03-01-2008
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#1 (permalink) |
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beachaholic
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 455
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Boston Trip Report Feb 22 to 27
Well, this is my first trip report and I am sorry to say it isn't about Playa. However a good time nonetheless. I will try to insert pic's, but may be at the end.
To preface the story, I met Rob in Playa in early January, after a conversation or two we discovered that we live about 40 minutes from each other in Nova Scotia. I was fascinated with his diving and he, with an older woman......(not by much). Although he was a bit distracted in Playa, we managed to meet up when he returned to Nova Scotia. My work required me to travel to Boston to attend the Boston Seafood Show in late Feb. Knowing Rob's love of the ocean and all things fish I asked him if he would like to drive down with me. And so the adventure begins...... The weather forecast was calling for a snow storm in the Boston area late in the day on Friday Feb 22, so we decided to get on the road early like 4 or 5 am. As it is a woman's prerogative to be late, I was slow getting to Rob's house. We got on the road at 7:45am. Rob was the co-pilot complete with GPS and a great lunch. The trip through Nova Scotia & New Brunswick was uneventful, and we sailed through the border at Calais with no problems. We stopped for gas at $ 0.90 a liter compared to $1.20 a liter in NS. It was a beautiful day with no signs of snow. We got into Bangor at about 2:00pm. We got a bit turned around from Rte #9 to I95, but soon we were headed to Boston. There were a few snow fluffs in the air, but hey we are from Nova Scotia and driving in the snow is a part of life from October to April. As we traveled through Maine the snow was getting heavier and heavier. The sun was long gone, and traffic was getting busy. We made a few pit stops and trying to decide if we should continue or stay put for the night. We decided to keep going and by nightfall the snow was thick and staying on the roads. At times I couldn't tell if the road was 3 or 4 lanes. Rob said he was fine, and since I love driving I kept on trucking. Now I do have to mention that I quit smoking about a week before and boy, could I have used a cig about now!! Rob was a terrific co-pilot and we followed the route he had mapped out on the GPS. We arrived in Mass in early evening, by this time we realized that maybe we should have stopped. But since we had about 2 hours driving left, we decided to keep going. There were transfer trucks passing on the left and passing on the right. My car "Blueberry" (hence my forum ID) is a Mini Cooper and rather dwarfed by these big rigs. I noticed Rob had become quiet (yep!!) but thought perhaps he was tired as we had been on the road for 12+ hours at that point. It was later that he admitted that he was a bit stressed. Traffic was not bad as rush hour was over. We found our way to I93 and soon Exit #26. Rob had done a great job on the mapping; we sailed into Boston with no problems and right to the Fairmont Copley Square - our hotel. We pulled into the entrance; the valet helped with the luggage, and whisked away the car. We checked in, and then promptly went looking for a drink and something to eat. It was a nasty night with blizzard conditions. The hotel staff were amazed that we drove thru the storm from Nova Scotia. The rooms at the Fairmont are on a grand scale, very opulent and formal. Just like Mexico!! Saturday was a free day so we set out to find some breakfast and explore the city. We walked and walked and found a little bookstore on Newbury that served a terrific breakfast. We window shopped and explored the Prudential Building. Now I am a shopper and Rob isn't so although I could have spent a day or two wondering around the shops, we decided it was time to find a liquor store for refreshments for the hotel. Rob had his trusty city of Boston map and as people noticed us looking lost they were quick to ask if we needed help. Very nice, friendly people in Boston. We soon found a Shaw's grocery store and the liquor section. We picked out what we wanted and proceeded to the check out. It was automated and do you think we could figure it out?? The staff helped us thru that and we were on our way. The architecture in Boston is fabulous and both of us were amazed with it. The Boston City Library, churches, etc.. were beautiful. Such a wonderful mix of old and new. We wanted to chill for awhile, and after checking with some co-workers we decided it was time to have a drink or two before attending a reception hosted by the province of Newfoundland at the Hilton Back Bay. We arrived at the Hilton, only to find Rob knew more people than I did. He swapped fish stories with a few old friends, we ate crab, shrimp, and drank, and then ate some more. No need to buy dinner. Those Newfoundlanders know how to throw a party!! We went back to the hotel and had a few drinks with some friends from NS. Sunday morning arrived early and since I am an early riser I went out to find coffee- strong coffee. I ended up walking for about an hour window shopping, around the Boston Commons. How I wished the stores were open at 7am on a Sunday. However Sunday was a work day for me so back to hotel. We grabbed a shuttle to the Seafood show and since neither of us had ever been there before, we were both amazed at the size and scope of it. There were hundred's if not thousand's of exhibitors from across the US, Canada, Asia, Europe and all points in between. We sampled seafood from all around the world. Shrimp baked, fried, boiled, salmon prepared in every way possible, soft shell crab yum yum!! Crab claws, sushi, artic char, you name it and it was there- even croc. The exhibitors also had give aways- pens, lanyards, teddy bears (thanks hun), beads, and key chains, - it was like Christmas. Rob even wore a shirt and tie!! It was a long day and we had another reception to attend that night so we went back to the hotel to put our feet up for awhile. The reception Sunday night was hosted by the Canadian Consulate General so was a bit formal. We got all gussied up and went downstairs for that. The place was packed and we mingled and hobnobbed, drank and ate with the elite. Politicians and VIP's. Again Rob managed to find more people he knew and I think he had a great time. We went to the hotel bar and had a few drinks with a