Boston, Salem and Charles River

Boston, February 2025

So this was my second time this year in Boston. I don't mind the cold weather at all. I'm now used to it and with the years I learned how to properly dress in cold weather. This was an unusually long layover but since I already know Boston very well (I started flying to Boston in 2016) there is not much left to do in the city. Even my shopping list abroad was empty. I ended up buying a pair of sweatpants and I came up with the idea of buying an AirTag which would have been helpful with some situations I had to deal in the past with my suitcase - fortunately I never lost anything other than temporarily.

-o0o-
Boston Common

Again the Common Park is something you can't avoid. The lights at night at the Frog Pond are nice to see but guys... aren't we in February already?!

On the second day I joined a collegue visiting Salem, a coastal city and residential area on the North Shore of Greater Boston. Catching a train (Amtrak) in the North Station, the trip takes about thirty minutes and the ticket has a cost of 8$ each way.

-o0o-
Salem

Salem is also a tourist area well known because of the Witch Trials in 1692. And of course we visited the Salem Witch Museum to know a little bit more about its history.

Other than witchcraft tales, Salem is a really small town full of wooden houses.

Back to Boston, I went to James Hook & Co for lunch, which was establised 100 years ago! The lobster roll was amazing!

-o0o-
Boston & Cambridge

On my way to the Apple Store in the CambridgeSite shopping mall to buy the AirTag, I took this photo in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

The sun was setting really fast while I was crossing the Charles River towards Cambridge.

The Museum of Science is the one thing that I am missing to do in Boston. But as the museum is currently undergoing major renovations, I prefer to wait until they finish it all.

Lechmere Canal Park

-o0o-
Longellow Bridge

On my way back to Boston I chose Longfellow Bridge instead of the Dam Bridge. And I got to shoot some beautiful pics.

And finally one last photo of the Massachusetts State House:

-o0o-
Return Flight

The return flight to Lisbon benefited of strong tail winds taking just 5h40 to cross the Atlantic.

Boston Common, Quincy Market & Long Wharf

Boston, January 2025

To start the year visiting Boston is not a thing I would complain about.

-o0o-

Boston Common

It's nice to see the Boston Common Park completely covered in snow while enjoying a gorgeaus day with clear blue sky, no wind and sub zero temperatures (Celsius scale).

In the last post I made about Boston I pointed out that the Frog Pond was not yet transformed into an ice rink. Now, there you have it!

It's been a long time since I visited the Quincy Market and the Long Wharf. So I decided to go there and have my lunch at the Wagamama restaurant.

-o0o-
Quincy Market

-o0o-

Long Wharf

If you click and enlarge the next couple of photos, you can recognise the iconic Logan Airport's control tower.

-o0o-

Boston Sign

-o0o-

Paramount Theatre

Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, October 2024

Yes, I'm still enjoying my new fleet. I'm still doing one or two long haul flights per month flying the Airbus A321LR but I'm getting very nice destinations. Boston sure is a winner for almost everybody in the company. This was my second time in Boston this year.

-o0o-
Cheers Pub

The day we arrived we went out for dinner at the iconic pub that inspired the setting of the television series with the same name. I've been to Boston many times but this was a first for me. Cheers to that!

-o0o-
Beacon Hill

The next day in the morning I decided to go alone to explore the Beacon Hill neighborhood, something I wanted to do for a long time. Particularly, I wanted to see the Acorn Street, one of the most photographed streets in Boston with typical colonial architecture. I was brought to attention of this street by my colleague "Maricleta", who shared photos of it in her personal/travel blog.

Yeah, I find it sweet and worth a visit! I continued exploring the neighbourhood and since this was October, many people were getting their front doors prepared for the Halloween.

-o0o-
Boston Common

It's impossible not to cross this park when you are in town. It's the (green) heart of the city. I already showed in this blog the Frog Pond which is transformed into an ice rink every winter. This time it was too early for that.

As I said before, this was the month of October when you can appreciate the wonderful autumn colors in this park. And I coudn't stop staring. It's really so beautiful!

Hotel Style & Decoration in Boston

Boston, May 2017

Boston is still such a lovely layover and this time I could really enjoy hot weather and sunny days.

Icelandair at Logan Intl Airport

Vintage SATA A310 that went tech

Boston Common Park is always a must visit place for me. And what a contrast without snow and with flowers blooming everywhere in the middle of the splendid green!

