Boston Trip (9/3/24) – Day #1

I received a text message from Frontier Airlines right before I went to bed that my flight was delayed by three hours (5:45 to 8:45). But it also said that it could change. So, I kept my alarm on for 3:00am to check it then.

At 3:00, the flight was only delayed by two hours. Glad I checked. I tried to go back to sleep for an hour and a half, but couldn’t. So, after 45 minutes, I got up and left for the airport.

At that early hour, it only took me 60 minutes to get from my house to my gate. So, I had three hours to read and get some breakfast.

It was my first time flying Frontier. As a budget airline, it was a different demographic of passengers. There were more families with children, Hispanic, Indian, and African American people. Lots of people speaking different languages, and I got to listen to some Spanish, which I was able to partially understand. Most people didn’t have suitcases, but just used large reusable bags. But, this could have been to get around Frontier’s baggage policy.

No beverage service, unless you wanted to pay for it. Also, the seats didn’t recline. No power outlets in the seats either. At least the legroom was the same.

I read and dozed a little on the flight. I finished the book “Factfulness” by Hans Rosling.

I arrived in Boston at 10:00, and had a decision to make. My original plan was to get a hotel shuttle to my hotel to drop off my backpack then take the T to the start of the Freedom Trail. Or, I could just go to the Freedom Trail from the airport and carry my backpack all day. Since I was starting a little late, and the distance wouldn’t be more than a hike for me, I decided to go to the Freedom Trail from the airport and carry my backpack all day.

I talked to a remote worker at the information desk of the airport via a computer monitor with a camera. Very weird, but effective because it was a live person and not some AI chatbot. I asked her about the logistics of getting on the T, because I didn’t see a place to buy a ticket. Turns out the Silver Line from the airport is free and gets you into the T to go anywhere. So, even though I had to make one transfer, it was free to get to the start of the Freedom Trail.

On my way out of the T, I stopped at a vending machine and purchased a week-long pass for the T.

It was a beautiful day for a walk in Boston. 60 degrees to start and only got up to 73 degrees. Sunny – not a cloud in the sky. Even with a backpack, I hardly sweated at all (I was taking it easy).

I started the Freedom Trail at the Boston Commons. I went into the visitor center where they were trying to sell guided tours and maps and such. I asked the lady if I needed anything more than the free National Parks Service app on my phone to get the full experience. She gave me a disappointing look and said, “No.”

The NPS app was very good. I listened to the narration at each location and it was very informative. The app also used the GPS on my phone to show me how far it was to the next location on the trail, and when I arrived.

I saw several sites on the trail, then stopped at a local restaurant for lunch. It was busy at lunchtime with lots of young working stiffs out for lunch. The young men all dressed very similarly. Anyway, I had a quick lunch and was back on the trail.

I bought a $15 ticket to go into the Old State House and the Old South Meeting House

Outside of the Old State House was the site of the Boston Massacre.

I got to see Paul Revere’s house (he had 16 children!!) and the Old North Church where the two lanterns were hung to signify that the British were coming by sea.

From there, the trail crosses the Charles River and climbs up to the Bunker Hill monument.

I was hoping to be able to climb the stairs inside the monument to get a great view of the city from that height on a beautiful clear day, but unfortunately the monument was closed on Tuesday. It is only open Wednesday through Saturday. I may try to get back there on another day.

Then it was back downhill to the USS Constitution ship. They had a nice museum with a good video of the history of the ship.

It is a commissioned ship with Navy people aboard. It was great to hear the time of the watch rung out on the ship’s bell. It was fascinating to go two decks down into the ship.

I then went over to check out the USS Cassin Young destroyer that served during WW2.

I paid $10 to go into the public museum about the USS Constitution, but was disappointed that it was geared towards kids. But, got to see an old dry dock next to that museum.

It was just before 5:00 when I finished the Freedom Trail. I was glad I decided to start right off the plane, otherwise I wouldn’t have had enough time. I walked back across the Charles River bridge to get to a T station. Then, one transfer and I was at the station for my hotel (JFK/UMASS). The trains were packed with people trying to get home after work, but there was space for me.

I was able to find a local pub near my station that I stopped at for dinner. It was supposedly a Packers bar, but I didn’t see any Packer paraphernalia.

I walked to my hotel and arrived by 7:00. For the day, I walked over 20k steps. Once I stopped moving, I felt rather tired. I talked with Elizabeth for a while, then bought a ticket for a whale watch for tomorrow morning. Went to bed early.