Boston

We're ready to leave New Hampshire and still haven't written about Boston. The hot and humid weather on the East Coast really hit us as soon as we landed in Boston.

My friend Tobey, Matthew's godmother, met us at Logan Airport. It was so wonderful seeing her again after 17 years! And it was the first time the boys had met her, so that was special too.

That first night we went out to eat at Legal Seafoods... really nice seafood. I had the fisherman's platter... nothing like those deep fried clams. Just beautiful. We also had Maryland crabcakes to start and fried oysters. They were delicious.

Next day Michael went off to do laundry and Tobey and I took the kids to the Boston Public Garden where the boys saw squirrels for the first time. I grew up with them, but forgot how we don't have them in New Zealand. The boys were intrigued with them.

We went for a ride on the swan boats in the Garden, and then walked over to Boston Commons where there is a huge wading pool. The boys got soaked. Absolutely drenched. They had a fantastic time, but had to trudge back to the hotel in wet shorts and teeshirts. It was very hot and only two blocks away, so it wasn't too bad. However, the doormen at our swanky hotel were a little bemused to see these dripping boys arrive back. "They found the Frog Pond" I said. I don't think they had ever had guests arrive back dripping wet from the Frog Pond.

Our hotel was Jurys Boston Hotel, in Back Bay, and was very nice. I don't know if they'll ever recover from Joshua racing through the hotel lobby with his superman cape on, though.

When Michael did the laundry he met a guy, Phillip, in the laundromat who was a local. On the Saturday night we went out with him. He took us to a famous ribs restaurant in Somerville, near Tufts University, called Red Bones. Real southern ribs and hash and beans. Then he took us on a tour around Boston in his car. That was fun.

One late afternoon we took the subway (called the "T" in Boston) to Harvard Square and wandered around Harvard University. It was beautiful in the late sun, and the kids had a wonderful time.

On Sunday, I met up with another friend of mine, Carla. Carla, Tobey and I had travelled around Europe together when we were at university. It was like old times... as if 20 years had never passed. We spent several hours in Tobey's room (she was staying in the same hotel) reminiscing and talking. It was wonderful.

On the Monday, we picked up a rental car and drove Tobey home to Medway, Massachussetts, which is about 45 minutes south west of Boston by car. It was lovely to catch up with Tobey's mother again. We spent a couple of hours there in Medway, and I took some pictures.

Tobey and her mother gave me the most amazing gift which I will talk about in another entry. I was so incredibly stunned by the gift that I'm still a little shocked!

After we left Medway, we headed North towards Concord, New Hampshire to visit with my friend Juliana, who is Joshua's godmother.