring rain, but always humid.  The apartment I had was small.  I couldn’t get the air conditioner to work. I went messages but nothing.  I left the windows open to get air (slight breeze at night) but it was so noisy, I couldn’t be heard on the phone when talking to MassGen.  On Thursday, it was unseasonably warm, hitting the 90s.  The apartment was probably even hotter.  The Last message I got from the apartment manager, Jay, was 8:28pm saying he would message the maintenance people. “One moment”.  Never heard back!

Right then, I got on the computer and booked a hotel room for Saturday night, since I was leaving Friday to train it to Rhode Island for the night. 

                                                                    Bye, Bye apartment. 

                                             Boston South Station, waiting for my delayed train. 

Rhode Island was a great change of pace, that is slower, cleaner, less crowded, and beautifully peaceful.  My step-brother picked me up from the train station (two tracks--one in and one out).  I have not seen Steve for at least 50 years.  We have kept in contact through Facebook but it is not the same.  He let me stay the night even though he had a gig to play that night at a historical house.  

His band is called the Farm Dogs, they are a trio.  Steve plays mandolin and guitar, and then there is the accordions and bass played by the other two.  

I put in a plug for them to tour California and play at Woodland Estates, but don’t hold your breath. 

                                                My step-brother Steve and Me at the Troll park. 

When I got back to Boston, it was pouring rain.  I found a taxi and let the driver know there would be three stops on this ticket. First stop--the apartment.  Ran up and grabbed my already packed luggage. I put whatever food I bought and put it in a plastic bag.  

Next stop, 7-11.  Still pouring.  Taking the plastic bag of food, I ran to the door.  I handed the bag to the homeless guy by the door (I knew someone homeless would be there by experience). Went in dropped off key to the Key Café (lockbox). The taxi dropped me off outside of Boston in Revere at the Comfort Inn.  I picked this hotel because it had “Comfort” in it, and it had an airport shuttle.   My suite is roomy and cold, but I can adjust for that.  

See you when I get home.