We flew out of Greenville on Thursday morning with a layover in Atlanta. We arrived in Boston in time to unload our bags at their apartment on Worcester Square and walk to Blunch for gourmet sandwiches. We took our lunch to-go and ate by the fountain at Blackstone Square while the dog played in the sunshine. We were so lucky that Davis was able to use some vacation days to hang out with us and show us around his new home! After lunch we caught the T and rode north to Boston Common. I really loved this green space in the middle of the city, with squirrels and ducks to remind us of home. From there we walked past the shops on Newbury Street and through the Boston Public Library. Finally, we made our way back home where we visited until Katie returned from work. Let me tell y'all, sharing a meal with friends for the first time in months, seeing the life they've built for themselves, getting a glimpse into their happiness, is so special. We're proud of how well they've adjusted to their new city, but can't wait for them to come home in the spring to get married!
Friday started with a walk to Flour for a breakfast of croissants and muffins before we hopped on the bus to Quincy Market. The tourist in me loved walking through the market on the hunt for a coffee mug to bring home; only stopping to snap pictures of lobster rolls and coffee shops. Next, we walked through an open air farmers market over to Boston Public Market. A maple bacon donut from Union Square Donuts gave us the extra boost we needed to start the Freedom Trail. We stopped at Sam Adams grave site, Old North Church, the site of the boston massacre, and Paul Revere's house before we broke from the trail to walk through the historical North End and to the Harbor. We passed so many beautiful churches, and a mom and pop italian restaurant on every corner. The breeze off the harbor kept us cool while we walked until our feet couldn't take any more. From there we took the T back to Boston Common to meet Katie for lunch at Parish Cafe. We ate in the sunshine on the front patio with all the other lunch break professionals. After lunch, Connor and I took an uber to the Franklin Park Zoo. We have a bucket list of accredited zoos that we want to visit all over the country, so whenever we go to a new city the first thing I do is look for one close by. I love how Franklin Park is so close to the city, but when you step inside the gates it's a total escape from the crowds. Since we were visiting late in the season some of the exhibits were closed, but there were few people in the park which was nice. Usually, we have to fight strollers and kiddos to be able to see any of the animals, but here we were able to sit and watch each exhibit in peace. I loved it. We enjoyed seeing a pair of tigers lounging in the sun and walking through the rainforest habitats were under the dome. After a quick nap, we drove back up to the North End to watch the game with the New England Clemson Club at Central Wharf Co. I've never been to an alumni bar, but what a neat experience to see people walking in proudly wearing their orange so far from home! Even though the game didn't end how we wanted, we still enjoyed watching it with other alumni.
Our last day in Boston was rainy, but to be honest we were thankful. After a busy couple of days we were able to take it easy watching some football and just spending time with our friends. We walked to breakfast at one of the 20+ Dunkin Donuts we passed and played with Nami at the park. Later we walked to Boomerangs thrift boutique to pick through designer dresses and sweaters. Sadly, I didn't have any room in my carry on to bring home a new wardrobe, but if you love thrifting this place is a must go. On the walk back to the apartment we picked up a pizza at Henry O's to share -- authentic and delicious. As the rain started to subside in the early afternoon we traveled out to Fenway Park. The alleys were empty since the Sox's season had ended the week before, but I could just imagine the throngs of people who celebrate in those streets and bars after a win. Davis cooked for us that last evening, and we stayed up late talking about our college days and the not so distant future while snacking on apple cider doughnuts from Blackbird Doughnuts.