Boston /Newport/Martha's Vineyard/Cape Cod
Copley Square - interestingly named after the famous and talented artist born in Boston -John Singleton Copley, even though Copley had left Boston in 1774 and settled back in England. The story pieced together by our open-air double-decker guide refers back to the building of the Museum of Fine Arts (1870) created as part of the Back Bay landfill.. the real estate promoters and city planners called the area "Art Square" and needed to find an artistic connection. By then a century had passed since the Revolution, Boston society had more sympathy for the Loyalists & one of Copley's sons had become a top London lawyer, then a viscount thus attaching a bit of aristocratic glamour to the renaming.
On the topic of glamour, here is the site of restaurant " The Last Hurrah" rumored to be the place where the celebrity first couple (JFK and Jacqueline) dined and became betrothed after JFK announced his plans to run for president AND proposed to Jackie
Visited the Boston Tea Party Museum & joined in the tour
Captain's quarters
Tom becoming one of the "sons of liberty " re-enacting the treasonous act of dumping of the teas into the harbor
Mike's Pastry - after we settled in to have our breakfast a busload of tourists descended into this landmark bakery in the Italian district...snapping up boxes of treats...Holy Cannoli !!
Toured the colonial home of Paul Revere - more than a mere midnight rider ...he was a silversmith, engraver, woodmaker and early industrialist. As an early patriot, his name was given much traction from the dramatized poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow "Paul Revere's Ride"
Front of the Old State House and site of the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770. We thought the ladies did a very thorough and objective recounting of the events that led to the incident. Very worthwhile visit. On top of it all, you can freely sit in the Royal Governor's chair in the restored historic council chamber as it appeared in 1760's.
Harvard campus tour was quite an eyeopener. It pierced some myths and revealed Harvard's humble beginnings. Firstly, the track of land was swampy and originally thought worthless.That guy that everyone venerates is not even John Harvard...in fact there is not even a living pic nor portrait of John Harvard, the first major benefactor who donated half of his estate and his library, consisting of 400 books. The most regale worthy fact is the tradition of each student not just to rub the toe to bring good luck on exams, but to PEE on the statute in even greater frequency!
Next day we arrived in Newport RI and stayed in the B&B Cliffside Inn. Wonderful accomodations right at the start of the Newport Cliff Walk...a 3.5 mile public access walkway that borders the beautiful shore line. It runs behind many of Newport's famous gilded mansions, such as Astor's Beechwood, Rosecliff, Marble House, The Breakers, and Rough Point.
Just before the cliff walk- in front of The Chanler
Salve Regina University - right on the cliff walk - picturesque campus given a liberal arts foundation. Coed and catholic founded by the Sisters of Mercy. About 2700 undergrads from across US and around the world.
We selected The Breaker Mansion to visit - in front gates
By the Newport shoreside - deck and bar -Aquidneck Lobster Co.
Best Lobster Roll to date - right on the pier at the rear of Bowens Wharf..you have to walk through the fish market to find this Aquineck Lobster Company with 180 degree views of Newport Harbor.
Below is a quaint hookah lounge ...maybe for future visits ;-ooo
Below is a quaint hookah lounge ...maybe for future visits ;-ooo
International Tennis Hall of Fame by the Newport Casino
Ferrying around dusk to Martha's Vineyard!
Hob Nob Inn at Edgartown became our home for 5 days. Our reservation was originally for Vineyard Haven, but due to overbooking on their part, we were moved to a B&B across the street from Hobnob - the next morning, we wasted no time to get matters rectified, and we were thus moved into one of the property's two village homes - nice run of the house as we were the only occupants for 4 out of the 5 days.
Lovely hand painted floral art in ensuite
Old Edgartown map. Martha's Vineyard was called 'Noepe' by the Indians which means 'in the midst of the Sea'. There are in fact six towns on this small island. Edgartown was named for Edgar, son of James II, who bore the title of Duke of Cambridge.
Beautiful & traditional new england estates such as this one in central Edgartown. Thomas Mayhew, an English merchant was first to buy the Island back in 1641, then brought domestic animals, tools and other settlers to start a new colony. Some of the first families were Butler, Bland, Smith, Burchard, Daggett, Folger, Trapp, Bayes, Norton, Pease and Vinson.
One of our favourite past times was to bike on the island of MV . It was also perfectly temperate weather for this actiivity - go in early September ...perfect...
Lunch break on bike trip - stop over at Oak Bluffs - hub of activity by the marina & great eateries!
Next day took our bikes onto this "On Time Ferry" literally 2 min from shore to shore - to explore the nearby Chappaquiddick Island
Mytoi Japanese Garden on the island - it was a bit cloudy when we first arrived
Did not expect such elegant tranquility on this Is. - biking the roads gave us an appreciation of what utter serenity island life does offer
Joined the historic tour - here is the infamous bridge and tidal channel & where "the incident" occurred back in 1969 that derailed Senator Edward Kennedy's presidential dreams. Local's don't like to dwell on the tragedy and point to other sights they'd like the island to be remembered for.
