July 8 - 14, 2008
Pat's girlfriend, Katie, left Carlsbad, CA at 9:20 PM Monday on the red-eye flight arriving in Boston about 5:45 AM Tuesday. We were kind and let her sleep for awhile after arriving at the house. She woke up refreshed and we stayed around the house that afternoon. After dinner, Pat and Katie picked up a few other young adults from the stake and drove to the institute class held at the Ludlow, MA church building. Institute is a weekly scripture class for college age young adults.
WEDNESDAY morning we drove to Newport, RI to visit some of the mansions and walk along the cliff walk. We had an absolutely beautiful day - a little overcast and not too hot. Usually when I take visitors to Newport we visit Rosecliff and the Elms. This time we started with The Breakers.
After eating lunch at The Elms Cafe we visited Chateau-sur-Mer where we found these cool trees.
The branches hang down very low and actually put roots into the ground.
We visited the Moon-Gate and climbed some trees.
Then it was time to walk along the Cliff Walk. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures on my camera of the cliff walk. I did take this video - maybe you can feel the spray of the ocean and smell the salt water in the air.
Finally it was time to leave for home. We spent the evening eating dinner and visiting with Pat's friend Paul and his family. Paul had returned that day from serving a 2 year church mission in Las Vegas and Fred was the Stake Presidency member to release him from his service.
THURSDAY we went to Boston for the day. I like to park the car at Riverside station and hop on the Green line train into town. (There is usually plenty of cheap parking and the subway ride is always interesting).
Again, I have a usual route I like to take visitors on but we started our day a little differently this time. We HAD to visit the Apple store. We were one day ahead of the new iPhone but there was already a line forming on the sidewalk!
As we walked down Boylston St. towards the Public Garden we passed Old South Church that beckoned us inside. What a beautiful old building. I don't know how I missed visiting this wonderful place, especially when I worked right nearby at the John Hancock Tower after graduating from high school.
By this time it was well after our normal lunchtime and we were all starving so we decided to head over to "Cheers" for lunch. I should say the Bull and Finch Pub on Beacon Street. It is the original pub, the inspiration for the TV show, of which the outside of the building was actually filmed and shown in the opening scenes of the show.
Well, we stuffed ourselves with wonderful food and decided to relax a little by taking a ride on the Swan Boats.
From there we hopped onto the Green line again (hint - if you're visiting Boston buy an MBTA day pass for $9, there's no limit to the number of times you can get on and off and it does make it easy on the feet if you're planning to go from one end of the city to the other!). We changed to the blue line and got off at Aquarium.
We always like to visit Old Ironsides (The USS Constitution) and hopping on the MBTA Boat from Long Wharf to Charlestown Navy Yard is the funnest way to get there (and it's included in the MBTA day pass). After touring the ship, which has been owned and operated by the US Navy continually since 1797 we hopped back on the MBTA boat to Long Wharf. We hung out at Fanuel Hall for awhile then met up with some of Katie's friends that now live and attend school in Boston. Time for dessert so over we go to Mike's Pastry in the North End to get cannoli and visit Old North Church.
Then back on the Green line to Riverside and home.
Boy, it was a long day!
FRIDAY Pat and Katie decided to drive to Palmyra, NY to meet up with some of the other Institute students and attend the Hill Cumorah Pageant. They spent the night at the campground with the other young adults (Pat in the tent and Katie in the van - she said it was more comfortable and I'm sure it was probably warmer). After doing a few tours Saturday morning and getting lunch they left for the 5 hour drive home. SATURDAY evening was spent relaxing around the house.
SUNDAY Pat spoke in sacrament meeting, Dad was at various church meetings until about 8 or 9 PM so we just did our normal routine of reading and relaxing.
MONDAY Pat showed Katie around the town of Sutton, enjoying breakfast at KP's, a walk through Purgatory Chasm, a visit to the school complex and then ice cream at West End Creamery. After arriving back at the house we left to take Katie to the airport for her flight back to CA.
Katie is wonderful and we really enjoyed having her visit us. Thanks, Katie!
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