July 20 Trip to Boston

   The 3:30 a.m. taxi ride to the airport only took 11 minutes and just two red lights. But there was more than 100 people in the Air Canada check-in lineup before 4 a.m.!  Fortunately, we had checked in online yesterday so we just needed to get the baggage tags printed at a kiosk, go to the bagged drop off line which had two people in line and load the luggage onto the conveyer belt. It took less than five minutes to go through security. By 4 a.m. we were in a short line at Tims to get a muffin and coffee for breakfast. The plane was loaded by 5:15 a.m. for the scheduled 5:30 a.m. gate closure. We arrived in Toronto 10 minutes early, just over two hours in the air. We walked a half km to U.S. security which took less than 15 minutes, then to U.S. Border Control & Customs with no line, just a couple of minutes to walk to the kiosk for the passport check. Then we strolled to one end of the Terminal 1 US gate area before heading to our gate and the Plaza Premium Lounge for coffee, all within 45 minutes of landing. We had a light lunch in the Lounge before heading to our gate.  We had a three and a half hour layover.

   The plane departed on time. We arrived at Boston Logan International Airport gate B2 just after 2 p.m. We flew over Boston Harbour and the Flynn Cruiseport Boston at Black Falcon Terminal, where we will board the ship for a 35 day cruise in two days, as the plane made its final approach to Boston Logan International Airport. It is just on the other side of the bay. The plane took over 10 minutes to taxi to the gate. The cruise terminal is about a seven minute taxi ride from our hotel, Yotel Boston. To get from the airport to the hotel, the taxi driver used the Ted Williams Tunnel that travels under Boston Harbor. There was a detour due to construction, but it only took a little over 20 minutes. Check-in went smoothly, Larry even negotiated to have the extra “Resort Fee” removed from our billing. We walked the three kilometres to the Boston Common continuing to the Boston Public Garden.  There is a beautiful lake in the middle of the garden with 21 passenger paddle boats giving tourists boat rides on the lake.  There is a large statue of George Washington in the garden and lovely plots of flowers in bloom.  Then we went across the street to the old Bull & Finch Pub that was used as the pub for the TV show "Cheers". The pub is now called Cheers and is in the lower level of the Hampshire House building.  We entered the basement Cheers Pub which was crowded with patrons, talking so loudly that we couldn't talk to the host and turned around went back up the stairs to escape the noise. It is not a large space, but it was packed. We wandered over to Faneuil Hall Market Place and enjoyed a meal of New England Clam Chowder and shrimp salad roll at Boston Chowda, followed by some of Joe's Gelateria gelato. We walked to the Harborwalk along the Boston Harbor and then toward our hotel. There were lots of restaurants and bars. We walked more that 10 kilometres today. This is our third visit to Boston. On the trip, last fall, we walked the entire four kilometre Freedom Trail one afternoon exploring the moments of Boston's history over 200 years ago. We discovered the Boston Chowda New England Clam Chowder then. It was great to take off our shoes and relax after an afternoon of walking in the bright sunshine.

Total steps. 18,143

Boston Harbour and the Flynn Cruiseport Boston at Black Falcon Terminal


 Yotel Boston


Boston Public Garden


21 passenger paddle boats on the lake


statue of George Washington





the old Bull & Finch Pub now called Cheers


Faneuil Hall


Quincy Market Food Hall









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