First day in Boston

Our Southwest flight from Nashville ended in a late-night arrival in Boston, with myriad city lights greeting us as our plane descended out of the clouds. A bus took us to downtown, a subway/trolley to Chestnut Hill, and, finally, a taxi to Gloria's house. We were welcomed at midnight, in her absence, by little hand-written notes everywhere, pointing out fresh muffins waiting for us, an open bottle of wine to be finished, etc. What a delight!

We slept late this morning, going out for a late lox-and-bagel breakfast at a nearby Finagle a Bagel. Libby remembers this place from previous visits: fresh bagels, delectable lox, and a very cool mechanism, crafted from a tank tread and a rotary saw blade, that automatically slices the bagel and slings it down a conveyor belt to be toasted and turned into a sandwich. Here it is in action:

At Boston Common we paid our respects to the duck family of Make Way for Ducklings.













Of course, Boston Common reminds us also of the whole span of U.S. history, from the founding of the town in 1650 by devout Christians intent on religious and political freedom (make way for Puritans!) to this present-day cosmopolitan city, where the Puritan's surprising legacy has turned out to be freedom for everyone.