Boston

THREE WEEKS +

TRES SEMANAS +

It's getting close, TOO close, to the time our Chilean friends leave us. It's been a very busy last week at school and the trip to Boston yesterday. The day was beautiful - a perfect spring day in Boston - but exhausting!

We were at the train station in Portland before 6am, rode 3 hours to Boston, hopped on the "T" (subway - one of the first 2 ever constructed) and arrived just outside Harvard University. While the chileans toured the school, the gringos went to a nearby bookstore and cafe. Then we all visited the Fogg Art Museum on campus. Dubita was excited (being an artist).

A great lunch at Fire and Ice Restaurant - quite the adventure! Choosing your own ingredients then watching them cooked on a huge, round grill. Delicious. Then it was off to the T again and arrival in Boston Commons (the park) which was beautiful! Spring is in Boston earlier than in Maine. We followed the Freedom Trail Red Line (an actual red line painted or made by bricks along the historical section of the city). Feet were in pain! ... but we enjoyed the day.

The State House.

The Granary Burial Ground.
Kings Chapel.
Ben Franklin statue - the one they say is serious on one side and smiling on the other.
... a stop for Starbucks refreshments ..
The Old State Meeting House - with the lion and unicorn replaced on the roof (these were torn down during the Revolution in 1770s)
The Boston Massacre Site - where the Revolution began.
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market.

These sites are where many of the first and major decisions and battles of the U.S. Revolution against England happened. Boston is a historical, colonial and thoroughly modern city.

After some snacks and a brief rain shower, we headed back via the T to catch the Amtrak train home. Arriving about 9pm, everyone was exhausted! But what a great time!

Thanks ESPECIALLY to Deb Payton for all her hard work organizing and being tour guide!

~


Ya viene, es demasiado cerca, a la hora cuando nuestros amigos chilenos nos van a dejar. La última semana de clases fue muy ocupada y fuimos a Boston ayer. Fue un día lindo - un día perfecto de la primavera en Boston - además un día agotado.

Llegamos al estación de ferrocarril en Portland antes de las 6 de la mañana, el viaje duró 3 horas a Boston, subimos al "T" (el metro - uno de los dos primeros del mundo) y llegamos a las afueras de Harvard University. Durante que los chilenos visitaron la universidad, los gringos fueron a un librero y café muy cerca. Después fuimos todos al Museo de Arte Fogg de Harvard. Dubita estaba emocionada (porque es artista).

Nos almorzamos al restaurante Fire and Ice – que fue muy interesante. Uno escoja sus ingredientes entonces los ve cocinado en una parrilla redonda grandisma. Delicioso. Después al "T" otra vez y la legada a Boston Commons (el parque) que estaba hermosa. La primavera llega a Boston antes de a Maine. Seguimos la línea roja de la "Vía de Libertad" (que si es una linea roja pintada o hecha de ladrillos por la acera de las partes históricas de la ciudad). Los pies dolorosos … pero nos disfrutamos el día mucho.

Pasamos muchos lugares adonde pasaron las decisiones y batallas primeras y importantes de la revolucion de EEUU contra Inglaterra. Boston es una ciudad histórica, colonial aunque moderna.

Después de una merienda y una llueva corta, regresamos por el metro al tren Amtrak para regresar a Maine. Llegamos a eso de las 9, y todos agotados! Pero, que lindo día .

Muchas gracias especialmente a Deb Payton por todo su trabajo duro y de ser la guía del tour!

~

[One great aspect of this EXCHANGE PROGRAM with Chile is how the students of McAuley and Cheverus are getting to know and enjoy one another. It's breaking down alot of walls! The STUDENTS were the ones to comment on this! Bringing everyone closer together.]