10 Places... Boston

I figured that if I can't go to trips, I can at least start writing about the trips again. Getting back to the summer memories kinda makes winter more bearable.

Mariya and I visited Boston in September, 2007. That was her second work trip to our Boston office and my first one. Since then I've visited again in 2008 and 2009 - enough to become a big fan of the town, its people, its places and the Boston Bruins.

Boston has a weird mixture of people and cultures and the unmistakable atmosphere of a college town. It also has some of the most fascinating architecture I've seen in my life. People are usually smiling and chatty, but I guess that is just something an Eastern European like me would find as unusual.

We've had some great times with colleagues from our Boston office, some of which unfortunately don't work there anymore. Yes, Ian, you sunbathing-in-Nicaragua-bastaad :P And thanks to their hospitality and good knowledge of the best drinking places, the work trips were well worth the long flights over the Atlantic. Side-note: the weirdest thing about Boston 'drinking' places is that depending on the time of day it can be either a restaurant, a pub, or a club. Point and case: The Purple Shamrock.

So here are some spots you might want to check out if you are in Beantown:

1. The Public Garden

Lots of green in the heart of town - you can go for a picnic, a read, or just a roll in the grass. Beware of the dogs and the squirrels.

2. Beacon Hill

A beautiful and quiet part of town that may as well be a museum of old houses, were it not for the parked Ferrari's and price tags of above a million. Otherwise makes for a very pleasant walk.

3. Harvard Square (Cambridge)

This has to be one of my favorite places not just in Boston but ... ever. It has everything you need - the cutest cafes, a Newbury Comics store (which I visit every single time), and a pub or two in which I've left my daily wage.

4. Central Wharf

One of the most 'feel-good' places in Boston - you can sit and stare at the water and the downtown Boston skyline from the same place. If you have the chance, also check out the New England Aquarium.

Oh, and that was the most boats I've seen in a single place. I want a boat!

5. Museum of Science

If you're in Boston in the winter and have some time to spare but no intention to skate on a frozen pond ( a well-embraced local activity for the really crazy people), please go and check it out. You can spend hours there, and I guarantee that even if you spend an entire day you won't be able to go through all the weirdly wonderful exhibits and insane devices you can find there. If you by any chance do not share my geekness or love of science you can always go the Museum of Fine arts.

That town is always a pleasure to come back to; I'd say definitely my favorite US city.

Most of the photos in this post are Mariya's.