We're in Boston!! - Day Three - Cambridge/Harvard/ACBF

Our plans for today include a trip up to Cambridge to visit the Harvard and the square.  As a result, we are up fairly early and on the "T".  I do love the availability of public transportation when traveling back east.  I wish it was more accessible in Dallas, although it does get better each year.

Upon arrival at Harvard Square, the first thing on my mind is breakfast.  It is not often that my tummy dictates, but that is the case this morning.   Mister has already got the problem covered and leads me to L.A. Burdicks to tickle my taste buds.  What a quaint little place.  I adore it.  We are given a number -- only it is the shell of a cacao bean that has been painted.  What fun!  The hot chocolate is divine, I love the mug, and the sweet treats are truly on spot.  Yay Mister!

Once my tummy is happy, we stroll through the square again and watch it come alive.  There are jugglers, clowns, and various other musicians and such setting up for the day.  The whole area is bustling with activity.  We will be back but for now are on our way to Harvard.  The campus is wonderful and we are visually delighted while we talk and think about all that has happened here.  We would like to visit the bell tower, but it is closed today.  Such rotten luck.  Here is a shot of the portico at Memorial Hall on campus.  I LOVE the old architecture here --- well old for the U.S. anyway.

As we return to the square, we take a different route and enjoy the neighborhood.  Mister spots a statue being set in place at The Old Cambridge Baptist Church and we stop to watch for awhile.  I also notice a gorgeous stained glass window and within moments our camera is once again in use.  This church has a partnership with the Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre and they not only perform here, but have rehearsals halls as well.  This statue is by David Kasman and is entitled Resurgence.  Simply breathtaking dancer on pointe and a choice moment to watch it be placed.  YES, the artist is on hand for this event.

Just a short distance away, we spot another church with a wonderful window that I would love to see from the inside.  It is St. Paul's Parish and it is huge.  As we walk up to the doors, I am saddened that they are locked.  However, let it never be said that I am easily distracted.  Mister and I start walking around the building looking for an open door.  It turns out that the office door is open and as we enter we are greeted by a sweet woman who answers our request to see the sanctuary with a smile and a vague point in the direction.  It only takes me a minute and I am off.  Upon entering the sanctuary, we find that the organist is practicing.  That's it -- time for a seat.  There is also a training session going on up front and so the organist is playing softly.  When the training session ends, he looks at us and smiles.  He then switches to the main pipe organ and seriously blows us out of the water.  We are privy to a private concert of the most magnificent order.  How lucky are we?  When it is over, we thank him sincerely and are still buzzing as we head back onto the street.  Simply glorious.

It is time to return to Boston as the main event is tonight.  This is the reason we are visiting on this particular weekend.  We have tickets to the American Craft Beer Festival.  From the hotel, we walk over to the Seaport World Trade Center.  We arrive early, but apparently so does everyone else.  What  line.

The doors open on time and I will say this much.  Even with all these people, this place is huge.  The lines are not long and we start the rounds looking for unique beer to sample.  A large percentage of the breweries are from the New England area, which is fun since we haven't been exposed to many of them yet.

The festival is fun -- we can check one of those off our list now -- however, it is time to go.  Our tickets gave us 3 1/2 hours but we are ready to find some dinner and call it a night.  Thank you Boston for a wonderful time again.  I cannot wait to return.

We are off to LV in the morning for time with Amanda's family and are going to use the condo for the first time.  Time to say goodnight from Massachusetts.