Final bits of summer: a visit from an awesome friend

I made it through the bulk of summer, keeping surprisingly (and unfortunately) very busy with course work.  The past two weeks though livened up when my good friend from high school and UNC, Monica Gray, came all the way out from New Mexico to visit me in Waltham.  Not only was it fun to catch up with her (I haven't seen her in a few years), it was also exciting to go out and do all the touristy things I only get to do when there is a visitor.  Happily the weather cooperated for the most part (ie. the intense heat and humidity died down) so we didn't have to melt during our day trips.

To sum up our week together, I'd say it was packed with typical New England charm: good coffee, crazy intense driving and confusing roads, heaps of excellent food, and long walks to lobster deliciousness.

The first day was a tour of Central Square, a walk to Harvard Square, a 'gourmet' pizza snack, the Museum of Fine Arts, and a hike to Chinatown to have dinner with Bo.  The long walk and dinner was the result of desperation after the Green line failed to show itself for a good hour.  Seeing Bo, however, was a happy bonus.

The next day was a Transcendentalist tour of a few historic hotspots: Walden Pond, Concord, Louisa May Alcott's Orchard home (this was surprisingly really interesting!), and Lexington.

Paying our respects to Mr. Thoreau

Back in Waltham, we spotted a poster from REACH hanging up on Moody Street.  Recognize anyone?

We made sure to have a couple good seafood dinners on the front porch.  MG liked to say the only seafood she can get in New Mexico comes from a can.

We spent one day driving along the North Shore.  There was a cute Maritime festival in Salem.

 

 

Rockport

After an unexpectedly intense day, it was nice to treat ourselves to some of New England's finest views and foods
 
 

Lobster Roll :o) :o)

Cute little streets of Rockport

 

A day on Boston's Freedom Trail.  Funny how the trail started with pork buns in Chinatown and led us to clam chowder!

North End was celebrating a Feast Day

Yeah, that is totally a drunk Italian waitress dancing on the patron saint's dollar-lined litter

The day ended with a meal with Bo and MG in the North End.  Words can't describe my love for the Italian food in this neighborhood (veal tortelloni with spinach and mushrooms).  We made sure to have a Mike's cannoli before, just to make sure we had room, of course!

Words also can't describe how great it was to be with some of my closest friends!!