Sadly this will be my last post for this holiday.  It was an amazing experience, just wish I was heading off now to do it all over again.

Over the weeks I have posted a few photos of various places, but thought I would finish with a few random photos that defy description.

Hope you have enjoyed my trip … I did!

BOSTON … yes, I have often thought of doing that to my clarinet!

My brother Nick played the violin when a teenager – maybe he would have wanted to keep playing longer with this one!

Spotted in PROVINCETOWN

Seen in BOSTON

From San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge

Seen on USS Midway

A Gallery doorway at LA JOLLA

PORTLAND – don’t know what it is meant to be though

OREGON CITY – on the Freeway, near Uncle Willy’s house

And, finally, I know it’s blurred but I still had to share.  They say travel broadens the mind, well, when I was in SAN FRANCISCO I saw this – I now think I have seen everything … a lady walking along with her cat as a hat!

When people mention Massachusetts, Boston comes to mind, but so does Salem, so on my last full day I went to see the town.  The history was full of the famous witch trials, but also of the rich import/export industry, as it has a good natural harbour.

The first settler – 1626

 

The “jellyfish” are actually plastic bags collected on the beach – the town is hoping to ban the use of them totally in Salem

The original cemetery

The only known Mayflower grave

The memorial garden to those who were killed in the witch trials.

In the gateway, are final messages from some of the victims

I ended up quite sad really, as the poor people, and dogs (yes, 2 dogs were found guilty), who were hanged as a result of being called witches were not witches, just people who got in other’s way.  Yet the whole town is witch mad – everywhere there are people dressed as witches, things sold, haunted walks.  To me it seems a contradiction of the whole sad history of those men, women and dogs who lost their lives 300 years ago.

As I said when I went to Plymouth there would be more news of the Pilgrims, well they landed here, at Provincetown, to ratify the treaty of travel, stayed a few weeks, before moving onto Plymouth.

It was a good crossing, about 1 1/2 hours, but lovely and calm … and packed! A fun place.

In the Pilgrim Monument Tower Museum

Behind Provincetown is the protected area of Dunes … we went on a car trip, but it had to stick to certain roads.

An Artist’s shack

 

For anyone who has seen the film (and it is a favourite), it is set in Newport at a Jazz Festival … with a comment about the glorious houses being sold.  On our trip to Plymouth, we crossed over the State Line to Rhode Island, and went round the holiday hole of the Vanderbilt’s – stunning … the camera doesn’t do it justice.

Breaker’s Mansion

The entrance

Facing the sea

Yes, his bath has 4 taps – being marble it had to be filled 3 times before it was warm enough … sea water was used.

The Music Room

The games room has solid marble walls

Main Staircase

 

 

No, I am not back home by typing that title, this is Plymouth Massachusetts, and the site where the Pilgrim Fathers are said to have stepped onto USA land (more about that in a later post!)

Anyway – here is “THE” rock! …

… And where it is located.

This memorial is to the women of the Mayflower, for what they had to undertake –

We then drove to a re-creation of Plimouth Plantation (yes, spelled differently!).  All the guides “lived” their role … so good to speak to some. Sadly when the Pilgrims landed, they found part of a camp, left by the Wampanoag Indians (who went inland in winter). So, that is where they settled.

Some actual artifacts found on the site –

The Wampanoag Indians

The Pilgrims

If Boston is famous for something, it’s The Tea Party.  They have 2 ships and a well-run re-enactment running.  (I do think I should have got in free!!).  Anyway, you are given the name of someone who’s life you can follow, you join in the debate, and learn what happened.  However, whatever the politics (No Taxation, Without Representation), I still think it was a waste of tea!!

Another place I visited was Quincy Market.  If you want to buy and eat food, this is where to go.

I even had a Boston Clam Chowder (even though I don’t eat sea-food)

Not far from my hotel was the common and park –

Yes, I have said goodbye to California and moved to the “mass” bit of the title page – Massachusetts. I am staying in Boston, the home of the “tea party”, so that is already on my to-do list! Luckily, as I had a night flight I was expecting to have to sit somewhere to recover, but I was able to get to my room when I arrived at 6am. So, I went to sleep for a couple of hours, and although tired got up and out, and so started my wander round Boston that day – I went on the Freedom Trail, which I must say was really well marked. Anyway, here are a few of the sights I saw that of historical note in some way –

I was impressed with the city, as The Freedom trail was clearly marked … follow the red brick road.

Bunker Hill

Paul Revere statue … plus the Church tower where the 2 lanterns were hung to remind people that the British were coming.

Paul Revere’s House

Boston Latin School Site

The Granary Cemetery

Massachusetts State House … and, yes, that is gold on the dome

Will admit it was HOT, so after getting to Bunker Hill I was shattered and ended up taking a taxi back to the hotel … and a lazy rest-of-the-day.

PS – I wrote this a week ago, and flew home before I posted it … since then have had problems as my lap-top died on the flight home, and so I have had to re-do photos. Fortunately a lot were in cloud storage, so that is good. So, although I am in England I will finish my ramble through America for you.

You saw the aquarium yesterday, so here are a few photos of Monteray –

Carmel – the home of Doris Day and Clint Eastwood – also a town that has o house numbers or names … they collect their own post.  Also if you want to wear high heals you have to get permission.

Pebble Beach 18th hole

The lone Cyprus – it is now protected with a wall, as it was first noted over 200 years ago

Along the coast