Red Sox at Fenway Park

Sunday afternoon meant one thing......baseball!!

We had tickets to the Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, the oldest baseball ground in America.

It had been over 4 years since Renee and I visited Boston and watched our Red Sox game. Since this was my first live game, and the home team was playing the Red Sox have been my team ever since.

It was great to share this with Mum and Dad, and we all had a riot at the 7th inning stretch singing"Take Me Out to the Ball Game".

As anticipated the Red Sox slaughtered, I mean defeated, the Blue Jays 7- 0.

I was very happy!

Harvard Tour

Luckily on Sunday the sun decided to come out, so we made our way to Harvard University in Cambridge MA.

Or as the locals call it "Hah - vahd".
















We took the unofficial tour of the grounds lead by students, visiting all the main buildings and points of interest.





































It was a very nice way to spend a Sunday morning!

Clam Chowder & Cheers

Unfortunately due to Hurricane Danny, Saturday was wet, windy and miserable. Despite the bad weather, we tried to complete some "indoor" activities and headed to Faneuiel Hall for a wander and some Boston Clam Chowder.
















After a short break from the rain, we continued onto the Freedom Trail and the Old North Church, the oldest church in Boston.

It is most famous for its role on April 18, 1775, when the church sexton, Robert Newman, climbed the steeple and held high two lanterns as a signal that the British were marching by sea and not by land aka "two if by sea, one if by land".

Thus igniting the American Revolution!!





















After all the excitement we headed to another famous landmark in Boston, the Cheers Bar!

This was the original bar that the producers got the idea for the show, and the outside was used in the opening credits.





















Since the show ended they moved the original set inside the property for everyone to enjoy.

















Cheers!


















We then strolled through Boston Common and then back to the hotel - needless to say we were all exhausted!





















Come on David!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Friday the 28th of August was also Papa Dunston's Birthday!!

After some champagne in the room, we headed to the North End - famous for the rows of Italian restaurants - to the fabulous Mamma Maria. It is one of the most well know restaurants in Boston, due to the home-made pasta and sauces as well as the extensive Italian wine list.

With this information up my sleeve I organise a reservation in the private dining room weeks in advance, that overlooked the cobble streets of North End from the second floor.

We enjoyed a fantastic meal and some great wine, and the birthday boy got a special surprise for dessert!

Boston

On Friday we got a up bright and early, jumped on the train and headed to Boston.

We checked into the gorgeous s Eliot Hotel in the Back Bay area................
















..........and then grabbed some lunch in the sunshine. It was sooo glarely so i left my sunnies on!


















That afternoon we took an historic DUCK tour around Boston on the World War II amphibious landing vehicle.................
















over sea..................















and land..........
















......and then onto the Trinity Church that has been widely celebrated as a masterpiece of American architecture and stands as a cherished landmark at the heart of Boston.

The Plaza

After a long day at work, and a long day of exploring, we decided to treat ourselves and meet at the Plaza for a drink.

The Plaza on Central Park is quintessentially New York and grabbing an over-priced drink at the Oak Bar is truly one on the best things you can when in NY!






































We then headed across the street to Central Park for a romantic horse and carriage ride.

















And then it was off to Rosa Mexicano for some fine dining and table-side guacamole!

















Ole!

Central Park & Chelsea Piers

Sunday we headed towards central park for a quick look before we left mum and Dad to head off to the Frick collection whilst we grabbed some lunch.

















Strawberry Fields Forever!






















Later we caught up with Mick, Erin, Davis and Miles at the High-Line, before heading to the Blues & BBQ festival down at the Chelsea Piers.

















Blues , BBQ and beers!
















Go easy Miles!

Jersey Boys

Saturday night we had tickets to see the the Broadway musical Jersey Boys. It is the Tony Award winning musical, based on the lives of the 1960'a group the Four Season.

Before hand we headed to the Cuban restaurant, Guantanamera. We enjoyed mojitios, paella, ropa vieja, chimichurri and watched some Cuban cigars rolling.

















What a good looking bunch!

















After we headed to the Jersey Boys - and it was absolutely fantastic!

Greenwich Village & Washington Square Park

On Saturday morning, with the help of our trusty tour guide David, we headed to Greenwich Village & Washington Square Park for a walking tour.


It was great to finally make it don to that part of town, sit in front of the famous arch, and see what everyone has been raving about.

















After a quick lunch and a look at the markets, we headed home to get ready for our night out!

Friday Fun

On Friday Mum, Dad and David and I all headed to our old favourite Carnegie Deli for some lunch. They soon realised we were not joking about towering meat!

Afterwards we headed over to the west side piers to boarded a cruise around Manhattan. The sights we saw included the Statue of Liberty.....

.......Ellis Island, Chelsea piers, the Brooklyn Bridge......

.....and we could even see our apartment from the water! As the clouds rolled in we were thankful that we were under cover!

After disembarking we enjoyed some light refreshment, including a root beer float for David, before heading home to rest our feet.

Parents in Town

On Wednesday my parents arrived in town for a 2 week visit, that was planned somewhat at the last minute. They will be staying with us, and have already paid for their rent in advance with over a dozen packets of Tim Tams and Aussie treats!

They spend their first day wandering round town and visiting the top of the Empire State Building. Last night we celebrated with dinner out in the West village, back at Malatesta Trattoria. We were so impressed on Saturday we headed back for more and were not disappointed!

Brooklyn Bridge & High Line

After a full belly of Dim Sum we decided to enjoy the sunshine and go for a little walk. Given its proximity we decided to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, and then onto DUMBO for some market browsing.




















We then caught the subway to Chelsea, and ventured on to the High-Line. The High Line was built in the 1930s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It stopped running in the 1980's and was under the threat of demolition, until it the public fought for it to be preserved and maintained as an elevated public park.


The restoration has been highly acclaimed and well received, and perfectly completes the transition of the boarding areas Chelsea and Meatpacking. It is truely an excellent example of how architecture and landscaping can combine the old world with the new.















After a long day we headed home exhausted. In hindsight, given it was 30C it was probably not the best day for a walking tour!

Dim Sum at Jing Fong

After much research was excited to try out a new dim sum place in China town. Jing Fong is the size of a football field with massive gaudy chandeliers and neon lights.

















Heinous decor aside the food was fresh, fast and tasty, and we were all suitably stuffed!

The endless sound of trolleys rattling down between tables and clinking chopsticks against china bowls is music to any dim sum lover!

All over!