Pre-Celebration Getaway

Ever go away for even a short trip then return home and find that catching up takes longer than expected?

That explains my absence — not only from posting but blog reading too. We're back in Nashua, NH, catching up before our next getaway for a family event and more.

Our recent Boston weekend excursion was wonderful, especially as we decided to stay in the city for a few overnights for an early celebration. We went to many "sightseeing" attractions. We didn't mind being tourists and thankfully the weather (mostly) cooperated. 

Some attractions we chalked off to "once only," partly because they were pricey and they are now categorized as "been there, done that" experiences. One is the land-water tour we took in the "duck" boat pictured below. It travels on Boston city streets  before going into the Charles River. 

We also rode in another bird-themed vehicle that cruises the lagoon in the Boston Public Garden on a 12-15 minute operator-pedaled ride. (More on both in a future post.)

Getting to Boston is relatively easy and inexpensive from Nashua, NH. The Boston Express bus offers a reduced senior rate; round trip costs $13 and takes about an hour each way. It's much less costly than driving and parking a car with free parking in the bus lot.  

We stayed at the Omni Parker House for this pre-anniversary celebration of our 1st date, which we plan to celebrate again this month. We met in NJ, 21 years ago this month. 

Founded in 1855 by Harvey D. Parker, the hotel is the oldest of Boston’s elegant inns and the longest continuously operating hotel in the U.S. The contemporary, full-service hotel has maintained its 19th century sense of history. The lobby has vintage oak with overhead crystal chandeliers and oversized chairs and elevators have decorative bronze.

The hotel has hosted famous folks over the years including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, James Dean, Ann-Margret, and Yo-Yo Ma to name a few.

The Parker House kitchen is renowned for the Parker House Roll. It's also where Boston Cream Pie (official State Dessert of Massachusetts) was perfected. BCP was a letdown for us. First, because it wasn’t a pie, but cake with a custard filling. Second, it needed more filling and chocolate.

The term “scrod,” is associated with the Parker House too and there's no such fish. Years ago fishing schooners would return to the Boston fish pier, loaded with fish to be auctioned off. Fancy hotels like the Parker House wanted choice, fresh fish from the top layers. The problem was that the chefs didn't know what sort of fish would be on the top layer. If the menu featured haddock and the top layer was pollack, it might work other places, but not in Boston. A new name was coined for the seafood, and scrod derived as a contraction of “sacred and cod.” 

We enjoyed this champagne toast in our room, courtesy of the Parker House. (When celebrating an occasion like a birthday or anniversary mention it to a restaurant when dining out or your hotel, if traveling.) We shared with hotel reservations that was an anniversary tripand received a mini bottle of champagne and Boston cream pie.

There'll be future posts about the Boston trip, but this week I'm reading and commenting on your blogs. 

Thanks all for your comments on the Olympus Stylus yard sale digital camera bargain. It takes good photos during daytime, but wasn't great in low light situations. These Boston skyscrapers were taken with it on a clear Saturday.

Considering its very low $5 cost, this compact camera was handy to tote around. I'll try some custom settings on future outings.

to be continued . . .