The view of Boston from Henry & Danny's room in the downtown Marriot.

Baahston

It was time to say goodbye to the wonderful ocean blue Mustang convertible that, yes, I could not help but keep praising the last few days. (Thank you, Budget Rental Cars, for lending me this vehicle for just $15/day!) This morning was my final drive with this vehicle—a car that reminds me partly of my former Atlantic metallic blue Z3 and also of the new KITT—going from Portland, Maine to Manchester, New Hampshire. I dropped off the ‘vert at the Manchester Airport and then took a free shuttle down to Boston.

Which is where I am now and will be for the next two days. I am already (after being here for only six or so hours) feeling somewhat overwhelmed by all the cars (worse traffic than San Francisco!), crowds, noise, and outrageous prices (e.g., $40 parking and $4.59/gallon for diesel near Fenway Park. Fortunately, I did not drive!). But it hasn’t been a bad day—even if I do already miss Maine, New Hampshire, and of course, the ‘Stang.

First of all, I got “stuck” sitting on the shuttle next to a cute triathlete named Michelle from Austin, TX, who came to cheer on her dad in Monday’s Boston Marathon. She will be racing in Ironman Coeur d’Alene and Arizona—which, coincidentally, are the two “official” triathlons held by the World Triathlon Association I’ve done—so we had a lot to talk about. Oh, and did I mention she was cute? So even though the shuttle ride was about 25% longer than it should have been because of the stop-and-go Boston freeway traffic, the ride was not so bad.

Then, I met up with Danny and Eddie at the Hynes Convention Center for the Boston Marathon Expo. This expo was huge! We couldn’t even hit all these booths before it closed—probably a good thing, especially for Eddie, who seemed to be using event to replenish his running wardrobe for the next couple years. He’d later joke that I was supposed to RESTRAIN him from buying anything, but hanging around him had the opposite effect—I actually bought something, a blue-and-black Boston Marathon running cap for $20. It’s overpriced in my opinion, but very good-looking—and far less expensive than what the official Boston Marathon jackets were fetching. (I think I’d rather use that $90 for a well-armored motorcycle jacket—or even a few more days with a Mustang Convertible in the future, thank you very much.)

Then we went out to dinner—but not before stopping by Fenway Park. Prior to today—being not a baseball fan—I didn’t even know that baseball season had already begun. Boo-hiss. Anyhow, we got to the park just in time for the national anthem being sung while Eddie got his picture taken giving a thumbs down roughly between the Fenway Park sign and a black, idling Bentley.

Finally, we had clam chowder and pizza at Castanero’s (something like that), which was very tasty. Much more carbs than I’m used to, and my heart is now racing as a result of that, but maybe it will help me sleep well tonight? Hopefully so because we are waking up really early tomorrow to watch the Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials in the streets of Baahston!

Notes

  • The “T” (Subway) now charges $2 per single ticket as opposed to $1.25 in 2005. It was not a big deal to me, but does underscore the rocketing transportation-related inflation in the U.S. during the last couple years.
  • On the other hand, the T—finally!—has abandoned the antiquated put-a-token-in-the-turnstile system and has electronic ticket machines accepting cash, debit or credit cards. It finally made it to the 21st century.
  • Also of note, the “Big Dig” underground highway project was finally completed in December 2007. It cost $14.6 billion—making it the most expensive U.S. highway project ever—but has really helped traffic from what I hear.
  • On Sunday after the Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials, Eddie and I went over to Cambridge so that we could say we “went to Harvard.” Heh. Actually, when I arrived at Harvard, I couldn’t help but feel some west coast Stanford pride, and ended up doing things like giving the Ivy League school a thumbs-down as you can see from the photos.
Boston had finally completed the Big Dig four months ago.  Too bad there was already graffiti blanketing the walls.
Boston had finally completed the Big Dig four months ago. Too bad there was already graffiti blanketing the walls.
The view of Boston from Henry & Danny's room in the downtown Marriot.
The view of Boston from Henry & Danny's room in the downtown Marriot.
Back Bay Fens Park.
Back Bay Fens Park.
Red Sox Parking: $40 (at the gas station across from Fenway Park) for the night!
Red Sox Parking: $40 (at the gas station across from Fenway Park) for the night!
Fenway Park with a Bentley idling in front.
Fenway Park with a Bentley idling in front.
Rows of apartments in Boston.
Rows of apartments in Boston.
I had some New England Clam Chowder at Canestaro's near Fenway Park.
I had some New England Clam Chowder at Canestaro's near Fenway Park.
We also had a great pizza.
We also had a great pizza.
Walking along Boylston St. after the women's Olympic Marathon Trials.
Walking along Boylston St. after the women's Olympic Marathon Trials.
Eddie eating a sandwich at Finnagle A Bagel.
Eddie eating a sandwich at Finnagle A Bagel.
Cherry blossoms in front of an old building.
Cherry blossoms in front of an old building.
Felix Wong above the St. Charles River.
Felix Wong above the St. Charles River.
An MIT building in Cambridge.
An MIT building in Cambridge.
Another building at MIT.
Another building at MIT.
Pu Pu Hot Pot -- a Chinese hot pot place with a funny name.
Pu Pu Hot Pot -- a Chinese hot pot place with a funny name.
City Hall in Cambridge.
City Hall in Cambridge.
Getting closer to Harvard, as evidenced by the Inn at Harvard.
Getting closer to Harvard, as evidenced by the Inn at Harvard.
Felix Wong (being a west coast Stanford man) gives a thumbs down to the Harvard Faculty Club.
Felix Wong (being a west coast Stanford man) gives a thumbs down to the Harvard Faculty Club.
Not sure of the name of this building at Harvard.
Not sure of the name of this building at Harvard.
The grasses here certainly needed reseeding.
The grasses here certainly needed reseeding.
What kind of trashy university is this?
What kind of trashy university is this?