Boston, September 7, 2013

Disembarkation was very easy and the airport is located across the channel from the Cruise Port. There is a tunnel connecting both sites. It costs 25.00 to travel by taxi from the airport to the Prudential (Sheraton). In the afternoon I met a guide at the Capitol and did a walking tour of Beacon Hill. The tour included a lot of background about their political figures and the Federal style of architecture. We heard about the Mount Vernon Proprietors Group (Hepzibah Swan, Charles Thurlogh)who developed the real estate in the area during the mid 1800's. There were historic homes on Beacon Hill, Chestnut Street, Mount Vernon Street and Louisburg Square (which has a private park) There were initially three large Hills in Boston, Beacon, Tremont and Vernon but they were all scraped down to fill in Back Bay. Later in the afternoon I went on a walking tour of Back Bay. We started at Trinity Church on Copley Square. The Back Bay area was initially a tidal Basin that was filled in with soil from Newsome Heights during the mid 1800s. The foundations of the buildings are fortified with wooden piles which have to stay submerged in water so that they do not rot. The city is careful to monitor the water table so that the piles beneath the buildings stay submerged. Most of the significant Buildings were designed by HH Richardson. Saw the John Hancock Buildings which are all reflected in the new tower (66 stories). Went on a "Duck Tour" and saw the St Charles River as well as North Boston/Cambridge.

Acorn Street