Middlebury College girlfriends and goodbye to Gloucester

Last night Beth's Middlebury College roommates and friends all came over for a day at Good Harbor Beach and a BBQ.  It was nice to see and catch up with everyone, as we leave today to fly home.

Bye, bye Gloucester fisherman!

Gloucester Whale watching and Red Sox game at Fenway Park

On Friday, July 16th we went out in the morning for some whale watching.  Here are some videos of our trip.

Beth was fortunate to get tickets for Peter and I to the Red Sox game.  Our seats were in the EMC Club, directly behind home plate.  Below is a video taken before the game started and some photo's of the ballpark.  Inside the EMC Club were all the Sox's Golden Gloves and their 2004 and 2007 World Series Trophy's. 

The San Francisco Giants 2010 starting day catcher, Bengie Molina,  was recently traded to the Texas Rangers.  He is known to be THE slowest player in baseball...tonight hit for the cycle....it's what I love about baseball you just never know what you are going to see at any game.

The Freedom Trail

Thursday, July 15th, what a magnificent day! Sunny but not to hot, clear skies but not to bright, a great day to be alive. Today we walked the Freedom Trail. We started in the Boston Common, which is the oldest park in the country.
"The "Common" has been used for many different purposes throughout its long history. Until 1830, cattle grazed the Common, and until 1817, public hangings took place here. British troops camped on Boston Common prior to the Revolution and left from here to face colonial resistance at Lexington and Concord in April, 1775."

This is Frog's Pond

Adjecent to Boston Common is the Massachusetts State House.

Next on the trail was the Park Street church which had this wonderful stain glassed window.

Next we saw the Granary Burial Ground. It is the resting place for Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and the victims of the Boston Masacre.

From here we went to Kings Chapel in which I saw this Freedom Trail insignia.

And the First Public School in the United States, The Latin School.

Then on to The Old State House the Boston Massacre site and Faneuil Hall

 And then lunch time at the Ye Olde Union Oyster House

 

Beth, Holly and Peter in John F. Kennedy's booth!

After lunch we walked thru the Old North Church and on to the U.S.S. Constitution and last but certainly not least we went into Paul Revere's House.

Antiquing in Essex and Witch Hunting in Salem

Today was supposed to be our Freedom Trail day in Boston, but with rain expected all day we decided to visit some Antique shops in Essex.

There is a saying that "One man's junk is another man's treasure".  In some of the shops we visited this statement could not be truer.  Do you remember when cellophane tape came in a tin can? (double click image to enlarge)

Need an old Navy uniform or flag?

Ducks?

Shells?

From Essex we cruised the back roads to Salem.  It is so lush and green here in the summer, so unlike California.  I love how it looks but it means living with summer rains and the humidity which enables everything to stay green until the Winter snows arrive.

Did you know that Salem was named after the Hebrew word Shalom, meaning Peace?

Sarah Good (July 11, 1655 – July 19, 1692) was one of the first women to be accused and convicted of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials.

Can you imagine being pressed to death?  Check out Giles Corey this link to see what it looked like.

Next we walked over to see a Maritime Historical site.  Here is Peter looking like a Pilgram.

We saw this replica of the original Friendship ship.  Among sailing vessels, a "ship" is defined as a vessel with three or more masts, carrying rectangular sails on all masts.  These sails are set on horizontial yards that are perpendicular, or "square" to the keel, which runs the length of the bottom of the ship (probably more then you would ever want to know)

Right accross the road from this wharf is the Custom House (1819)  It represented the U.S. government in the port.  Officials issued permits to land cargo, seamen's protection certificates, and ships' measurement certificates.  It was there that merchants paid customes duties, then 90% of the U.S. revenue.  In return the government built lighthouses and beacons, protected shipping, and provided medical care to needy sailors.

On the walk back to the car I noticed this interesting liquor store called The Bunghole, check out how it got it's name.

Last but certainly not least and no visit to Salem would be complete without talking about Nathaniel Hawthorne.  We did not get to The House of Seven Gables but we've all read The Scarlet Letter and his other books and I didn't realize he was born and raised in Salem.

A day at the Beach

Not often do we have the opportunity to walk to the beach and spend the day relaxing and reading.   Today was beautiful at Good Harbor Beach the water was about 66 degree's and quite refreshing.  We had planned on an evening schooner cruise but it was cancelled due to weather.

We changed plans and went to see the famous Fisherman of Gloucester and the memorial to all the men and women who have lost their lives at sea.
You can double click on any image to enlarge it.

I love vacation!

I got into the travel industry by dumb luck.  After getting my AA degree from Moorpark Jr. College (a community college) I went to California State University at Northridge.....working full time to support myself and trying to get my Bachelor's degree was not possible for me at the time....so I dropped out, bought a one way ticket to Israel.  I was set up for a six month program called Ulpan on a Kibbutz (Hatzor near Ashdod).  After being away from the good old USA for 1 1/2 years when I got home I knew travel was part of my soul,  so I got into the business............the rest is history.

So I LOVE vacation, it doesn't matter where or when I'm into it!

After an afternoon squall we drove over to Rockport, Ma.  Many artist come here for plein air painting of the harbor.

Once we arrived the weather changed, it was so sunny I had to buy $5.00 clip on's for my glasses as my eyes were tearing up from the sun.  So we (Beth, Holly and I) decided we wanted to go out into the ocean Sea Kayaking.  Here are a few video's from our journey. 

 

Good Harbor Beach and Rocky Neck Artist Colony

After getting to bed at 2:30 am we started our day with a late (10:30 am) breakfast at home. And what a home it is!

As we started our walk our first experience, of course, were Fisherman. Only in Gloucester would the high school cheer go like this...

"We are the fisherman,

the mighty, mighty, fisherman,
everywhere we go,

everyone wants to know,

who are they,
they are the fisherman,
the mighty, mighty fisherman"

Good Harbor Beach

Beth and Holly at Good Harbor Beach

Stacey and Anthony our lifeguards!

Holly's sand heart for Jenna!

After a nice walk we headed home for lunch and to catch the World Cup Final. Congratulations to Spain, their first ever World Cup Championship!

We then went to Rocky Neck.

This is my kind of boat (below), I think you can tell by it's name "Hit & Run"

The Gloucester Marine Railways Corp. is The Oldest Working Shipyard in America.

This is "fearless" Phyllis A, built in Kennebunkport in 1925.  It's lenght is 63', beam 14' and draft 7'6" the gross weight is 40 tons and it was powered by a Detroit Diesl with a speed of 8 knots. the fish hold capacity is 25,000 lbs.

SUPER BOAT!