Our third day was entirely picturesque.
Before our trip, I searched online for notable bakeries and found Tatte Bakery & Café on Charles Street. Little did we know that their new larger location was around the corner from our hotel! Full of sunbeams and aromas from their on-site kitchen, it was always bustling with buyers.
Started by baker Tzurit Or—who sold home-baked goods at the Farmer's Market—Tatte now has 8 locations. This place is amazing: carefully-sourced raw ingredients, a gluten free selection, an in-house bread program, and dozens of tarts and pastries.
The orange upside down cake was moistly flavorful; the pistachio croissant had a surprise of pistachio cream inside; the pecan tart was disappointingly low on filling. We should've got one of the mixed nut tarts (below).
Seen below, we also ate a pesto chicken/cheese sandwich on a slices of Pullman loaf, and a croissant loaded with smoked ham and topped with béarnaise sauce. We munched on a perfectly chewy palmier. Espresso for me; turmeric latte for Lewis.
Crossing the park, we spotted the famous (and Instagram followed) duck sculptures, which are often adorned in seasonal outfits. Based on the short-story Make Way For Ducklings, the beloved characters are portrayed on the ice cream truck that uses a corner of the park!
Below, the Duck Pond has a island with a ramp, to give the ducks a shelter from possible predators.
We love Boston because it was so well-organized and tidy.
Below, a company routinely disinfects the public-ride bikes!
(In NYC, Citibank—which has more money than the pope—doesn't care to clean its Citibike Program).
The city's Public Works keeps things in tip-top condition. Streets are arranged to allow bike lanes that permit street sweepers to pass without needing "alternate side of street parking". That's safely convenient for everyone concerned.
Aside from being a walkable city, it's "bike friendly". Buses and subways can carry bicycles. Sheltered bus stops are solar-powered to provide a count-down display of upcoming buses. Unlike anywhere in NYC or Long Island, the bus shelters are heated! Ticket vending machines are inside the shelters, too. Such eco-friendly technology and convenience is far ahead of Manhattan's slovenly MTA.
Lastly, highways are muffled by going under the skyscrapers.
The noticeable problem is the appalling condition of the city's subway stations. They are as outdated and dungeon-like as NYC's! We expected better from Boston. Furthermore, the "subway" uses streetcars, instead of trains. We rode on it twice.
As you can see, even nice cities in America have public transportation that is plagued by neglected infrastructure. Maybe they all have a pact that their citizens don't know about?
Our destination was the Museum of Fine Arts. It was a lot of fun to explore. Representing Earth Day, the staff gifted each of us a small terra-cotta pot with sunflower seeds to plant.
To be funny, I labelled my next three photos as: doggie-style...
"shoplifting"...
and "wearing a dress to battle"...
The next two images seem to display "manhandling"...
Since the light-rail system is aboveground at the museum, it was easy to get aboard the next streetcar going east.
On the way back, we disembarked to visit America's largest collection of Tiffany stained glass. It is part of the Church of the Covenant, built in 1867. The colorful artistry is mesmerizing!
Since it was Earth Day, Bostonians lined the riverfront and parks to voluntarily clean and beautify them. The indoor Boston Public Market (at Haymarket Station) celebrated Earth Day by inviting local farmers, fishermen, and cheesemongers to have extra exhibits. Lewis admired baby chicks from a poultry farm.
Of course, we ate more lobster rolls. Delectable, and finger-licking good!
Of course, we ate more lobster rolls. Delectable, and finger-licking good!
Inside the market, I enjoyed freshly-shucked oyster and a bag of fried oysters.
Seen above, we liked their transparency to showcase where the seafood comes from.
We also enjoyed huge $4.00 farm-fresh ice cream sundaes.
Trivia: Sundaes were invented in 1881 to evade one of America's stupid laws that sweet sodas couldn't be consumed on Sundays. (You thought America was a Land of Freedom). A soda-shop owner in Wisconsin served ice cream with the syrup that was used in the soda, so it wasn't illegal. He named it a "sundae".
Wandering through what are officially called "Back Alleys" (each is numbered), we arrived at the riverside Bandshell. Famous for when the Boston Pops performs there (they were touring in California), its pedestrian bridge is named after the Boston Pops' most famous conductor: Arthur Fielder.
The tree-lined esplanade runs along a barrier island. Several bridges connect to mainland. It's perfect for skaters, joggers, fishermen, swimmers, sculling, and boaters. We loved how much space was given to outdoors enjoyment.
Back home, nearly all of NYC's waterfront is monopolized by warehouses, power plants, and overpriced real estate developments. To see NYC's waterfront, please use this link: https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2021/05/waterfront-properties-in-new-york-city.html
Lewis was curious about the local mall, so we walked to it: Copely Place.
*To understand retail in America, please use this link:
Around the corner from Trinity Church (above), the mall is accessed from the sidewalk or an enclosed pedestrian bridge.
The vast 3-story mall was... empty. Only Asians and flamboyant gay guys were shopping. Seemingly impervious to America's typical over-consumerism, Bostonians preferred to shop "on the streets" and spend their days elsewhere. Within 20 minutes, so did we.
*To understand retail in America, please use this link:
It was great to see locals enjoying a "proper" cityscape.
The Boston Public Library held a surprising number of users. As a national landmark, it's a grandly gorgeous structure. Built in 1888 by America's famed architects, McKim, Mead & White, it is full of light, technical modernity, and colorful interiors.
The Boston Public Library held a surprising number of users. As a national landmark, it's a grandly gorgeous structure. Built in 1888 by America's famed architects, McKim, Mead & White, it is full of light, technical modernity, and colorful interiors.
One advantage over NYC's Public Library is its internal courtyard: a perfect respite area connecting the old library with its newer half—and café.
The new wing has an elegant lobby and a state-of-the-art research section.
*To see amazing interiors at NYC's most-famous library, please use this link:
We retrieved our bags from our hotel bellhops (we left them safely there after check-out).
We strolled back to Chinatown for an early dinner, since it's close to the Bus Terminal. We dined at Taiwan Cafe, located on Oxford Street (named for the one in London). Lewis spoke in fluent Taiwanese to the waiter and got a perfect Oyster Omelette, sautéed Kidney with Ginger, Tofu-wrapped Chicken Roll, and piquant Beef Tendons.
We strolled back to Chinatown for an early dinner, since it's close to the Bus Terminal. We dined at Taiwan Cafe, located on Oxford Street (named for the one in London). Lewis spoke in fluent Taiwanese to the waiter and got a perfect Oyster Omelette, sautéed Kidney with Ginger, Tofu-wrapped Chicken Roll, and piquant Beef Tendons.
At a neighboring shop, Lewis sipped a Mango Slush, which was freshly sliced and blended while we waited.
Our Greyhound bus departed on time. Equipped with e-device charging stations, we enjoyed a smooth ride. Looking at the sunset, we fondly recounted our lovely trip. We were grateful. When we got home, we wrote that in the Gratitude Journal that Teddy gave us.
We look forward to returning to Boston!
