Wednesday, September 30

The subway. Maryann hates subways. Claustrophobia. Today was our day to freestyle it in the city. After a hearty breakfast we were off. The first part of the ride was great and above ground, but we ended our ride nosing our way into a tunnel by Copley Square. Since Chuck wanted to revisit the Berklee School of Music—it's now music, all types of music, not just jazz—that was our first stop. Chuck really enjoyed walking around the campus, finding his dorm, talking about how the college has changed. Berklee now owns almost the whole Back Bay area, and the school has doubled in size. He was able to find TC's, a bar he visited once in awhile as a student. Unfortunately the Back Bay Lounge was now Dunkin Donuts.

Then we walked cross country to the Museum of Fine Arts. Our hosts had lent us their family membership, and that provided admission and some great art for the whole afternoon. There was a great display of the designs and furniture of the architects Greene. There were great Gainsbourghs, Monets, and sculptures. After a great lunch in the cafeteria, we visited the second floor. By 3 pm we were tired of walking and caught the subway Intown. At Copley Square we had to find the outbound subway. After a tour of the gorgeous Boston Public Library, and asking a few natives, we finally found the Outbound tunnel. The ride to the suburbs was much shorter than on Long Island. Back at our hosts, we repacked, I wrote, and Chuck watched the Red Socks on Big Screen TV.

Thursday, October 1

We left our friends Dan and Joan Kunitz and headed for Walden Pond. When we arrived, it was closed. No—not the pond—the gift shop and very spendy parking lot. So we parked before a “Don't park here unless you are shopping sign, and checked out the pond. A cement path around the pond hosted pods of walkers. There was some color around the pond, but it was early yet. Then we drove the Minuteman's ride between Concord and Lexington. The Miniteman's visitor center was well interpreted. Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit Hawthorne's or Alcott's homes.

Then it was off to Cape Ann. Highway 127 takes you on the perimeter of the Cape past fascinating mansions, homes of middleclass fishermen, art galleries on Rockport, the area that was home to Winslow Homer and Edward Hooper, the famous Captain at the wheel statue, and the fishing fleet in Glouchester. Heading north, we finally arrived at North Conway before dark. As we drove north the color became more intense. We will definitely see enough color in New England. We have pulled out the sweat shirts and coats. (Yes, Chuck has been reunited with his coat.)