The Silver Wedding NYC & Boston trip – Day 7 – Room Service, Harvard and home.

[jocat]

Index here

Day 7 - Friday 3rd October - Room Service, Harvard and home

We didn't set the alarm this morning, but still woke up around 8 am (Martin) with me about half an hour later. We'd got to check out this morning, but I couldn't seem to get moving.

Martin went downstairs to the Business Centre to do online check in and print our boarding cards. I mooched around doing very little! When he came back, we decided to have a lazy morning and ordered room service for breakfast. Martin decided on the sausage, egg and breakfast potatoes with a glass of apple juice, whilst I just ordered toast and orange juice.






After breakfast, we showered and got ready for the day. We finished our packing, just keeping out a small bag with clothes to change into for the flight home.

We checked out of the hotel at about 11:30 am, stored our luggage, then headed to the subway. We were off to Harvard. After a slight problem at the subway, when we entered the station before realising we needed to be on the other side of the road, we came back out, crossed over and were stopped from going any further. Yes our subway tickets were blocked from swiping again within 20 minutes at the same station!

We found a rather stern employee who let us through the gates, then finally were on our way.

It all fell apart somewhat today. We really hadn't done any research on where to go as we intended to get a tour. However, when we arrived, we couldn't find where the official tour started from, so we ended up just wandering about for a short while, not really knowing what to do. On our pop-out map of Boston, there was a self guided tour, so in conjunction with our Boston guidebook which had a few pages on Harvard, we went it alone. It actually worked quite well. Although we obviously missed out on the 'stories' that a tour would give.





I thought the Harvard campus was beautiful and could have easily spent longer there. I took a lot of photos today, as you will see below!












Widener Library - the third largest library in the U.S. with more than 3 million volumes




















Some students who were entertaining themselves by trying some tightrope walking!




Fall has arrived!












John Harvard statue


Massachussets Hall - Harvard's oldest standing building, dating back to 1720.


























continued below ...

[jocat]

... continued from above


We went for a late lunch at John Harvard's, which had come recommended by a friend of mine's cousin who lives in Boston. It was a typical American pub with a good atmosphere. We just ordered a burger each with a diet coke, but when it arrived it was slightly underdone for my liking I'm afraid, with blood on my burger bun. Being a Brit, I didn't say anything of course, and just smothered it with ketchup.









Over lunch we looked at the map, then noticed we'd missed the Harvard Law School campus, so we decided to walk back to that. We just loved having a wander, looking at the beautiful buildings.








Even the gym looked attractive.







As we approached the student centre, we could hear cheering from beyond it. When we turned the corner we could see a crowd of people, watching some sort of race going out. The race seemed to involve people 'wearing' a lot of toilet paper, most of which was falling onto the ground. Everybody seemed to be having great fun though. Am assuming it was some kind of 'freshers' activity.



We carried on through the campus, eventually calling at the Harvard Co-op for a few gifts for home.










The mid afternoon temperature, showing at the Subway station


Feeling sad that our holiday was coming to an end, we left and got the subway to North Station and walked towards the bridge.

We passed this building on our way - am assuming it is their offices.



Eventually we picked up this trail.












We weren't that close to this - just had a good zoom on the camera!

We'd intended to go and see the sights at the far end of the Freedom Trail, including the Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution. However, once over the bridge, we seemed to hit a wall. We were cold and tired and Martin had been suffering for a day or two with the beginnings of a head cold, so we decided to give up and head back to the hotel.








Exploring the North End would have to wait for another time.



Arrived back at the hotel at about 5:30, where we just sat for a while admiring the beautiful lobby. At 6pm we freshened up and got changed for our flight home, and got the doorman to hail us a cab.

The taxi ride to the airport only took about 20-25 minutes. We had no wait to check our bags in, so headed straight to the very long queue waiting to clear Security. We were in the middle queue which seemed to move very slowly! It was pot luck whether you were sent to this queue or the straight line on the right hand side. We were obviously just unlucky!

