Boston, Massachusetts, USA

The gold clad dome on Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston shines brightly.  Faneuil Hall has been a meeting place and marketplace since the 1740's and is part of the Boston National Historical Park.

The Custom House Tower is near Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and the North End of Boston.

A warm summer day attracts tourists and locals alike to the shops, restaurants, vendors, street performers, and musicians at Quincy Market and surrounding area. 

Dining al fresco at the edge of the North End offers a nice view of the Boston skyline.

Kids and fountains - you just can't keep them out.

Sand Sculpting, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, USA

 

The 11th Annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Competition is happening this week.  A dozen or so  renowned sand sculptors from New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Ohio, Texas, Massachusetts, Ontario, Quebec, and the Netherlands competed for cash and fun.  Each competitor is provided 10 tons of sand (trucked in to ensure it has the correct balance of sand and silt). The competition is a timed event and each person has 21 hours over three days to complete his/her sculpture.

On a cold, cloudy, showery, New England Summer day, fascinated beach-goers and fans were spellbound by the artistry evident in these creations.

The sculptor finishing the base.

Fixing last minute details. The logos are local business sponsors of the event.

The mottling on top of the sleeping baby was caused by a torrential downpour from a thunderstorm that went through a few hours ago. (Yes - he slept right through it.)

Extraordinary detail is visible in this nature scene as the sculptor makes final touches.

There was a old woman who lived in a shoe.............

A Cat's Perspective, Massachusetts, USA

If you could hear a cat's thoughts, they might sound something like this:

"Wow, it sure is nice out today, I love writhing on this rock, I wish that red-wing blackbird would stop dive-bombing and squawking at me though, it's very annoying, I think I'll go inside and take a nap........"

 

".......... I sure do like napping in the sun, but, darn it,  it's a little too warm today  - I'd better go to one of my cool-down places........"

" .........aahhhhh, the human's desk with the glass top is perfect............."

"....... except it's way too hard and I can't quite get comfortable........"

".....and now the sun is creeping closer, it's already making my paws hot........"

".....maybe I just better relax and hope it gets better......"

".....arrrrgh, it's just too hot and bright - I gotta get away from here.......where's that human that I like?......" 

"....... I think I'll just go hug her, she's nice and cuddly and that always makes me feel better."

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

The Charles River, the city of Boston in the far distance, and one of Harvard University's boathouses on the left.  And speaking of Harvard....... 

The answer to the question, "Can you paark the caar in Haarvard Yaard?" is quite simply, "NO."  It's grass, sidewalks, and buildings - no cars allowed.

Around campus.

More campus.

Harvard's motto, "Veritas." (means truth in Latin)

So, are the bars on this library to keep the smart Harvard students in or, to keep the other folks out?

Exiting through this arch takes you to Harvard Square where some of those more colorful "other people" can be found hanging out.

I'm not sure if they are homeless but, they hang out near the Harvard Cooperative Society, the "Coop," (rhymes with "loop"-  go figure) and panhandle for spare change.  The woman on the right has her pet rat in the pink cage.

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

In Boston, one of the American cities most associated with the beginning of the United States, the North End neighborhood is today known for it's narrow streets, many excellent restaurants, and a large community of residents of Italian descent.  But back in April 1775, circumstances were otherwise.   This statue pictured above in the North End pays tribute to Paul Revere with the Old North Church, built in 1723, visible in the background.  The signal lanterns of Paul Revere were displayed in the steeple of this church and warned of the march of the British troops to Lexington and Concord during the American Revolution. (The Boston Bruins jersey covering Mr. Revere is a temporary homage to the local hockey team currently in contention for the Stanley Cup, the Holy Grail of hockey in North America.)

Inside the Old North Church, (officially Christ Church in the City of Boston).

Charter Street Park in the North End.

Christopher Columbus Park in the North End.  The building with the clock tower poking out from the skyline  is the Custom House.

The Custom House and Quincy Market area near Government Center.

The Quincy Market is a popular tourist spot.  Within the building are dozens upon dozens of food purveyors offering a wide range of ethnic and local food.  They also have an events room and who would have thought that today there would be the competition for the Triple Crown of Yo-Yo in which the most talented players compete for cash and prizes.  Go figure.

And next door, from about sun-up to sun-down, every Friday and Saturday all year except Christmas and New Year's, is the Haymarket open air produce market where merchants offer great prices on fresh produce - and have since the early 1800's.

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Here's what a perfect Spring day looks like in
the greater Boston area.

A wind vane in Somerville.

Early morning at low tide at Priscilla Beach.

Low tide at White Horse Beach.

Early morning light on the rhododendrons in Manomet.

The rhododendrons in afternoon light.

Golden morning light on Bartlett Pond.

Midday at the Boston Public Garden.

Almost anyone who has ever lived in Boston knows this Citgo sign is not famous for gasoline - it's famous for baseball as a landmark over the left field fence at Fenway Park.

A jarring juxtaposition of old and new - on the left the Trinity Church of Boston, a congregation founded in 1733, the current structure was begun just after the Civil War in 1872 - it stands across the street from the tallest building in New England, the John Hancock Tower completed in 1976 standing 790 feet. 

In the city where old is hip, the first subway in the United States was established in Boston beginning in 1897.