For instance, the Cape Poge Light at the northeast tip of the island - the lighthouse can be seen in the final two shots in the film "Jaws", off to the right as Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss swim back to shore.
Sunlight broke as we headed back from the tour - can't resist another turn in the Mytoi gardens - developed by Hugh Jones an Edgartown resident - later placed in the care of local conservationist, Mary Wakeman
Back from Chappaquiddick & taking in a bite and sights by shore line of Edgartown
Another day on the bike trails and we discovered the Alpaca Farm - in Massachusetts!
Here's the ubiquitous Black Dog logo - we actually had lunch in this Black Dog Tavern of Edgartown. The restaurant is literally 20 feet from the shores ..just to the left of where Ellen is standing...must be something when a storm is brewing or when tide is high. The legacy behind the Black Dog brand goes: a retired air force pilot, Robert Douglas, spends his summers on MV. He wanted to build his own boat and sail around MV - one day he adopted a black lab-boxer mix and it just loyally sailed with him and became a constant fixture in the Inn Douglas later built for sailors.
Series of gingerbread houses in Oak bluffs - fascinating to visit the museum house - you can immediately see how these scalloped decorative wooden frills originated from the settlers' tents construct. The Methodists of the late 1800's gathered in tents around Oak Bluffs each summer for religious meetings. Subsequently, they began erecting petite wooden houses instead of tents ...which eventally grew into these charming "Gingerbread Cottages".. what creativity can bring..;)
Great view in the cafeteria / restaurant atop Aquinnah lookout
Other side of Aquinnah Cliffs - you can see the noticeable erosion
The westernmost point off of Aquinnah is the Gay Head Lighthouse - still working
Since we rented a car for a day, drove from Aquinnah to Menemsha to feast on the clams / oysters and lobsters in the small fishing village
...nomnomnom..yummie
Setting ourselves up in the beach chairs, courtesy of Hob Nob and munching on broiled lobsters as the sun sets on the beach of Menemsha....lots of neighbors dogs and all roam the beaches
Throughout the week the MV "Fishing Derby" was in full swing. For almost 7 decades its been a tradition on the island from mid Sept - Oct & we would spot fishermen of all ages throughout the shores and banks devoted to this tradition from morning to dusk
Returning to Edgartown ..stopping on the side of our biking trail to marvel at the sunset.
Katama / South Beach near Edgartown - water's way too cold but the sunny sandy shores were inviting
.. some beachcombing to find the best unbroken quahog shells with most purplish hues
Charming coffee bar ..need to walk a ways to the back & check out the cafe
ferrying again to Cape Cod
View off the balcony of the Anchor In Hotel in Hyannis Port
Bonfire was a good touch by Anchor In
Local artists enter into art auction in Hyannis
Chatham Orpheum Theater
yet another fishing village to explore by the Chatham pier fish market
when the fishing boats return to unload their catch, all the seals swim over to look for free meals
Not bad but our taste buds were still hung up on Newport's lobster roll
..CC's strong arm of the seas ..lol
locals making preparations for the largest beach bonfire
scallop festival - quahogs and oysters too!
JFK Museum in town of Hyannisport
By the backyard of the Salt Pond Visitor Centre in Eastham - come here for great introduction to all that Cape Cod has to offer. Walking trails, museum, displays, movies, outdoor ampitheather & generally welcoming helpful staff to answer all your questions & give suggestion to plan your visit
Site of First Encounter in Eastham where in 1620 a hunting expedition landed, comprised from the crew of the sailing vessel Mayflower. The Mayflower had landed in Provincetown harbor after a rough crossing of
Atlantic, after about 5 weeks they then sailed down which led to the first encounter or skirmish of the Pilgrims and the local Nauset tribe of Native Americans.
Oldest windmill of Cape Cod in Eastham
...mesmerizing to see the rhythmic waves rolling in on Nauset Beach - very broad sandy beach edged by a steep glacial scarp behind it. Piping plovers, a cute whitish, black neck-ringed chick - an endangered species of birds also nest on the outer beach
you can see the Nauset Lighthouse just at the parking lot of the beach
Here is the site to commemorate Guglielmo Marconi, Italian inventor and electrical engineer known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission. This site is the Marconi Wireless station. It's here that radio transmissions between the Marconi site and the RMS Carpathia led to Carpathia's wireless operator contacting the Titanic and learning that the ship was floundering & later picked up 700 plus survivors of the disaster.
Provincetown - personality all its own
views of provincetown from observatory tower
Top of the monument
looking down the stairs on our way up the climb of Pilgrim's monument - total of 116 steps and 16 ramp. Completed in 1910 and dedicated by President Taft
Tom by the entrance after our climb down. The Provincetown Monument commemorates the Pilgrim's first landing place at the Cape's tip.
Town with a great sense of humor...
drove out to Race Point for sunset views
By JFK memorial
Our last stop in CC was the town of Sandwich for a tour of the glass blowing museum where after Tom couldn't resist temptation to grab a "sandwich" in this nearby charming cafe.
