Day 2 Continued

Swanscott Train Station

As I planned my visits, I did find a beautiful picture of the Swanscott Train Station. It is still used a the stop for the MBTA.  After my coast drive I drove to the station. As After I took some pictures, I saw the MBTA Work train.

MBTA work ttrain. I have never seen any MOW in such good looking shape.

MBTA work ttrain. I have never seen any MOW in such good looking shape.

And as would be my luck, I spotted the northbound commuter rail from Boston.

MBTA northbound at Swanscott

This was good fortune, but not the end of pictures of MBTA north of Boston. Nor, is it end of the day. To be continued.

Day 2

This second day was more according to the schedule laid out. I reserved a rental car and picked it up. I had use 9:00 as my starting time, but at this point I found myself beginning earlier, around 8:30. I planned to drive to the north Shore. I lived for a while at Lynn. I never did get pictures of the place. There were other things to photograph as well. I made the drive without incident. I drove to Nahant. From the research that I had done, I could get a good picture of the Boston Skyline. There was too much in obstruction so I came back along Lynn Shore Dr. and found a parking space to take pictures of to coastline. There it was a skyline picture

Boston Skyline from Lynn Reservation

The Shore line was nice. I walk around Lynn Shore and than drove up the shore to Swamscott.

Lynn Shore Reservation

Lynn Shore

Lynn Shore to Swanscott

Swanscott

End of Day 1

My original itinery was greatly altered. I started at the room, rather than later in the afternoon. The tower view was first where it was planned to be last. I did get to Cambridge and South Station but not in the order planned and I missed the second sky deck view, all together.

Long view of the Boston YMCA

Green Line outbound

Inbound Heath Line

Inbound Heath line different era Light Rail

I did get a view of the YMCA, my first home in what was at the time, the strange town of Boston. I took a walk close by and got some pictures of the Green Line where is went underground.

After supper, I went around the corner to check out the orange line station to see how good of a location it would be. I did get a few pictures and did come back later.

Orange Line, Mass. Ave, Station

Orange Line, Mass. Ave. Station

The Rest of the Story

I looked at the long view from the Prudential tower. I was not as hung up on time, as I had taken care of check-in. I did take a block and half walk to the YMCA which was the first place I stayed in Boston, 25 years ago. I finally got my room and then went to Cambridge. I first went to Porter Square and walked to where I had lived. I did not take many pictures that would interest the ordinary person.

After visiting the apartment, I came back to Harvard. It seems that while living there 25 years ago, I went to a church on Harvard Yard. I walked by for a view. Harvard is on the Red Line. I manage to end up at the Federal Courthouse where I took some pictures across the water. From there I of course took a walk to South Station where I spent a little time watching trains (mentioned above)

Acela 2034

Acela 2034

Acela 2032

MBTA 1064

MBTA 1032

MBTA 1115

     

Change of Plans

That wonderful agenda that I created was always meant to be tentative. I knew approximately how much time to spend in the different places but not exactly. The first changes to the agenda came when I checked in for my flight. My 7:00 am flight was cancelled even before I arrived at the airport. I was excited about my trip and could not sleep. I arrived at 5:00 and went to the window to reschedule my trip. They did have a 6:00 via Philadelphia with an hour layover. I arrived in Boston an hour later than I had originally scheduled but leaving an hour earlier.

Sitting in the waiting area of the airport I noticed how the world had changed. 2/3 of those waiting had their laptops out and working. The the others were texting on their cell phones. A far cry from 25 years ago when I first flew to Boston. In fact check in takes twice as long.

I arrived in Boston and I called the hotel. I wanted to know if I could drop off my luggage, and they said yes. So instead of coming to South Station and getting a locker, as planned, I headed for the hotel. I figured that from their I might continue as planned. NOT SO.

Amtrak Accela

Amtrak  921

MBTA 1115

When I arrived at the hotel, they did not have my room ready. I went for lunch and to the Prudential Tower. I had planned to go the skywalk at Prudential Center, but not until late in the day. After check in, off the Cambridge as originally planned. Timing was no longer critical. I did watch some trains at South Station.

The schedule, purposes

The schedule, outline in the last entry, is designed for two purposes. The first of course is to let me know if time will allow me to see what I want. By using Google Maps, and setting out directions, the time between stops is estimated. Add the amount of time expected to stay and we can reasonable know what can be seen in what time. Of course the time one would be visiting would be a variable as it were.

After laying out a tour, this provide for maps. I took this schedule and put it into a blog. The links of course gave maps. With my web enhance smart phone, I accessed the blog and called up the maps. Many had the tour, laid out in relative detail.

However, it must be pointed out, that this was a guide, not a plan that could not be deviated from. In fact, from the first hours, deviation was the norm. I did rent the car on the second day. I followed most of the plan but I got lost so the plan had to be altered. On the first day, instead of dropping off my luggage in a locker at South Station, I carried it on to the Hotel. This altered a lot of other things, as well.

