weekend in boston

We packed so much activity into such a short amount of time that coming back on the plane, I commented to M that it seemed like we had been gone for about a week.

Thursday
My procrastinating nature took over and I ended up packing my suitcase late Wednesday evening (or was it ealy Thursday morning?). This left me with only a few hours of restless sleep before I had to wake up, shower, and rush to avoid racking up waiting changes from the taxicab driver who was waiting for me on the driveway.

• Got to the airport at 6:30, checked in, grabbed a toasted bagel spread thick with strawberry cream cheese from Tim Horton's, and met up with M, my travelling companion for the weekend.
  
• We flew Vancouver to Chicago, marvelled at the psychedellic light show above the movators at O'Hare, grabbed a quick snacky meal (since United is too cheap to provide meals with any of their flights anymore), then flew to Boston.
• Upon arriving at Logan International, we grabbed M's bags from Baggage Claim, then hopped on a bus to fetch our rental car (a great little Chevy Cobalt).
  
• From there, we had initially planned on driving into the city from the I-93 on our way to the hotel to have dinner at a jazz club that we had found in one of the tour books we were rifling through at the bookstore last weekend, where we planned our trip itinerary. But the full day of flying left us weary, and because it was late, we decided instead to make a beeline for Brockton, MA and crash at the hotel.
• The hotel is in a strange part of town, literally in the middle of a big box retail mall. Big rig trucks line the edge of the parking lot, while neon signs flash all around. We ask the concierge to point us to the nearest grocery store and get directions to the gas station instead since the grocery store was too far away.
  
• At the gas station, we are greeted by two teenaged hoodlums smoking at the front door. One reaches to open the door and put down his cigarette, and as we enter and he slips behind the counter, we realize that he is, in fact, the gas station attendant. Classy!
• After an unsuccessful food gtahering attempt, we spot a Wendy's from across the parking lot and make a beeline for it. Burgers and Frosties put smiles on our faces, while more teenaged slackers sitting by their cars in the lot, blasting music from their car radios frighten us a little.

Friday
We were scheduled to arrive at the offices at 10am, so we ended up having breakfast at the hotel before heading out.

• Our interviews were held at the temporary offices, located in a colonial looking building/office park. Being the geeks we were, M and I posed and took pictures outside the building before heading in.
  
• The big cheese tells me to stall during my interview with my potential department manager so that M and I can go out with the office for lunch at a nearby Thai place. I oblige and we end up having a great time meeting the rest of the office.
  
• After lunch, the big cheese piles M, our potential department manager and I into his car and we head over to the construction site for a visit. The building is taking shape, and many exciting things are in the works.
  
• Afterwards, M and I hightail it to Boston.
• Visits to the John Hancock Tower, Prudential centre, old churches, Boston Common, Quincy Market for some clam chowder, and the aquarium, among others. We spot squirrels humping in Boston Common and like the silly little kids we are, giggle and whip out our cameras and start snapping away.
  
• We meet with M's old highschool friend V in the lobby of the hotel of which she works and get a tour of the posh interiors. After the tour, her husband, B arrives and we head out.
  
• We stroll along Newberry Street, checking out Fenway Park from a distance and window shop at some of the botiques along the way.
  
• We arrive at Sonsie for dinner. Crab cakes with candied yams to start, a great polenta served in a chicken and tomato broth with steamed greens and a Chai Ice martini.
  
• After dinner, we briefly entertain the idea of heading elsewhere for drinks or dessert, but instead opt to drive B&V back to their place in Brookline and and get a tour.
• After a late night, M and I head back to the hotel.
  
• On the drive back to Brockton, I comment on how strange and exciting it is to be in Boston and how I'm looking forward to moving there. As the words come out of my mounth, M points to a giant billboard that reads: "Welcome to Massachusetts, You're likely to live here."
  

Saturday
Slept in a little bit, but we both could have stayed in bed much longer. The hotel is kind of in a sketchy area, but the king sized beds are other-worldly. Soft as a cloud, but with just the right amount of firmness in the right places. It was a struggle to drag myself out of my slumber and get on with the day.

• Driving to Providence, Rhode Island we enjoyed brunch at a charming little joint with the sun streaming through the large windows. French toast stuffed with strawberries and mascarpone cheese and a glass of ice cold OJ made for a delicious meal.
• Walked around College Hill and visited the RISD Museum and strolled by Brown and RISD campuses. Dishevelled students in collegiate sweatshirts remind me of my own university days and make me reflect on them with a slight feeling of nostalgia.
• Driving to Brookline to pick up V, we grabbed authentic Mexican burritos at Anna's Tacqueria in Allston with B&V and ran into two friends of theirs who end up dining with us.
• With V in tow, M and I head to Quincy to walk along the beach and see the houses along the water, then check out Southie, which looks promising as a potential neighbourhood to live in - provided I can afford the rents.
• M and I drop off V at the house and B convinces us to drive to Cambridge so we can see Hardvard and MIT. We drive, then get lost. Get directions, find MIT, then Harvard. Then get lost again trying to make it back to Brookline. Call V to get directions, then make it back two hours late...
• ....for the classiest barbecue ever at B&V's. Luckily, their friends R&T were also late, so no harm, no foul. We sit in the chilly evening air chatting and munching on cheese and crackers while waiting for the steak and chicken to finish on the barbecue.
• Inside the house, we feast on the barbecue, comparing different marinades and rating them in order of preference. Also served are a spinach salad with strawberry slices drizzled with poppy seed dressing, as well as an asparagus and olive orzo served with cherry tomtoes. Plenty of red wine and lots of great conversation (including R's impressions of various characters at the trial at which he was a member of the jury) makes my face turn various shades of red.
• Dessert of homemade brownies served a la mode with a glass of ice wine leads to more conversation, which makes us lose track of time. When we finally realize that it's time to go home, we say our goodbyes and drive back to the hotel in Brockton.

Sunday
An early flight at 9:00am means leaving the hotel at 6:00am so we have enough time to return our rental car and check-in for our international flight.

• Dead tired from a late night and an early morning, we both fall sleep on the plane ride from Logan to Pearson.
  
• On the stopover in Toronto, we stop for burgers at Hogtown Grill and get in some really good conversation. It's funny, after spending a whole weekend with each other, we don't start really getting to know each other until this point.
  
• On the flight from Toronto to Vancouver, we spot Kevin Neuman, lead anchor for Global National, a few rows ahead of us in business class.
  

Phew...what a weekend!