Tour of Ballparks - Episode 1: Fenway Park, Boston

This started several years ago when we were in New York.  By chance, we went to a Yankee game at the old Yankee stadium in the Bronx.  It was so cool, all that history.  Then a year later...it was torn down.  I was crushed!

Since then, I've been concerned.  What if they start tearing down ALL the old ballparks?  I mean, Globe Life Park in Arlington is only 25 years old and it's done, history, yesterday's news, well, you get the point.  Now, we're on a quest...a mission from God...to see a game at all the ballparks before they are swept away by bigger and better stadiums.

As it happens, it's our 19 year wedding anniversary.  (I know, right?  We are old!).  We decided to book our first ballpark adventure in Boston.

Now we've been to Boston before.  We've even been to Fenway but it was only on a tour of the ballpark, which was cool.  This time, we were actually seeing a game.  When we bought the tickets, the Red Sox were in the hunt.  By the time we went, it was a meaningless game.  You wouldn't know it based on attendance...

We walked to the park from our hotel.  Coming around the corner, the anticipation builds...

And there it is....

For a meaningless game, the place was packed!  The stadium is over 100 years old, the oldest stadium and the fourth smallest ballpark in the MLB.  Attending a game there is amazing.  They block off the main street along one side of the park.  They have street vendors there and you can go into the stores...it's a party!

The street party...

The pre-game ceremonies...

These seats are tiny!  I'm not a tall person and my knees were pressed up against the seat in front of me!

And here we are, waiting for the game to start.  The required selfie...



The Red Sox were playing the Baltimore Orioles and it did not start off well.  The first pitch was hit for a home run by the O's.  It just went downhill from there.  The final score was 9-4 Baltimore.  Meanwhile, here's what I learned about Fenway Park:  If you want a monster dog, you should get it when you see it. We only saw them at vendor stands outside the stadium.  Don't wait until the 6th inning to get food.  John wanted a footlong (the Monster dog was not available) and they were out!  Who runs out of hot dogs at a ballpark??  In the end, we both got an Italian Sausage that was so good it made up for the lack of footlongs!

 

*** 

 

We actually got into Boston the day before the game.  One of us was really excited to be on vacation.

That would be John...

We stayed at the Hilton/Fanueil Hall which was a great location.  We were within walking distance from everything.  We got an upgrade to a top floor room.  It was nice.

We had a great view from our room.  You can see Boston Harbor.

The Barking Crab on the waterfront where we had lunch.  At 3pm, there was a 45 minute wait. That should tell you something.

For an appetizer, we got this yummy crab dip.  Oddly, it had diced tomatoes in it.  It was really good and we ate it all.

Then for my entrée, I got the pan seared scallops that were incredible.  John got a lobster roll that was equally as yummy.  After lunch, we walked around that neighborhood and saw a climate change protest. 

I'm not sure if Greta Thunberg was there but the streets were blocked off, people had banners and bullhorns...it was a full on protest.

 

The morning of the game, we had a lovely breakfast at the hotel and then walked around the harbor before heading toward the ballpark.

This is the way to the harbor.  On the right is the Boston Harbor Hotel.  That place is amazing.  The last time we went to Boston, we splurged and stayed there.

This is over by the Aquarium.

Just past Fanueil Hall, they had this cool sign.

On the way to Fenway, there was this beautiful creek in the middle of the city.   

You can't go to Boston and not get chowdah!  After our decadent Italian Sausage, that was all I had room for.  As expected, it was delicious.

The next morning, we got up early, grabbed some coffee at Dunkin', which is on every corner (I'm not kidding!) and then headed to one of the many parks to sip coffee and enjoy the day.  We couldn't have asked for better weather.  It was fantastic.  This is Christopher Columbus Park.

This building is next to our hotel.  The upper floors are apartments.  That fire escape is the balcony.  I would have loved to go into one of those apartments to see it.  Living there is not cheap.  I saw an ad for an apartment, 500 sqft, for $2,300 a month.

The plan for the day was the Freedom Trail.  "Hear ye, hear ye...the next tour..."  This guy was hawking tours in a goofy British accent.  We passed and did our own tour.

The trail starts in the Boston Common.  Established in 1634, it's the oldest public park in the nation.  It's a beautiful, peaceful place where people hang out and nap. 

Overlooking the park is the Massachusetts State House, built in 1798.  It's closed on Sunday and is still in use.

Next is the Park Street Church, established in 1809.  The 217 ft. steeple used the be the first thing travelers saw from the harbor.  We didn't go inside as they were having church service.

Not far from the church is the Granary Burying Ground.  It was established in 1660.  This apartment building is right up against the gates of the cemetery.  It was a little odd but I bet you couldn't ask for quieter neighbors.

Several of the nation's most famous citizens are buried here.  Paul Revere, for starters.  Also buried here is Samuel Adams (he didn't just make great beer, he also signed the Declaration of Independence!), Benjamin Franklin's parents, the victims of the Boston Massacre and Mother Goose.  That's right, Mother Goose.  She was a real person.

You can't really read the stone very well but it says Mary Goose.  She was married to Isaac Goose and had 10 kids!  When she died, Isaac married Elizabeth who had 6 kids.  It was Elizabeth Goose who published nursery rhymes in the paper.

King's Chapel and burying ground.  We would have gone into the church but they, too, were having a service.

This is the back side of the chapel.  We didn't see the burying ground.

This is old city hall built in 1865.  The city council met here until 1969.  Alas, now it's a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.  The Boston Latin School, which was attended by Benjamin Franklin is now an Omni Hotel.

Next on the trail is the Old Corner Bookstore.  Built in 1718, this is where classics like The Scarlett Letter, and Walden were published.  We kept looking around for the building.  It took us several minutes to realize that this Chipotle was the Old Corner Bookstore.  **Heavy sigh**

And now we come to the Old South Meeting House.  Built in 1729, this was the place where the colonials came to discuss and argue the issues of the day.  It was here the Boston Tea Party was conceived. 

Here's the Old State House.  Built in 1713, it's the oldest surviving public building in Boston.  It's also the site of the Boston Massacre.

Next stop is Fanueil Hall.  The building was being renovated (the building behind the statue of Samuel Adams)

Paul Revere's house (the courtyard).  It was kind of a small house for the number of children he had.  There were sixteen, eleven of which survived.  Each of his wives had eight kids. 

Old North church.  This is the church where Paul Revere's family had a pew.  The church was built in 1723.

The church steeple where the lanterns were hung to warn the Colonials of the British movements.  "One if by land and two if by sea".  Apparently two lanterns were hung as the British were taking boats across the Charles River.

That was the end of the trail for us.  We headed over to the Quincy Market, which is a giant food hall.  They had some of everything.  We ended up getting fish and shrimp tacos.  They weren't bad but in retrospect, maybe we should have gotten the lobster pie.

All in all it was a great trip.  I love a city with lots of history and this one fits the bill.