Boston, MA (U.S.)

Our last stop:  Boston, MA!

So we got off the boat for the last time at 8 am Saturday morning.  So technically we could have caught a ride home to Phoenix, but I married a traveler:)  So we stayed an extra day to take in Boston:)

I had been here once before as a kid but I didn't do ANY of this cool stuff.  We headed out again to walk the entire downtown Boston on the "Freedom Trail."  

Boston being one of the older cities in the U.S. has a most interesting history--some good/some not soo good:)  But all cool nonetheless.  Like this place here is known as "King's Cross Church."  It was built right on top of a graveyard--part of the graveyard is still right next to it--only because the governor of Boston at the time would not allot land to the Presbyterians.  Apparently cemeteries are public property belonging to everyone so you can build right on top of one if need be:)  So of course this place is considered "haunted."  Not only is it built on top of graves, they did public punishments and executions here too!  Oooeee!!!

This marks the spot where the very first public school in the U.S. was.  Although the original building is no longer there, the school is STILL in existence--just in another area of Boston.  So it is of course the oldest public school of the U.S.

This marks the spot where the Boston Massacre occurred.

We went to Paul Revere's home in Boston.  Only part of the house has been preserved and it reminds Chris and I of the Weasley home (in Harry Potter) because it kinda sits a little crooked and doesn't look like it should be standing upright at all so magic MUST be holding it up:)  Very cool old rickety home.

We visited several old church buildings throughout Canada/Maine/Massachusetts and all of them had these really cool "boxed pews."  I remember the Kirtland Temple in Ohio having these as well.  I think they are a REALLY good idea--it sure would be helpful to couples with small children!  Just close us up in a box and we'll be fine:)

All of the churches had organs of course but the I am actually taking a picture of the angel statues around this organ here.  I found it interesting that these angel statues were stolen from "Privateers" (which are actually Pirates--cool!)

We visited several graveyards in Boston--they are all over the place!  But it was really cool to see where some of the most famous people in U.S. history were buried.

This is considered the most beautiful gravestone in all of Boston--not sure who it belongs to...

Samuel Adams--signer of the Declaration of Independence

More signers of the Declaration of Independence

Paul Revere--how COOL was he?!

So we ran ourselves ragged running all over Boston and seeing some of the coolest stuff.  We sure had a fabulous time and I am SOO glad that we took this opportunity to get away for a little while this summer--who knows when we'll do something like this again:)  But after 10 days we sure did miss our kiddos.  Chris had been in France for 10 days, came home for 2 days, and then we left for this trip which was also 10 days so he was REALLY missing the kids and home.  It was nice to come home to find that our kids missed us too:)  Happy 15 years--the HAPPIEST of my life!  I'd marry Chris all over again tomorrow!