Thanksgiving Travel Tips of the Non-Variety
November 27, 2007
So, the trip to Boston. Here’s the breakdown:
We woke up at 3am. No, that is not a typo. I, in my infinite wisdom, booked us a flight that left at 6:45am. When I went to see if it could be changed to a later time, the website just laughed at me. Heartily. But in retrospect, this was a bit of genius thinking on my part, because the airport? was quiet. peaceful even. The TSA staff were smiling, and friendly. It was like a wonderful dream.
In the parking garage, we parked right near the elevator. I have never had that privilege, The Hubby has, and he brags about it all the time. I didn’t even get that when I went to Chicago. It was so nice, because Scamp wanted to “help”. It was very cute. It also lasted until we got to the other elevator, which was not long after this photo was taken. Oh well, fun while it lasted!
The flight? Uneventful. All of us slept through most of it. The arrival in Providence? Just fine, and made even better by the new underground walkway to baggage claim and the cherry-red Ford Escape we got to drive, for free, thanks to The Hubby’s work/travel gig. Scamp really liked it, so much so that he may have shed a tear when we had to turn it back in on Friday.
The mood changed dramatically once we got on the road, however. What was excitement about being back up in New England and seeing some fall foliage (since palm trees don’t really turn, if you know what I mean…) quickly turned to horror when we saw this:
Ummmm, wha? This is not Fall, this is Winter! I didn’t sign up for snow, and cold, and yuck. This was why I left New England!
But I was in a warm car, and we were headed to the Holy Land. The land of winners and patriotism, and razors:
The Hubby has been planning this trip for months now. While yes, it was going to be great to see the family for the holidays, this was also a time for us to visit some of the restaurants that he had fallen in love with while he was working with a client. This meant we had to stay in Coolidge Corner, and this meant Rod Dee’s and Pho Lemongrass.
This also meant that I had to be rolled onto the airplane like Violet in Willy Wonka, but I digress.
Coolidge Corner is awesome, and if I was single and really flush with cash, this is where I would want to live. So quaint, so nice, and full of wonderful little shops like Magic Beans and Peet’s Coffee and Tea. It also has a Finagle A Bagel; which if you ever travel to Boston or its outlying areas, you have to go! The bagels are heavenly, and the slicer they use is viewing fun for the entire family. You have to see it to understand. Another store The Hubby was excited to show me was Best Cellars. I may have picked up some wines for gifts this holiday. I may drink them before the week is out. Who knows? What I do know is they have taste testings every night. And I was there. Every night.
We were a stones throw from Fenway Park. We traveled by trains (Green Line and Red Line) to go to the Boston Children’s Museum. We ate at The Barking Crab. We walked a lot. We had loads of fun.
Oh, and we visited with family too. That was nice. The kids (okay, just Scamp) may have cried some when it was time to leave their cousins. You may have heard them where you are.
We traveled back to Providence, returned the red car, and checked our bags. Hey! Did you know the TSA gets edgy when you pack wine in a suitcase and forget to tell them? Know how they pay you back? They make you throw away your Bare Escentuals lip gloss because you left it in your purse and you don’t normally carry a ziploc bag in your small purse for just a small tube of lip gloss. Jerks.
We made it home. All our precious cargo read: Trader Joe’s loot, wines and assorted jams and jellies and Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics gear made it home in one piece. Too bad it didn’t stay that way for very long…but it is soooo good!
(Jen Lemen, thank you for your food suggestions for me to get at Trader Joe’s. I may need your help in procuring more “supplies” soon. Thanks.)
November 28th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Oh honey. You poor deluded soul. Finagle a bagle? You think that is a bagel? Oh my, we MUST acquaint you with a REAL bagel, not a yucky chain store, worse than Breuggers bagel. And you were so close too. So very very close. Only a few blocks north, heading on Harvard St towards Brighton. You MUST have noticed you were in the very heart of Jewish shopping, yes? And that there is a huge Kosher store called the Butcherie right below KI, or Congregation Kehillith Israel, that big giant synagogue. You could have missed that, right across from the playground in front of the school. Well right there, on that very corner is God’s gift to bagels. Kupels. KUPELS. You shall never darken the door of Finagle again. Kupels. So many delicious flavors. So much fabulous pastry. All Kosher. All to die for. THEY know how to make a bagel.
Just wait. I’ll make sure you get the REAL coolege corner tour on your next visit. I think you gott a be Jewish to really experience CC.
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November 29th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Peet’s? I’ve always wanted to try Peet’s. I must take the teenager to Fenway Park and find me a Peet’s. Gillette Stadium? No thanks, I’ll stick to Lambeau Field.
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