friend of mine from home who was in Boston as an exhibitor with Nova Scotia Artic Char. Rob was tired so he went up to the room and left my friend Ruthie & I in the bar. Well, soon we were joined by some of her co-workers and after a few hours I stumbled to the room. Thank god I only had to navigate the elevator. Monday morning arrived too soon. I hadn't gotten any shopping in yet, so Rob went to the Show with Ruthie while I went shopping. Woo- hoo!! Filenes’s Basement look out. Massive sale on and I took full advantage of it. I drooled at Chanel, Hermes and Burberry, but decided that for what I would pay for one little thing at those stores I could enjoy a week in Playa next winter. After about 5 hours of shopping, I met Rob back at the Seafood show and again we spent the afternoon going thru the exhibits and eating seafood. Normally the group from Nova Scotia gets together for dinner, but Rob and I found ourselves on our own so we decided to do the tourist thing and went to Cheers- "Where everyone knows your name". We were not hungry, but were thirsty so had a few drinks and a plate of nachos. We made it an early evening and soon crashed. Tues morning we were trying to decide what to do. The weather forecast was calling for another storm late in the day. We decided to pack up, head to Bangor and stay the night there. Soon we were on the road and again Rob's terrific navigating skills came in handy as we had a smooth drive out of the city and headed north. The day was clear and we had a good drive. We stopped in New Hampshire at the liquor store to pick up some supplies. Of course we got a bit more than we were allowed to take back over the border, but hey- we were just 2 naive Nova Scotian's and would plead ignorance. But no way in hell were they getting my bottle of Grey Goose. Nor the Crown Royal....... We arrived in Bangor just as the snow was starting, but decided to do a bit of shopping after finding a hotel. Rob had some things he wanted to look for and Burlington Coat Factory is one of my favorite stores. After a couple of hours shopping, we headed back to the hotel, and being too tired to eat we crashed. Well the next morning we awoke to find a foot of fresh snow on the ground. Schools were cancelled and plows were slow to clear the roads. After a great breakfast at the hotel of Waffles, sausage, fruit and juice we packed up and hit the mall for a few hours. By 11am things looked cleared so we started the trip back to Nova Scotia. We arrived in Calais, had lunch, shopped at the grocery store, bought frozen turkey's (about 1/2 the price than in NS) cheeses- Rob's fav!! We gassed up, and held our breath at the border. Besides the liquor, I had bought 6 pair of shoes, a couple of suits, a dress and a few other things. We sailed thru customs, whew!! It felt good to be back on Canadian soil. The roads were clear and traffic was light. As we got closer to Moncton the snow started again. It was beginning to get dark and the snow was blinding- coming right at the windshield. We went thru that for about an hour until just past the New Brunswick border, Then it cleared up and the was no sign of any snow. We arrived at Rob's about 8:00pm, after a cup of tea and a short charge of the blackberry I headed home arriving about 9:30 and ....Back to the real world!! Pic's coming as soon as I figure out how to post them.... |
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03-01-2008
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#2 (permalink) |
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añejo
 Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South Shore of Baahhstun, Massachusetts
Posts: 23,229
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Helluva great first-time trip report, Blueberry!! And I'm glad you enjoyed your short, albeit hectic, stay in Boston!
 And major kudos to you for driving in "town".... you've got more courage than I do, and I grew up here on the South Shore!! One of the last times I drove in Boston was to pick up my brother from Mass. General Hospital in 2006. I got so desperately lost that I had to have an operator at Mass. General "talk me in" on my cell phone from the Back Bay!!  Looking forward to seeing your pics!! |
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03-01-2008
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#6 (permalink) | |
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añejo
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: nova scotia, canada
Posts: 5,638
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Quote:
So where to next baby ??? 
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03-01-2008
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#8 (permalink) | |
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beachaholic
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 455
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Quote:
 hahaNext Trip ???? Not until the snow is gone. 
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03-01-2008
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#9 (permalink) | |
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añejo
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: nova scotia, canada
Posts: 5,638
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03-01-2008
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#10 (permalink) | |
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beachaholic
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 455
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03-01-2008
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#11 (permalink) |
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añejo
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: North of Boston, Mass
Posts: 7,354
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What a great trip report Bluberry! It's kinda neat seeing all the familiar Boston sights in your pictures. Glad you had fun in my neck of the woods!I agree with Nerak, youre quite brave to tackle driving in Boston, especially in those conditions! The natives tend to avoid driving in the city whenever possible! Cheers, and I hope you post more pictures.
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03-01-2008
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#15 (permalink) | |
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beachaholic
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 455
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