Boston Day 1

Listen. If you have never been on a subway before STUDY  BEFORE YOU GO TO BOSTON OR NEW YORK! Holy hell...the T (Boston's subway system) kicked my little tooshie!! If you are headed to Boston ever, here are a few basics to know:

• The different subway routes are indicated by color.
• Within each color are different cars marked by a letter.
• Make sure you are on the right color/letter subway train and then decide if you are going outound or inbound

There are plenty of maps though to reference your info. Be prepared to take multiple trains. Each color relates to a different district of Boston. It won't cost more...well maybe a few brain cells...

Be thankful for this information cause I did not know these things when hitting the subway! I thought there was one route. Yeah, I'm a moron. I called my sister, Tracy about six times in four minutes to make sure I was getting on the right subway. I had one transfer to make...ONE! I took the wrong one and got off at a stop that was about 1.5 miles away from the apartment I was supposed to be at.

As I sat at the stop, I weighed my options. I could either wait for another subway car to take me back to where I started and risk a second fiasco, or I could suck it up and walk. I figured since I do CrossFit, walking will not kill me. So walking I chose.

Well that was really stupid. I was raining, I was pulling my lyggage, and my phone nearly died before I could map out where to go! Half a mile into the hike I realized I should have challenged the subway one more time. Although, at that same moment I had a self-checking realization. I thought, Torie, next year this time you will be in Japan. Not only will you be figuring out the train system there but you will have to read it in  goofy picture language! So I stopped complaining and actually enjoyed my walk through the Brookline neighborhood of Boston, Massachusets.

After a brisk 30 minute walk, in the rain, I made it! I laughed and told my sister my story and we walked up to her friend's apartment. We then changed and mapped out our day's adventures!

First thing we did was hit the freaking subway! Oh, you know what else had me crazy?! Had I taken the RIGHT rail, it would have stopped right in front of the apartment complex. How do you like them apples? (Name that movie that line is from and where it was filmed? Then congratulate me on my sense of irony and wit!) ;)

Here is what we did and what we learned (with pictures) in downtown, Boston:

1. The cops are very nice! One called me "Miss". Cops in Seattle usually yell, "Let's Go! Move it!!"
1. We also witnessed an officer help an old man in a walker fross the tracks. Then he offered to pull this man's car around for him! I mean, this officer stopped what he was doing just do help this guy. So sweet!
2. When they say "light" rain in Boston, they mean heavy and constant. FYI

1. There are 2 Cheers bars - go to the real one near Boston Commons!

1. The Freedom Trail is a MUST! You tour all the major historic spots in Boston!

1. Someone had a sense of humor when they made one of our Founding Fathers and signers of the Declarations of Independence , John Hancock's, memorial monument...it is in the shape of a freaking penis!! Lo at this picture and tell me I'm wrong!

1. We went to one of the oldest churches in the U.S.. King James Chapel. It contains the oldest pulpit still in use today in the United States.

1. Paul Revere's house is in the north end of Boston. When you walk through his 'hood you will feel like you are in Italy. Seriously!

1. The classic architecture of Boston/east coast is phenomenal. I loved every building!

1. I hailed my first taxi! Took me, honestly 5 seconds and It hink I"m ready for NY!
2. If you do CrossFit, plan ahead and call the box to find out 1) how to get there 2) if they have room 3) do it on a day you are not flying home. Give yourself time! I wish I did.
3. I went to a FANCY French restaurant. I have no pics for this but I was in a UW sweatshirt, jeans, and had an Under Armour bad as my purse. Very under dressed.

My first day in Boston was awesome! We did some tourist stuff, got drenched, laughed our butts off and savored every moment we could. Nothing was taken for granted.

The whole time I kept Japan in the back of my mind. I contemplated how much trouble I will probably get myself into, the people I'm going to meet the history I'm going to learn, and the stories I'll get to share!

Nice work Boston! You won this trip though between the downpour and subway confusion. Thank you!

*If you are at all interested, there are a lot more pictures on my Facebook and I might try to set up a slideshow later. Within the next couple days I will fill you in on my last day in Boston!