Travel log for Boston Oct 2007 trip
I had decided to go to Boston alone as part of a
scouting trip to see how I would cope for a further 60 odd day trip to America in 2008 and also maybe a way of "finding myself again" after my wife left me so here is a small essay of my trip haha.
BOSTON GB PARTY
Day 1 - Are you going to the Party?
Left work at 12.15pm and headed for Glasgow airport
left car in overnight car park and was at check in for
1pm and good to find no queue at the desk so easy
check in for once.Always good to walk about Glasgow
airport and shops and things seeing the hustle and
bustle of the place and it always give you a great feeling
when you are going somewhere.
1.25pm and yes you guessed it time for a beer and as
no gate number up for my flight I headed for
JR Tenants bar got a bottle of miller – shit £3.05 –
hope Boston is cheaper but what the hell in on my
hols. Nice to know I have a couple of days off and
sit the people watching and texting all my poor friends
who are at work and don’t feel one bit of guilt when
I press the send button haha .
After two beers I leave the pub buy couple mags
and spend a quick fiver in the amusement not good
I idea but not a lot to do when your travelling alone
then see that gate 34 is mine so head for the departure
lounge. Shift through the duty free but decide to leave
that till I get to Boston to se if there is anything better
and notice a few Barca fan which have been delayed
over from the Rangers v Barcelona match the previous
evening and the should have left at 9am poor
guys (not). Head for the bar again and order
another Miller but surprised to find it still
same price at £3.05p thought it would be dearer.
Ask a Glasgow couple who flight to Salou has also
been delay to take a picture of me in the
bar as I said to Dougie I would have a picture
in all the bars I was in so he can put it on the website.
Once on the plane found out there were only
about 30 people got on at Glasgow but we
were stopping at Knock in Ireland so maybe
the plane would fill up then. Sit myself at a
"windie" seat and 40 minutes later we arrive
at Knock airport which look like a big hut with
a control tower. Only about 40 people get on
from Knock so plane leave half empty but I don’t
mind as no one sits next to me and I stretch out
across the seats then order a beer and raise
my glass in a toast to the lads of the G.F.G.C.
Get free meal of bangers and mash have another
beer and take some picture out the window
(no don’t worry it wasn’t open) as see the beautifu
l view as we fly over Greenland and the ice bergs below.
Have a nice chat with a single woman going to
see her aunt in Boston and generally chill out and
have a relaxing time so far things going ok.
Arrive in Boston at 12.30 my time but 7.30 local time
and as we circle the flight in and the site of Boston
at night is quite spectacular and glad I arrive during
the night to see it. Once through customs a quick
taxi drive and 20 minutes later and $25 lighter im checking in to the Shawmutt Inn and throughing my luggage in and
checking the room out.
It has big double bed is clean tv and coffee maker
etc but view is looking into alley but not really
worried as don’t expect to be in room much.
Head out into the night to sample the Boston beer
and bars and because where im staying it is right
across from the "Boston Gardens" where the
Celtics(basketball) and the Bruins(ice hockey)
teams play so plenty of bars near by and
decide to start mine tour in a bar called
the "FOURS" which will in the end up being
my Local haha.
As it was Wednesday night on October 24th
the bar was busy as it was the first night of
the baseball world series and the "Red Sox"
were playing so there were a few fans about
and this was right up my street as I knew
it would make good conversation and maybe
get me chatting to a few of the locals.
My first beer in Boston had to be a Samuel Adams
who was one of the men who started the whole
American independant thingy haha so at $5 it was
not a bad way to start. After few more beers and
so chit chat with the bar staff I got talking
to a couple of guys called Peter and Connor
who were with some others and talk about #
aseball the world series and even Liverpool
(soccer to all you guys out there) as Connor
is a big Liverpool fan. Have a good time and
take a few pictures and a few more beers were
had and at the end the know all about the
"Gallon Club" and im now a big "Sox" fan
and feel very American that Peter during the
night thought my name was Dalton –
Dalton Bryden mmm has a nice ringto it.
.
Say bye to Peter and Connor and the rest of the crowd and head out into the Boston night to try
another bar. Its 4am my time but 11pm local time
so decide to have a couple more beers before
heading home so next bar is the Boston Brew
Works but not that great then have a beer in
O’Sullivan and chat to the barman and bouncer
before heading to bed at 5.20am my time
12.20pm local time so not a bad first day.
Day 2 – Onward and upward the Freedom Trail calls
Wake up about 8.30am and cant get back to sleep
so head down for breakie which is orange juice
and toasted bagels with butter – fab and
now feel fit for "The Freedom Trail.
Head for the T which is the underground system
and an all day ticket at $9 is very good value.
