Tour guide hat again

At the beginning of my adventures 11 months ago I put out an open invitation for anyone to come and visit me wherever my travels would take me. If I had a friend that was traveling and staying in some pretty great locations, you can bet your butt that I would visit them and take advantage of the free housing! Much to my pleasant surprise, Jen from KC scheduled her trip to Boston. She arrived on Thursday around noon and managed to make her way from the airport, taking the blue line to Bowdoin stop, walk 2 blocks to my apartment and let herself in! I was at work all day and had a lunch meeting so I couldn't get away to meet her for anything that day. Jen then found her way around Boston, toured the US Constitution, took a ferry to the long wharf and made her way through Quincy Market area. She is a great self-tourer thank goodness! I met her after work at the Belle in Hand, which is the oldest tavern in America. We shared an interesting appetizer of shrimp wrapped in potato strings and lightly fried, paired with a nice beer. From there we took off to the harbor and walked the harbor walk pathway around to a restaurant with outdoor seating only, the Fresh Catch. I enjoyed a grilled swordfish over pasta and Jen had a broiled Haddock and salad. Very delicious! We completed the harbor walk and then took a cab home to sit on my patio and enjoy the beloved view.

Friday morning I had the day off because I had worked the Sunday prior anticipating Jen's arrival. As normal as brushing my teeth everyday, we took off for a day in Maine, after getting some coffee of course! We went up to Cape Elizabeth, my favorite head lamp in So. Portland, ME for rock climbing and picnicking as usual. The water was much calmer than when I had been there most recently with mom which made it a bit less climactic but still absolutely breathtaking. From Portland we headed down to Kennebunk, meeting Rachel and her friend Travis that drove up after work from Boston to be in Maine for the first time ever. We spent many hours lounging on the beach, even venturing into the cold water only up to our waist. After our fun in the sun we went back to Bartley's to enjoy some Maine cuisine. We had an array of food from calamari, tomato and mozzarella salad, Caesar salad, baked stuffed lobster and a baked haddock and scallop dish. Travis took the top prize though with his 3.5lb baked stuffed lobster finished by some blueberry pie! I have never seen a lobster that size in my whole life and Rachel had never purchased an $80 lobster before either!! After dinner we went our separate ways, Rachel and Travis heading to the Kittery outlet mall, Jen and I headed down route 1A along the shoreline at sunset to get our last glimpses of Maine. This would end up being my last trip into Maine for this year I'm afraid. Can't lie, I was a little choked up about it! :(

Saturday morning Jen and I headed out for some Boston adventures. We took the orange line out to Jamaica Plain to go to the Samuel Adams brewery and then we took the free trolley to Doyle bar and pub where it is said the first of Sam Adam's beer was served. It was a fun trolley ride and the pub was more like a museum which made the experience really neat. Then a walk around the suburb to have lunch at an Indian restaurant. Jen's first experience eating Indian food and thank goodness it was a good one! After a few beverages and a full stomach, the ride back into Boston was pretty quiet on our part, leading to a 3 hour nap at my apartment! After we awoke, we went walking around Boston, down Beacon street and along the Charles river. Ended the evening sitting along Cambridge street outside at Kinsdale pub sharing a beautiful evening and a great steak tip salad! Sunday was a rainy day, but we went according to plan no matter the weather. Rachel met us with coffee outside the government center T stop, where we picked her up to head to Cape Ann, MA. Rachel had never been and obviously Jen had not either, so it was fun for me to tour them around Gloucester/Rockport area. We tried to do the usual I always take people too including but not limited to; Footpath to the Atlantic, Rockport pier, Gloucester seaport walk, and lunch at Causeways restaurant. Rachel and I had some pretty fantastic lobster pie and Jen did not enjoy her coconut rum crusted haddock:( After a long day of traveling and adventuring we returned to Boston and headed back to the apartment for another nap. We were supposed to go on a guided freedom trail walking tour, however the rain stopped that trip for sure. We opted on movies and burritos, chillaxing in my apartment with the cool breeze flowing through my apartment. We were getting really ready for Fall!

Monday, I had to work again so Jen was left to her own vices. She had planned to take the trolley tour around Boston for the day, but again it was raining all day long. She still managed to make it around the city in good fashion, eating at the Union Oyster House for lunch, shopping and touring around as able. After work, Rachel and I met Jen at the apartment for a quick change then headed to the North End for some dinner! We ate at Lo Conte on Salem street and it was fantastic. Following dinner we went to Mike's Pastry, not because we needed more food, but Jen needed to witness this pastry madness. We each selected our favorite dessert then found a stoop and sat on the step together all digging into the same box of pastries with our plastic forks and big old smiles on our faces. Jen was a little disappointed that I had waited until our last evening to take her to this pastry shop! I needed a wheelbarrow to get me home after all of this eating!! I managed to pull my self together though, walking Rachel past the T stop and back to the apartment in order to get Jen's things packed up. Tuesday morning I again headed to work and Jen successfully made it back to the airport. Wednesday after work, I then headed out to NE for my cousins wedding and family fun. Got to Omaha on Wednesday night, mom and Tom picked me up and drove me to the farm. Steph, Rafe, kids and Simon joined us on the farm after driving from Texas. Thursday the kids, mom, Steph and I went into Lincoln for bridesmaid dress shopping purposes, then back out to the farm for a wiener roast and family time. Friday we packed the van to the gills and headed into Omaha, got RJ's tux, ate at Runza, checked into the hotel, took Simon to Katie's apartment and had some fun swim time with the kids in the pool. Kathy met us for some much needed catch up time as I have not seen her in years! What a treat!! Friday night, Katie and Matt met us at Fudruckers for dinner and I got to meet Matt for the first time. What a guy:) We then hurried back to Katie's apartment to help her pack her things to begin her move to IA. Saturday morning we met the other bridesmaids minus Carley, to finalize which dress we all wanted. Leaving Katie the big decision of color!! Amy's wedding was a great success, well obviously she got married and all, but it was a great party and dancing as well. Sunday morning was back to the pool with the whole Vosta clan poolside for breakfast and water time. Steph and family packed up and headed back to Texas. Mom, Tom and I helped Katie pack up to move to Iowa. Them mom, Tom and Simon dropped me off at the airport to head back to Boston for my last week of work!!! WHEEEEEEW!

Thank you to Jen for coming to see me! It was great to share my experiences with you and to gain some new ones along the way! Great memories and one wild and crazy week. I think I could probably sleep for one whole week at this point and I just might after my move home!