Nuts About Baseball

The people in Boston are certainly nuts about baseball!  In particular, look at the peanut guy's dangly peanut earring...so intriguing yet so creepy.  It really makes you want to go buy peanuts, doesn't it?  Yeah, I thought so...and apparently he's hoping so, too.  This was the main gate at Fenway, and it was crazy!  We stood here waiting to get in for a while until we realized our tickets said we could only enter at gate c.  Oops...Fenway isn't like Great American Ballpark - you can't access all parts of the ballpark from every gate.

Hanging Out in the Yaahd

Boston - this city is really nice (in the touristy areas at least).  It is a big city with a small town feel.  The streets are tree-lined and the landscaping is gorgeous!  It almost feels like you are on a movie set - especially when you're in Beacon Hill.  Boston Common was wonderful!  Lots of benches and shade made for good people watching!  There was also a huge wading pool for little kids called the Frog Pond.  What a fun thing to do with kids for free!  There was also a lot of historical things to do around town, such as walk the Freedom Trail.  We walked a good portion of it and even eavesdropped on other people's paid tours with a tour guide dressed in Revolutionary War period clothing!  We saw where Paul Revere and Samuel Adams were buried and also lots of historic churches.  We veered away from taking the entire trail and watched the same street performers who were in Battery Park when we got engaged in NYC.  How do we know they were the same?  Their routine and what they said to the crowd was the exact same!!  We also made our way to the Esplanade for the 4th of July with the Boston Pops.  What a nightmare!!!  It might look nice on TV but there were too many people and not enough places on the lawn!  We quickly left and waited on the lawn in Boston Common to see a few fireworks before taking the late train back to Maine.   

I Love It When You Call Me Big Papi

Fenway Park is what baseball should be and what it probably was like years ago.  Die hard fans come in droves to support their hometown team and are very serious about baseball.  They mostly take the T to the games, which makes each car standing room only.  If you looked around on the T you'll see every person wearing a team shirt, jersey, hat, or tattoo (fake and real).         You could definitely tell that we were visitors.  The game was super hot on the 4th of July, but we still had a litttle bit of a breeze.  Jetfighters flew overhead and made messages in the sky - see picture above.  The Red Sox ended up losing to the Orioles (currently the worst team in baseball), so it was a rough day on the fans.  However, it was entertaining to see how upset the fans got over the team's poor performance and criticizing the plays.  These people definitely live for the game!

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Lunch today at the Bull & Finch pub on Boston, which inspired the look of Cheers.  It was exactly like the show but three stories high!  We entered through the basement and were welcomed by the friendly wooden Indian.  We shared a mug of clam chowda and Adam had to enjoy a beverage at one of the most famous bars in America!