July 4-7 Boston, Massachusetts

July 4-7                          Boston, Massachusetts

We eagerly awaited Dave’s arrival on the morning of July 4.  Shortly after eleven o’clock, he came to the marina from the airport by water taxi.  The driver provided service directly to our dock.  Dave was excited to see the hundreds of boats in the harbor and the marina.  For two days, we had witnessed a steady influx of boats and people coming to the waterfront. Unknown to us, they were there to witness a special event that occurs only once each year. 

To our delight, we looked across the bow and saw the magnificent U.S.S Constitution coming into the harbor preceded and followed by fireboats spouting massive streams of water.  The sails were furled and it was towed by a small tug.  More than 200 years old, the Constitution remains a commissioned and manned ship in the U.S. Navy.  It is docked near the Bunker Hill Monument and is a popular attraction for visitors to Boston.

Dave was ready to enjoy some great seafood and our lunch choice was only a few steps from the gate of the marina.  The Chart House, located in an historic building on Long Wharf, offered a great selection of menu choices in a pleasant, quiet, and lovely setting.  David and Dave had fish and chips after an appetizer of delicious calamari.  I had a lovely molded three-layered salad of chopped avocado, mango, and crab.  It was so beautiful I was tempted to photograph it!

We were disappointed to learn the fireworks would take place on the Charles River near Cambridge and would not be visible from our marina.  We decided to go there and be a part of the huge watching crowd was a choice we would not make.  We opted to wait until 8:30 PM, walk the short distance to the Italian section of Boston in the North End and have dinner. Dave was delighted with this unique area and its many restaurants, delis, and shops.  The streets were well-lighted and people everywhere were conversing in Italian.  The restaurants are noted for being some of the best in the city.  Our choice was Euno, chosen after considerable internet research, and it proved to be perfect.  Located on Salem Street, one of the most historic in the area, it is intimate, quiet, and lovely.  The service was excellent and so was the food.  David had a succulent grilled veal chop on a bed of sautéed broccoli rabe (his favorite), Dave chose grilled sea bass, and I enjoyed handmade gnocchi in a gorgonzola cream sauce.  The guys raved about the wine (I had a prosecco) from Italy—Tre Saggi or Three Wise Men.

On Friday, we took a tour of Boston on one of the many buses that come near our marina.  I booked a comprehensive tour that would include Cambridge and Harvard.  We expected it to last about four hours.  We prolonged it by leaving for a visit to the U.S.S. Constitution.  We enjoyed boarding the ship and seeing the massive cannons above and below deck.  It has undergone considerable reconstruction and is in excellent condition.  The huge open stove and oven used for cooking meals for 500 sailors was on the second deck.  We marveled that anyone successfully could use such equipment in a tightly confined area. 

 The hot, humid weather encouraged us to seek a cool place  for lunch.  We left the tour  to dine at P. F. Chang near the huge campus of M.I.T.   The tour of Cambridge and the Harvard area was a disappointment as our driver was more interested in being a not-so-funny comedian than a competent guide.  Fortunately, we left him and continued the tour of Boston proper with another guide who gave us historical information and local insights.  We arrived back at the boat shortly after five o’clock.  David and Dave agreed they had learned more about Boston than they really needed to know! 

On Saturday, Dave went on the bridge and attempted to secure the dinghy which had shifted on our journey to Boston.  Instead of completing the task, he and David decided to lower the dinghy and test the motor.  In doing so, one of the canvas straps slipped and the dinghy fell with a loud noise against the boat.  There was no damage.  The motor, repaired several times in the past two years at considerable cost, would not run.  Apparently, the carburetor was ruined by improper maintenance when the motor was winterized in 2011.  When the dinghy was raised, the latch on one of the straps caught David’s finger and made a deep cut.  He bled profusely and Dave rushed to wash away the blood before I saw it.  Fortunately, the cut was less severe than they thought.  First aid and a Band-Aid took care of the injury.

Dave and I enjoy getting up early on Sunday, drinking coffee, reading the New York Times, and watching CBS Sunday Morning.  This Sunday we decided instead to take a walk before the day turned hot. We left David sleeping soundly in the cool quiet of the master stateroom.  Strolling through the North End in the early morning, We sneaked a look into the open doorway of the Old North Church as the priest was conducting an early service.  Afterwards, we stopped at Ferrara on Salem Street for breakfast.  It was an excellent choice.  My eggs and smoked salmon with a side of tomatoes and bufalo mozzarella were outstanding.  Dave loved his brandied pear French toast with a side of eggs.  We ordered pancakes and bacon to return to the boat for David.

Dave left by water taxi late that afternoon.  We hated to see him leave. This weekend had been a rare occasion to have time and conversation with our son.  It gave us an opportunity to appreciate his innate gentleness and kindness as well as his considerable intelligence and abilities.  He called from the airport and expressed again how much he enjoyed being with us in Boston and on the boat.