The Freedom Trail is a red brick trail marked
on the pavement which when you follow it
round the city takes you to all the historic sites
over Boston which is all walking so see
below the "Freedom Trail" tour and where it leads to. (See link below for Freedom Trail sites and info) http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/
About 12.15pm I arrive at Fennuell Hall which is on the trail and have a huge market place and also shops resteraunts etc etc and the place is jumping haha so after all my walking I decide to – yes you guessed it – have a beer. They have a cheers bar there but not the original one which is over the other side of the city but inside they have the original bar which was used on the set of Cheers so you can actually sit at the end where "Norm" or "Cliff" had there beers. It was very crowded and bit to cheesy for me so I just bought couple of souvenirs and head out and decided to have my beer at the "Hard Rock Café" which is more my kind of bar – wild,music blaring and sexy waitresses haha. The décor was good as you can see from my pictures and even decide to have a few beers and something to eat so it wasn’t too pricey and gave me a charge to carry on for my second half of the trail. One of the nice parts of the trail was stopping of to see PAUL REVERSE house which is the oldest house in Boston and is situated near the Italian sector where after a little bit of site seeing I have a little refreshment in an Italian café (had a Pernoni beer as one does) which was very nice. Although travelling alone and thinking that it would be a bit lonesome on my own I never really felt that way and also you can do your own thing and move at your own pace so no one to satisfy but myself. After seeing most of the sites I found myself back at the Boston Gardens and although the trail takes me a little bit longer and further I decided that enough was enough and I also had the calling which was the "Fours Bar" which was two minutes away so decided to cut my losses and head for the bar like a true Gallon Club Member. I eventually made it back to the hotel about 6.30pm and thought that a quick nap for an hour to re-charge then back out for a bit of night life but unfortunately the trip and all the walking had tired me out. I woke at 9.15pm and felt as if I could sleep for another 10 hours but that would have been a waste so it was a quick shower then back into the night for a beer or two or ten. I decide to head in the other directions and not far from the hotel I came across the "Yatch Club Bar" which also had a live band so thought why not – go for it. The band were not bad and very loud but there were only about 8 people and I was beginning to think that was a bad move when the "Bruins" hockey gam finished and a few more people entered the bar and also he second game of the world series was on tv (Red Sox won first game 13-0) so things were looking up and the girl behind the bar was real cute so couldn’t argue haha. A few beers down the line and I got chatting to a great couple called Phil and Christine – he was from Chicago and she from Boston and we chatted the night away from soccer to hockey(which I don’t know about) to music which is universal and even were singing the praises of The Eagles and – yes Dougie – E.L.O to Fall Out Boy who they actually done some promo work with.At the end of the evening we had to leave the bar as it was 1.30am so that capped a good night out and was glad I decided to venture out rather than going for asleep.
Day 3 – Fenway Park – Go RED SOX go http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos 
Up about 10and had shower pack etc etc and have a last breakie down stairs before leaving my luggage in the hotel and head on the T for the Fenway Park Red Sox stadium which is one of the oldest baseball stadiums in the U.S along with Wriggle Field see link for Fenway Park below. The T was about 15 mins and before long I was back above ground at the other end of the city and once asked my way and got pointed in the right direction I turn the corner and there was the Park and the famous Green Monster –( see link) , I book in for the hour tour but have just missed the next tour so I have 50 min to kill and what better way than to have a beer in one of the many bars surrounding the ground and before long my glasgow tongue has me chatting to an old couple called Margaret and Mick who tells me he is a "true Mick" meaning his family emigrated from Ireland and is proud of his heritage which added to the flavour of my trip so far and talking to them. A couple of beer later and headed round for the tour which takes about an hour and tells you the history of the ground and the Sox and if you are any kind of sports fan yowl love the tour and all the history behind one of the oldest and finest baseball team around. After the tour it was over to the shop for the obligatory T-shirt and my baseball cap which once on my head I felt like a true Sox fan at last haha – Gooooo Soxxxxxx !!!!!!
After tour and before heading back I stop at the famous bar Cask 'n Flagon and chat to a couple from Milwaukee famous for its miller beer so had a beer with them before heading back. Arrived back at the gardens and stop by my local for a few beers and a T-bone steak as one has to do while being in America and it arrives the size of the plate so good going. About 6.30pm start t say m farewells to the staff who wish me a safe journey and hope that ill come back soon which looks a big possibility. Get my bags and head for the airport and eventually once I get through to the departure lounge I find my flight has been delayed a further four hours which meant awww nawwwww I have to go to the bar haha. Airport bars are not the best but decide to finish off same way I started and that was with a Samuel Adams – boy the beer is good haha. The last few hour turns out to be just as good as the rest because although im delayed a few hours I get chatting to 4 Icelandic female school teacher and they are getting just as pissed as they are also delayed and I was asked to join there company as I was on my own. Although not able to speak Icelandic they could understand my Scottish accent ok and we had a few beer and laughs together but what the topic was I will keep to myself for another day haha. 
Once the bar close we went our separate ways and my flight got called and boarded the plane for home. On the way back had the usual couple of beer but like any trip the journey home is not the best and drags a bit – unless you travel with Bairds Travel and the Gallon Club where every minute is partyyyyyyyy haha.
Well that was my Boston trip and a special thanks to the people I met in Boston for making my time there very pleasant a laugh and real good fun and hope to be back soon
Thanks
The travelling Scotsman
Gordon Bryden
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS AND WORDS OWNED BY MR G BRYDEN
THINGS TO DO IN BOSTON
Freedom Trail, Boston
The red line on the sidewalk leads you on this 2.5-mile, self-guided tour of Revolutionary sites, which starts at the Boston Common, America's oldest public park, and ends up at the famed Bunker Hill Monument.
Attraction type: Historic walking area; Trail; Tour
Boston Duck Tours, Boston
Even if you have lived in Boston all your life, taking a Boston Duck Tour is a lot of fun, and a great family event. The "DUCK" is an authentic, renovated World War II amphibious landing vehicle...
Attraction type: Tour; Group tour/boat; Scenic drive; Amusement/theme park
Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston
Most major cities have something like it now, but this was one of the first urban historic shopping districts and its success inspired many imitators. Now it features a similar assortment of shops as...
Attraction type: Historic site; Mall; Architectural building; Specialty shop; Shop; Flea/street market; Landmark/point of interest
North End, Boston
This Italian neighborhood, Boston's oldest, is known for its wonderful restaurants and historic sights.
Attraction type: Neighbourhood
Fenway Park, Boston
Fenway Park is one of the oldest baseball parks in the United States. Its small, intimate atmosphere really allows you to feel like you are "in the game." On a warm summer night there is nothing...
Attraction type: Arena/stadium/field