Schedule

I first created a schedule. This was more a shedule to see if my trip would work. Here is my last draft before leaving:


Day 1, Monday


(7:00 from Richmond, US Airways 3742) to Logan Airport Boston
(Silver Line, 19 min.) to South Station (20 min.) 
Round Trip A. South Station to South Station Walk, View Larger Map      
                    B. (4 min.) to Independence Wharf Observation Deck (1 hr.) 
                    C. (9 min.) to Courthouse (30 min.) 
                    D. (15 min.) to South Station (30 min.)(1 hr lunch) 
(Red Line to Potter Square, walk, 26 min.) to Fairfield Ave. Apartment, (10 min.), see area map      
(walking, Bus 77, 4 min.) to Porter Square (10 min.) 
(Red Line, 3 min.) to Harvard Square (1hr.), see area map      
(Red Line, 14 min.) to South Station (20 min.)
(Red Line to Park Street, Heath Street (E) Green Line, 22 min.) to hotel
(10 min) to Prudential Skywalk (1 hr.) 

Day 2, Tuesday 
(9:00 from hotel, 11 min.) to Car Rental
Driving Tour A. Car Rental, View entire route map
                      B. (27 min.) to Nahant Rd. (10 min.) View of Lynn Shore and Boston skyline    
                      C. (4. min.) to Lynn Shore Dr. park (10 min.)
                      D. (2 min.) to Swampscott Beach (10 min.)
                      E. (3 min.) to Swampscott Train Station (10 min.)
                      F. (4 min.) to Estes Street, Ritz Carlton Apartment (10 min.)
                      G. (1 min.) to Goldfish Pond (20 min,)
                      H. (1 min.) to Christ Church (10 min.)
                      I. (3 min.) to High Rock (20 min,) 
                      J. (5 min) to Capitol Diner (1 hr. lunch)
                      K. (5 min.) to Lynn Common (10 min.)
                      L. (22 min.) to just across water on Summer Street, in Fed Express center parking, if there are cruise ships at Black Falcon Terminal (10 min.) 
                      M. (4 min.) to opposite Pleasure Bay from Fort Independence. (10 min.)
                      N. (2 min.) to Fort Independence (1 hr.) 
                      O. (14 min.) to Old Ironsides (1 hr.). While on Atlantic, see if it would be worth it to extend walking trip from Christopher Columbus Park to Battery Wharf, walking or busing or other.
                      P. (6 min.) to North Point Park, watch trains 4:10o, 4:20o, 4:25o, 4:30o, 4:33i, 4:40o, 4:40o, 4:45o, 4:49o, 4:50o, 4:52i, 4:58i, 4:59i, 5:00oA, 5:00o, 5:10i, 5:10i, 5:10o, 5:10o
                      Q. (10 min.) to Car Rental
       (11 min.) To Hotel

Day 3, Wednesday
(from hotel, 8:55, 3 min.) to Massachusetts Ave. T station to watch: 9:14iP, 9:20oAa, 9:40oAr, 9:41iP, 9:54iAa, 9:59iF, 10:46iP, 11:00iAr, 11:10oAr, 11:12iP). see area map   
Walking tour to Park Street A. Massachusetts Ave. T station    View route map
              B.  (4 min.) to Hotel (10 min) to drop off tripod
              C. (12 min) to Boston Public Library (20 min.)
              D. (16 min.) to Esplanade (Hatch Shell) (20 min.)(1hr. lunch)
              E. (12 min., 10 min. to Cheers) to Swan Boats (20 min.)
              F. (15 min.) to State House (10 min.)
              G.  (2 min.) to Park Street Church (10 min.)
              H.(4 min.) to Park Street Station/Downtown Crossing(1 hr.) 
              (Orange Line, 10 min.) to Hotel
Add more, pictures around the Hotel, i.e. Symphony Hall, Christian Science Park, Harcourt, Copley, etc., see area map       
(Green Line, Blue Line at Government Center, 20 min.) to Sunset Cruise: Schedule. Departs from Long Wharf, Daily, 7:00 PM
(Heath Street (E) Green Line, Blue Line at Government Center, 21 min.)

Day 4, Thursday
(9:00 from hotel, Heath Street (E) Green Line, to Park Street, Red Line, 22 min. Red Line) to South Station (30 min.) 
 walking Tour Downtown A. South Station, View route map
              B. (11 min.) to Rowes Wharf (20 min.)
              C. (8 min.) to Long Wharf (10 min.)
              D. (8 min.) Christopher Columbus Park, (20 min.)
              E. (7 min.) to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (1 hr.), (1 hr. lunch)
              F. (4 min.) to Old State House and State Street Station (10 min.)
(Red Line to Ashmount, Mattapan-High Speed Line, 34 min,) to Cedar Grove (1 hr) 
(Mattapan-High Speed Line to Ashmount, Red Line to Park Street, Green Line, 48 min, Orange Line) to Lechmere (45 min.) 
(Heath Street (E) Green Line, 21 min.) to Hotel

Day 5
(9:00 from hotel, Green Line to Government Center, Blue Line to Airport, Shuttle, 38 min.)  to Terminal B (20 min.)  
(Shuttle to Airport, Blue Line, 23 min.) to Revere (45 min.)
(Blue Line to Airport, Shuttle, 24 min) to  Terminal B Airport    
(US Airways 4041) to Richmond (US Airways)