I love it when friends hound me about not having written a post in a while (it leads me to believe people are actually enjoying the fruits of my blog-labor. Or, at the very least looking at pics)…
Honestly: when I hold off on the new posts, it is usually because I want to make sure everyone gets a chance to read the latest, as it may include a contest, a good cause, etc.
Still, it has been a week since my last post. Everyone has had plenty of time to enter the Valentine’s Day Contest (which ends TONIGHT, by the way). So here I go…
Last weekend was spent with our good friend, John Erlandson (aka John E, aka Johnboy) from Evergreen, Colorado. We spent the first day in Boston, which was great, aside from being the COLDEST DAY of the YEAR. Bitter cold. But fun!
Apparently it was too cold for me to hold the camera steady (see above). We warmed up with dinner and drinks at the Union Oyster House, America’s oldest restaurant, and right along the Freedom Trail. Mmmm, chowdah…
John and I saw this dazzling display at Lyndell’s Bakery (since 1887!) and just had to come in, get warm, and chat with the two lovely ladies behind the baked goods counter. John picked up some treats for us all to share later…good friend, that John E.
The cupcakes and St. Valentine were both found on Hanover Street, which is located in the Italian Section, also known as the North End of Boston. Needless to say, being there pleased me greatly.
We had a brilliant bottle of 2004 Morgante Nero D’Avola in Strega Ristorante, but I don’t take pictures in restaurants that have “The Godfather” playing on their bar TV. Just sayin’.
Because it was so cold, we ended up at Quincy Market both days, mainly to get warm and grab some postcards. I love the cobblestone streets and can’t wait to get back to the Market in the springtime, when the street performers and vendors are back! Can’t wait to walk down the Freedom Trail with Paul, either.
And that is what the first 24 hours with John looked like. What did we do when we got to the House on the Bay? We watched concerts and movies and listened to music and went to Woods Hole and Falmouth; and then it all came to an end.
Three days may be long enough for the guys, but it went by too fast for me : (
It was cold when we got back home, too. Not as cold as Boston, but cold enough that my glasses were fogged up the entire time we were in this little bakery/cafe, which is about half an hour from the house. There was a sweet little old man snoring away at the window. Wanted desperately to take his pic, but restrained myself.
By the way, Woods Hole is known for it’s Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), which is the largest private non-profit oceanographic institution in the WORLD. Cool, eh?
Our friend Frank used to live in this neck of the woods, and one of the first things he said to us when he found out we were caretaking in the area was “Be sure to stop by the Silver Lounge“. The food is yum and the waitstaff friendly. This is vintage Cape Cod and I can’t get enough. Hoping to meet Frank and the fam here for lunch one day soon.
I love music and John E loves to play, so having him all to ourselves was a real treat. I miss my musician friends something fierce, but am looking forward to seeing more great live music out this way, also. If any of you Capedwellers is looking for some fresh from Colorado talent, just let me know and I will hook it up!
Thank you for coming to visit, John E. I knew it all along…you are definitely not just a “fair-weather” friend!
PS Milo says hi and thanks for the walk! (FYI – this pic was taken on a much warmer day, for all of you animal lovers out there : )