Parking the car in Harvard Yard

The Better Third and I just got back from our five-day trip to the beautiful city of Boston. She was there to attend the Yoga Journal 2008 Boston Conference along with her brother and sister (last year, the three traveled to San Francisco for the same) while I was simply along for the ride.

Thought I’d share a few photos for all y’all.

A general shot of the financial district from the wharf area

“The Cradle of Liberty” — Fanueil Hall — is located near Quincy Market, and is where such revolutionary patriots as Samuel Adams, Paul Revere and John Hancock would debate the ideas of the Enlightenment and democracy. The upper levels of the building were designed by self-taught architect Charles Bulfinch, who popularized the “federalist” style of the early 1800s, defining Boston for the ages.

Faneuil Hall

As could be expected, plenty of churches dominate the Bostonian skyline, even to this day. While the first were made primarily of wood, thus being prone to fire and other damage, brick and mortar churches soon developed. Many have since been removed to make way for progressive development, but there remain more than a few notable houses of worship which beautify the city today.

New North Church

King’s Chapel

Old South Meeting House

The architecture in this city cannot be described as anything other than phenomenal. The aforementioned Charles Bulfinch left an enduring legacy on the city, as did the considerably more modern I.M. Pei, the world famous graduate from Harvard University.

New State House by Charles Bulfinch, 1797

Trinity Church by Henry Hobson Richardson, 1877

Boston Public Library by McKim, Mead and White, 1895

Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge, 2002

The First Church of Christ, Scientist (not to be confused with the Church of Scientology) was founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. In addition to being home of the Christian Science Monitor, the Christ the Scientist Park deserves special mention when it comes to Boston architecture:

Church of Christ, Scientist, Park

The Original Mother Church, 1894

The Mother Church Extension, 1906

Christian Science Center and Reflecting Pool by I.M. Pei, 1968 and 1974

Patriots abound throughout the Boston area, even those who eventually won the big game:

Paul Revere, he of the ride made famous by Longfellow

George Washington was given control of the Continental army in nearby Cambridge

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston and attended the Latin School

Samuel Adams — brewer, philosopher, politician, writer, rabble-rouser, and Founding Father of the United States of America

The Boston Holocaust Memorial is a subtle yet profoundly moving commemoration to that infamous time. The six towers symbolize the six major concentration camps; upon the towers are etched 6 million numbers, the numbers which were assigned those destined to extermination in those death camps. Steam rises from grates below, and visitors are encouraged to walk beneath the towers, reflect on the quotations featured inside, and feel the suffocating effects of the steam as representative of the Nazi gas chambers.

Again, it was very moving.

The Holocaust Memorial

Last, but not least, while the Better Third was stretching in some ridiculous poses at the yoga conference, I took the opportunity to do the ultimate Boston adventure — seeing the Red Sox play at Fenway Park.

Bumf enters Fenway

Fenway Park

The Green Monstah

Big Pappi up to bat

All in all, we had a wonderful time. We didn’t get to the North End for a classic Italian dinner, and I didn’t run into Cam Neely, but the weather was decent and we got to see plenty of sights.

The city is very walkable and beautiful. Its eye-catching red brick buildings contrast beautifully with the ubiquitous green foliage, and the lovely banks of the harbour and the Charles River offer plenty of sights well worth seeing. The New World history is second-to-none, while the city prides itself on its ability to renew itself time and time again.

If you ever make it out to the Mass Bay region, I can recommend that you do both a walking tour of the Freedom Trail, as well as take a Duck Tour. Harvard University is a short subway ride north from the city and features some of the most beautiful neighbourhoods anywhere. The Boston Children’s Museum is a terrific place for young’uns, while the Science Center is a treat for kids and grown-ups alike. And, really, I can’t say enough about how fun a ball game at Fenway can be.

Good times were had by all. Bumf recommends.