Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

I admit it - I only went to this museum because it is in "the book." But.... I am really glad I did. The courtyard alone is worth a visit. It is so beautiful I could have spent the whole afternoon there. Pretty flowers and ferns - very well maintained. I especially liked the mosaic tile floor in the middle. It would be a great place for a wedding.

There are some really impressive pieces at this museum, and they had a huge theft 20 years ago; but there were entirely too many religious pieces. IMHO (I am considering starting a new list - the number of Mary and baby Jesus paintings I have seen in museums.)

Sadly, the theft included a Vermeer.

John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

The setting for the library is beautiful - right on Boston Harbor. The museum isn't huge; after all, he wasn't President for very long. There is a nice re-creation of the Oval Office - which seems to be a standard feature of presidential museums.

My favorite pieces in presidential museums are the gifts that the President and First Lady receive from kings, prime ministers, and other world leaders. They get some really nice stuff....that they don't get to keep. My favorite piece was a diamond and emerald encrusted purse.

Whoopie Pie

We've forced my niece, Tiffany, to try many new foods on this trip; such as:

lobster, clams, fried oyster, white fish, scallops

And then...I made her try a Whoopie Pie. That is her new favorite food. She may never be a fan of seafood, but she likes her sweets.

Cape Cod

Cape Cod is in "the book." It is lovely here. More great seafood at very low prices....low compared to Minnesota. I am not tired of lobster yet.

The water is chilly, but I still love the beaches. The houses are adorable. This is the kind of place where I'd love to rent a house for a week or more. I can spend many hours sitting on a beach doing nothing....or reading...or people watching...or doing nothing.

Some kids were surfing off one of the beaches today. The waves weren't really big, but I guess they were big enough.

Sand

I love the beach. Really...I do! And, one of the things I like about the beach is the cute, young lifeguard.

I don't think I like sand. There is sand in all of my belongings now. It. is. everywhere.

It is a dolphin.

Maine

Two days - and two states I hadn't been to before.

I really liked Maine. It reminds me of Minnesota, but with an ocean and cheaper seafood.

I hit one place from "the book" - White Barn Inn. Very lovely and elegant hotel and restaurant. The first car I saw in the parking lot was a Bentley. We had dinner reservations - until I found out a jacket was required. We didn't really bring the right clothes for a place with a dress code.

We drove out to Walker's Point in Kennebunkport. This is where President Bush's Maine get-away is located.

Kennebunkport is a cute little town - exactly as I had pictured it. Nice shops and easy to get around.

We had lunch at Federal Jack's. The food was good, and we had an excellent view of the harbor.

New Hampshire

A new state for me! (3 more to go)

We spent the afternoon at Hampton Beach, NH. The weather was perfect. The water was warmer than I expected it to be. I even got a little sun.

And, we saw the Comedians of Chelsea Lately - - very funny! Josh Wolf, Sarah Colonna, Lonnie Love and John Caparulo.

Freedom Trail

We walked the Freedom Trail today. It is in "the book."

Mostly marked by red brick, the Freedom Trail winds through Boston. It takes you by many significant buildings/sights; such as Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere's house, Granary Cemetery, Boston Common and MA State House.

We had lunch at Quincy Market. Wow! Many great food options in one building. But....I don't like paying $3 for a soda - unless I am at a sporting event.

We passed 5 Dunkin' Donuts along the Freedom Trail. In fact, Boston has more Dunkin' Donuts than any other city I've ever been in.

Boston 7 July 2010

I went directly from the airport to Yankee Lobster and ate my first two-pound lobster. I plan to eat many more over the next few days. I rarely order lobster at restaurants in Minnesota because it is cost prohibitive (too expensive)! I want to gorge myself on lobster during this trip - - because I can.