Boston

 The holiday nerves were super active till I safely and very easily arrived here last night and I was assaulted by a range of mostly nasty smells, loud penetrating shouts and nice meeters and greeters who helped direct me to the youth hostel. I had just run out of maps and inspiration when there suddenly was the hostel. Determined to make the most of my first evening I headed to Boston common and the houses of the Back Bay but was denied access to the river and a site of MIT by the busy roads.

Today though things have gone mostly very well. Having checked where the bus goes from I walked down to the Boston tea party museum which wasn't even open I was up so early and through to the Long Wharf where I was disappointed to discover there are no boats to Salem on account of the weather. So I drifted off to the Fanheuill Market for coffee and to read my book but then stumbled on a national park ranger who was about to take a group out for a free walk and talk in the old town. He was brilliant. I now know so much more.about the complex make up of the people involved with the revolution on both sides and indeed sometimes switching sides and how a group of male Bostonians those who were free men over 21 propertied and therefore.with the right to vote in local community  groups began to discuss wanting more from the British but eventually rebelling.  If only I could remember it all. Some of the Boston buildings are wonderful but the dark brick and sometimes.the scale of some.of the buildings feels a bit ominous. I wouldn't want to bring up kids or dogs here not enough green space so far or air. But from the air I was surprised how green it looked and of course lovely to be by rivers and sea. So a complex and interesting place.