Christmas at Faneuil Hall

Need to go back with a working tripod, but got one nice shot of the tree the other day.

Rememberance

The Holocaust Memorial in downtown Boston at night.

The Zakim

There are a lot of ugly things in the city, but not this bridge. The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge is one of the largest cable stay suspension bridges in the world. At one point, it was part of the largest construction project in the world, the Big Dig, until the hotel in Dubai surpassed it. Today, it acts as the gateway into Boston from the North and is lovely at night.

Mayor Kevin White

On Thursday, former Mayor Tom Menino died in Boston from cancer. Today, Faneuil Hall hosted a wake for him. Though a lot of people did not show up, it was a well attended event. Flowers were left everywhere, including on the statue of former mayor Kevin White.

Huzzah!

Last week, I had the pleasure of seeing the USS Constitution “sail” through Boston Harbor for the last time for the next 3 years.  The weather was glorious and I timed it just perfectly to be able to see the ship as she passed Faneuil Hall and Old North Church.

Also got to hear the Dropkick Murphys as they played on the deck.

Sooo many people were on board the ship, over 500 people.  When I went on my turnaround, there were many fewer people and you could wander the deck a lot easier.

The Constitution then fired a 17-gun salute near the Coast Guard base.  When she was built and launched, it was around that part of the North End.  Hearing the cannons was fun, but you could also feel it inside your knees.

Sometimes my job has its benefits…

Boston Harbor Islands

Stopped by the Harbor Islands the other day and took about 100 photos. Hopefully I will win a contest that is being run 🙂

This is the best photo I took that day.

You are here…

but where is it? Where are you going?

Cold!

So glad that I didn’t have to go out today until the temps went up! Looking forward to the “heatwave” of tomorrow. Woo hoo 30 degrees!

Spectacle Island

Many of my adventures have taken me onto boats for this summer…and my trip to Spectacle Island was no different.

Spectacle Island is a 15-20 minute ferry ride out of Long Wharf in Boston and is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Today’s island has been reshaped over the years with dumping, erosion, and the fill from the Big Dig to become one of the highest points in Boston Harbor.

The National Park has a green visitor center that has CLIVUS toilets, expansive views of the city, and covered picnic area.

There are a number of trails to walk along and view the city or the lighthouse.  One of these trails takes people along the shore that is scattered with rocks and the occasional dead fish:

The other main feature of the island is the trash that is coming out of the ground and washing up on the shore…seaglass and pottery shards. As an archaeologist, I am always looking down on the sand at the beach for seaglass and random things. At Spectacle, you don’t even have to search…it is all there, but not for the taking.

The ferry to the islands is almost done, just about another month. I hope to get back out to George’s sometime before then to find the dark space again!