Bahstin, Mass.

AnCe and I flew into Boston over the long weekend for a quick three-day jaunt. We left on a 0700 flight on Saturday and were checked in by 0830. Wicked.
Day One: West Side.
  We jumped on the MBTA red line to Harvard Square. AnCe was super prepared and had downloaded a self-guided Audio Tour of Hahvahd, which took about an hour. What a beautiful campus, academia fairly oozing from the brickwork. The kind of place that makes me yearn for books and classes once again. After 23 stops, we skipped across the street to Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage, a Cambridge institution, where I ate Michelle Obama and AnCe tackled the Jersey Shore. Not a word of a lie.
  A straight walk up Mass Ave and we got to MIT campus. We knew were close when we almost ran into a group of skinny, bespectacled gents in front a “Electrical Factory”. Yet another self-guided tour, sans audio, through some very interesting looking glass-walled labs. After defacing perfectly cleaned sliding chalkboards, we headed back across the Charles to wander through Beacon Hill. We were waylaid by Earth Fest and finally got back to the hotel for 1600.
  Quick nap before getting dressed for dinner at Ye Olde Union Oyster House. So glad we made reservations, at the wait for a table was almost an hour long. Seated across from the “Kennedy” booth. Ate my very first raw oysters on the half-shell along with the first (of many) bowls of chowdah. Took my aching feet home for an early night.

Day Two: Freedom Trail.
  The day started with complimentary breakfast (stuff myself). 1100 Freedom Trail tour. Our guide had the thickest (greatest!) Bahstin accent. It was great to hear her say things like “Hahvey Pahkeh”. Who knew Boston was that steeped in history? Okay, so a lot of people probably knew… but I didn’t and it was fantastic. Paul Revere’s house, the mass grave under the Boston Common, King’s Chapel, State House…ended up at Faneuil Hall (2nd floor free to everyone!) Lunch break at the Purple Shamrock (more chowdah, this time in bread bowl) where I learned all about the Irish Nine. Back on the Trail, this time all the way across the Charles again to Bunker Hill. AnCe was awesome and climbed to the top, while I listed to a very animated ranger recount the battle at Bunker Hill. Orange line home.
  Dinner at the Barking Crab, which is another walk across the Fort River. You have to understand, this restaurant was racked VERY highly in several books. I so did not expect to see a red-and-yellow tent with picnic table adorned only with plastic cutlery. We ordered crab cakes and a seafood platter ($58 total) that had so much food on it, I could have sworn we felt the protein high for hours afterward. After dinner Angry Cider at The Bell in Hand Tavern.

Day Three: Newbury Street.
  Had to try and get some shopping in, but Newbury street turned out to be a bit of a bust. At least we were able to stroll through the Boston Public Garden, see the Cheers bar and down some delicious Lobstah Bisque at Legal Seafood before heading home. Got in at a very decent 1830, but stuck on the tarmac for FORTY minutes.

Nonetheless, an excellent weekend away. I’m liking these “explore” mini-trips that are easy to plan and relatively fuss-free. Next!