Planning an Excursion, Part 2

Transfer between transits means time to explore or whatever. A good book will pass the time, both in station and on board. Picture taking will take time and give good souvenirs. I have been in Washington a number of times so, sightseeing may not be as unique as I would like. More than once, I have been by the monuments and the museum many times. Train watching and Metro riding, will require some time. Union Station always has something good to see. There is always a private car in the station. If you want good train watching you have to go north of the station for run-by. South of the station is good. There is one public space that overlooks the tunnel portal from the south into Union Station (the last time I was there, I was approach by police. The first thing you should say, in such case is "do you want me to leave?")

Overnight train travel means not much waking time to watch, but there is always NYC light up in the night. Arrival in Boston, early morning, ready for a day of sight seeing. First question: what Boston Station to arrive at? Route 128 is a out of town station with many train watching chances: commuter and Amtrak. Back Bay is in the middle of the Social areas, but not good watching. South Station is the terminus of the line and in a good part of downtown (just south of the station is good). What side of town, you want to be in, will also determine the station. This trip has become a north side trip with most of my sightseeing in Boston or north of the river, looking around Cambridge and Alewife.

When I first arrived in Boston to live, 35+ years ago, for the first month, I lived at the YMCA about two blocks from work. I than got a sublease in Cambridge, for a month or two. It was north of Cambridge Square and Harvard Yard and near what is know as Potters Square. The Red  Line Subway was only completed as far as Harvard (now it goes through Potters Square all the way to Alewife) so I had to take the bus from there.

My first plan was to go past the old apartment. which I lived in and go to Alewife, to check that out. I never have been all the way to Alewife. It is not a major detour nor something major  to see. This segment is:

Richmond to Boston, MA, South Station, 6:30 pm-7:58 am, Amtrak 66, Northeast Regional

Boston, MA, South Station to Harvard Square 8:16 am - 8:30 am, Red Line MBTA

Harvard Square to Fairfield Ave Apartment 8:34 am - 8:47 am, Bus 77. 8:34 am - 9:00 am
                Cambridge Commons

Fairfield Ave Apartment to Porter Square 12 min. Walking 9:30 am - 9:45 am

Of course the tour will continue. The times marked are those from Google maps laying out route and generating an approximate time. The real time will vary with pictures, bypasses, detours, and long term rest periods.