Tues 8th: A beautiful sunny day, but much fresher, and we're not sure we've got enough layers, Lorna one with no sleeves, me two, and the outer one is fleecy! Back onto the tour bus and another trip round town and off for our included 45 minute harbour cruise, but not before Lorna trips and goes headlong; just a few grazes and we carry on, but she can so easily trip.

Breakfast this morning was next door at an MGH building, or Massachusetts General Hospital, in their canteen. his is a difference in America it seems, if you want to pay for something, then it doesn't matter what the organisation is they are quite happy to take your money. It would be a bit like the canteen at Pedigree being quite happy to feed the good citizens of Melton Mowbray at subsidised rates, but then maybe MGH's canteen is not subsidised.

I think we've got the idea now, Boston was the first British colony in the US, and they loved their freedom from the oppressive crown very much, so much that they objected to paying taxes so that England could service its debts. Well nothing much has changed has it, only we have a vote, and they didn't, and that's what upset them so much; No Taxes without Representation became the battle cry.

There were a few key players, Paul Revere, a bell maker and model citizen, and his famous midnight ride to Lexington & Concord, Samuel Adams, a rebel rouser, and brewer, the famous local brew is a Sam Adams. George Washington of course was the general of the colonial troops, and after independence on 4th July 1776, became the first President of the America. Boston also became home to many Irish after they were driven out of Ireland between 1840 & 1845 due to the potato famine; a large proportion of the politicians in Boston today have Irish ancestry. Other famous residents have been JFK, who proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier at the Omni Parker hotel in town, and more recently John Kerry had a simple little property in the Beacon Hill district. 

An excellent lunch, and Critt embarrasses himself on his first outing. Marilyn asked that we adopt Critt to help during those critical moments when words are exchanged; Critt helps to de-personalise the situation, and lower the tension. Today unfortunately Critt discovers beer and the vapour is enough for him to fall headlong into my glass of Kentucky Bourbon beer (8.25%) so more whiskey than beer it seems, and so I'm not sure Critt is really up to it. After lunch we pick up The Freedom Trail and follow it to it's beginning/end on Boston Common. Well enough of the history.

I see so many people out running, and enjoying the area around Charlestown that I don my gym gear and trainers and get amongst them. Twenty minutes later I'm back, they just make it look so easy and comfortable, maybe they're properly hydrated because I'm certainly not.

Now a little about the hotel we're staying at. As mentioned before it is connected to the YMCA, well it seems the YMCA 

Spend today: lunch (card); dinner at Bistro (card)