Another thing that amazed me was this chair in our new hotel. Strange but captivating form of art.

See you soon again, Boston! It's always a pleasure to visit you.

Boston again... Charming city

Boston, December 2016

So this was my second time in Boston. But this time it was a longer layover and a better opportunity to explore more of the city.

Arriving at the end of the afternoon, we went for dinner in Dig Inn Restaurant at Boylston St. Although this is not the typical restaurant (you will probably have to share your table with strangers), the food concept is really interesting and worth a try.

The next day we took breakfast in Tatte Bakery at Beacon Hill District (I still prefer the Thinking Cup mentioned on the previous Boston post...) and started our tour with Trinity Church paying $7 for the admission.

-o0o-

Trinity Church

This impressive Church was built between 1872-77 and its windows feature a beautiful stained glass collection. The Church qualifies as a National Historic Landmark.

Definitely, this is a richly colored interior!

At the same time of our visit, a choir was practicing.

Our next stop was the Boston Public Library, just in front of Trinity Church.

-o0o-

Boston Public Library

The entrance is free but don't forget to keep silence!

A nice view of the Hancock skyscraper (240 m high):

And Trinity Church from the outside:

Then we proceeded to the Prudential Center. It was Christmas time so it had proper decoration.

-o0o-

Prudential Tower

The Skywalk Observatory gives you a unique opportunity to get a 360º view of Boston at a cost of $18 for adults - it's really worth it!

Take-off from Logan Airport

Hancock Tower and Trinity Church

Near Prudential Center you will also find an Apple Store for those who are fans of the brand.

At night we crossed the entire Boston Common and ended up having dinner in Fajitas & 'Ritas Restaurant which we really enjoyed.

Boston Common and its Christmas lights

On day three, I was alone and made my own tour, finding new places that I wanted to explore since my first layover in Boston and getting a more detailed view on repeated ones. My starting point was again at Boston Common with this view to the beautiful Massachusetts State House.

Then I took Winter and Summer Streets through the shopping district of Downtown Crossing.

-o0o-

Downtown Crossing

Macy's

Plenty of that American feeling

I didn't buy anything actually... I was just enjoying the city. Keeping the same direction and after passing the impressive Federal Reserve Bank building I finally found a view to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.

-o0o-

Boston Tea Party Ships

I was happy to get this photo but next time I really want to pay a visit to this museum and absorb more knowledge about this event that was part of the American Revolution that lead to its independence. I just didn't have time for everything I still wanted to do this last day.

Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

-o0o-

Long Wharf

I kept walking along Atlantic Avenue and I finally reached Long Wharf that I already knew from my previous time in Boston. But since I didn't have any pictures to share, this time I spent a few minutes taking some photos.

-o0o-

Quincy Market

And of course it was mandatory to explore again the iconic Quincy Market and the entire Faneuil Hall Marketplace...

Huuuuge Christmas tree

Quincy Market

Faneuil Hall

The other end of Quincy Market

Near the Faneuil Hall we can find Abercrombie & Fitch store and since a good sale was going on, I spent a few minutes looking for something that I liked.

-o0o-
Freedom Trail

Next thing I wanted to do, was to explore part of the famous Freedom Trail. I started at Faneuil Hall taking the Boston Common direction since I had to go back to the Hotel and get some rest before the flight back home.

Freedom Trail - Faneuil Hall

Curious detail: the trail is marked even on pedestrian crossings!

Crosswalk

Old South Meeting House

Old City Hall

Another perspective...

And soon I reached again my starting point of the tour - the new State House.

Massachusetts State House

If I have another chance to visit Boston, my intention is to take the other Freedom Trail direction towards Charlestown neighbourhood.

-o0o-

Frog Pond

Then it was time to appreciate the sunset while crossing the Boston Common towards the hotel.

The frozen "Frog Pond" gives place to an ice skating rink during winter months!

Frog Pond

-o0o-
Central Public Park

While the last sunrays illuminated the park, I took the opportunity for a few more photos of this beautiful site.

Good things don't last forever and soon it was time to leave. Definitely, I'm in love with this charming city and I still have so much to see and to explore. But going back home is also a good thing. I agree that there's no place like home. Our "spaceship" assigned for the return flight was the Airbus A330 named after John dos Passos, an American novelist and artist, son of a wealthy lawyer of Portuguese descent.

Airbus A330-200 CS-TOT