Eventually through, we found some seats near our gate to begin the wait until we could board. Had a quick wander round duty free, and the few shops there were. I have to say that there wasn't a great deal to see in the Departure Lounge. I picked up a BLT from Earl of Sandwich for the flight, as I knew I might not eat the food. Ended up not eating the sandwich either - what a waste!

Boarded the plane, which happened very quickly, and ordered an orange juice - it was rank! How can they get orange juice wrong? Martin had the sparkling wine. The aircraft doors were soon closed and we were taxiing to the runway, taking off at 9:41 pm, just one minute later than our scheduled time. Not sure we've ever had that happen!

There was some clattering from the galley, and it became obvious that things weren't secured properly for take off. Before we knew it, ice was coming along the aisle. There was little the crew could do because they still had to remain strapped in their seats for a while. When they could get up they had a bit of clearing up to do!

They quickly commenced the in flight service. Don't remember much as I was dozing - my motion sickness tablets that I take before flying were doing their job and knocking me out! When the meal arrived, I declined it, while Martin chose the beef which he though was nice enough.




The next thing I was aware of was being woken for breakfast, but again I declined it and just asked for an orange juice. Martin ate the American breakfast and he saved the muffin for later (our daughter had that after we arrived home).

Landing was smooth, and barely woke me! We were off the plane quickly, used the kiosks to clear immigration, and our bags were soon on the carousel. We left the airport, to a waiting bus for the car park. Our luck seemed to be in this morning as it left as soon as we boarded and we were in our car and on the road just an hour after landing.

I forced myself to stay awake and talk to Martin, although I was feeling hungry now after not eating since the pub at Harvard. We stopped at some services on the M40, and saw a Wetherspoons pub. I ordered some toast and juice, while Martin just ordered a coffee. Within 10 minutes of walking in the door, we'd been served, eaten and were on our way back to the car. The journey was a bit of a nightmare with rain all of the way. But we were home by about 11:15 am. Now would begin the nightmare that is trying to stay awake.

We decided to unpack and it was at this point we found that our bags were missing their padlocks. Thought it was a little strange, as they were TSA locks (expensive ones at that!) Found them inside our cases, and they had been cut off.


We'd had visitors in our luggage!



What is the point of TSA locks if they don't open them with the keys? Think we'll be using the cable ties in future!

[emmabanana]

Great last day, you fitted a lot in, really enjoyed reading your trip report, we're considering Boston next year so you've given me some great ideas

[jocat]

Originally Posted by emmabanana

Great last day, you fitted a lot in, really enjoyed reading your trip report, we're considering Boston next year so you've given me some great ideas

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Glad you've enjoyed it and that it's given you some ideas.

[orlandosgr8]

A great trip, thank you for sharing

[SPN Clann]

Boston, and Harvard, are beautiful Nice to see the monument to all those lost / seperated because of the famine.

Your hotel looked great, where did you stay?

[jocat]

Originally Posted by orlandosgr8

A great trip, thank you for sharing

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It was a lovely trip. Thanks for reading and commenting.

Originally Posted by parris

Boston, and Harvard, is beautiful Nice to see the monument to all those lost / seperated because of the famine.

Your hotel looked great, where did you stay?

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Boston and Harvard were beautiful. Would have loved to have seen them in the sunshine though!

The hotel we stayed at was The Lenox in Back Bay. It was fab and we would definitely stay there again. I'm not normally keen on hotels - am a bit of a villa girl instead as I like my space, but after staying here I could be converted!

[megaflyer]

What a wonderful trip and thank you so very much for sharing with us.

[jocat]

Originally Posted by megaflyer

What a wonderful trip and thank you so very much for sharing with us.

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Thanks for taking the time to post comments Megaflyer. Glad you've enjoyed it.

[megaflyer]

Originally Posted by jocat

Thanks for taking the time to post comments Megaflyer. Glad you've enjoyed it.

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You're welcome , you have inspired me to return to my beloved NYC and try some new things and restuarants as yet to have a decent steak there but you certainly did so my restuarant list has got some new ones to try on it. Plus a rail excursion Boston

Thanks again for taking the time to post such a thorough report xx