Transamerica 2007: White stuff

We awoke this morning to snow! Shovelling was required to clear the driveway before the car could be backed out. We waved Margaret goodbye at the Alewife underground station and trained into Boston. We dumped our luggage and headed out into the ice.

Boston is a “walking” city, where there’s plenty to see for those on foot. The buildings are very diverse and modern shopping malls line up next to traditional markets. After a visit to Filene’s Basement, where the clothes get cheaper the longer they’ve been there, we wandered up to Boston Common. It was cold there. The usual swan boats had been frozen out of service, but we sniffed out the famous ducklings sculpture. Realising that we hadn’t eaten for almost 45 minutes we found a bagel shop and watched the world go by (“go buy” might be more appropriate).

Back at South Station our train was on time, but they never tell you the platform the train leaves from until 5-10 minutes before it departs. Everyone mills around until the number is given and then rushes in a panic to get there. It’s all very exciting. The train was an older one than last time, but still as plush. Unfortunately, at New Hampshire station, someone turned the engine off and they couldn’t get it on again. A second engine was backed up in front of the first and they jump started it. Cheers rang out as the lights came back on in the carriages.

We got to Penn Station, back to Kath and Rob’s and then out to a Mexican restaurant. The margaritas here were smaller than in Boston. The food, however, was delicious. Tomorrow the shopping begins.