Jim and Kim's Travels: Boston Bound to see P!nk at Fenway Park

When my friend, Nancy, asked if I'd like to go to Boston to see P!nk with her, I was over the moon! Nancy bought the tickets, I booked a hotel room and then we had months to wait.

Finally, the day arrived and we were off. Pretty scenery along the way...

Getting there! I had never been to Boston, and I was looking forward to exploring a new city.

My first look at the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge. I "might" have taken several photos of it while we were in Boston. It was completed in 2003 and named after civil-rights activist Lenny Zakim and the American colonists who fought the British in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Bonus shot...got the TD Garden in it as well, the home of the Boston Bruins.

Pedestrian walkway connecting Copley Galleries and the Prudential Mall. Great on a blustery winter day.

I chose the Colonnade Hotel because of its proximity to Fenway Park and it was affordable. Service was excellent here and the staff went above and beyond.

The only drawback was that their parking lot was full, so they directed us to the Marriott parking garage across the street. We drove around it for about 15 minutes before finding a place to park. Little did we know it took up a city block!

The lobby of the Colonnade...

Glad to be in Boston at last!

Time for a drink to celebrate...is it vodka, triple sec, gin? You decide!

We had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory before exploring the area around the hotel.

So pretty and so clean...

The view from our hotel...the Christian Science Centre (not to be confused with Scientology).

We had decided to do the Old Town Trolley tour. Nancy had been to Boston many times, as her sister lived just outside the city, but she was game to play tourist with me.

We planned on an Uber to the starting point of the tour. The price increased by the minute until we finally got a driver. Do not order in rush hour! It ended up costing about $50, but we were saving our steps for later.

The Custom House Tower is a skyscraper in the Boston financial district. The original building was built between 1837-1847, and the tower was added in 1913-1915.

Boston Kitchen Pizza in the theatre district...

And time for our tour...

They also have these tours, which look like a lot of fun. Maybe next time!

This one didn't look nearly as frightening!

The beautiful New England Aquarium...

Marina...

Lovely flowers...

Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park...

This was all we glimpsed of the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), which is the world's oldest ship still afloat. It was launched in 1797 and was famous for her actions in the War of 1812.

The Shipyard...

The Bunker Hill monument...

Oh look! That bridge again...

And again...I really did love it, I guess!

I think I was trying to take a picture of the Charles River Dam and locks, but still managed to make it about the bridge! The locks are part of the Boston Harborwalk and can be crossed by pedestrians and cyclists.

We had noticed several painted cows and learned that the Cow Parade is part of a fundraiser for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Near the TD Garden, this cow was sporting a Celtics jersey.

Hey look! That bridge!

I was today years old when I found out that the faded signs are called ghost signs. Fitting!

This beautiful building surrounded by skyscrapers is the Old State House. Under the balcony is where people stood when the Declaration of Independence was read in 1776, declaring a new nation. It was built in 1713 and is one of the oldest public buildings in the US. It was also the site of the Boston Massacre in 1770.

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile path that passes by 17 locations significant to the history of the US.

You can follow these markers and the red bricks...

The Granary Burying Ground is one of the sites on the Freedom Trail. It is Boston's third oldest cemetery and is the final resting place for Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and other notables.

The Massachusetts State House, the state capitol and the seat of government, was completed in 1798 in the Beacon Hill area.

The Massachusetts Fallen Firefighters Memorial...

Well, rats...this was our only view of the iconic stairs leading to the bar Cheers of TV fame.

The low gray building in front is the former Charles Street Jail, which was converted to the Liberty Hotel after the final prisoners were moved in 1990.

The Berklee College of Music...

Beautiful Trinity Church in front of the mirrored John Hancock building.

So much history...

Really a stunning city...

Statue of Edgar Allan Poe...a fun story of the history of the statue.

Boston Common is the oldest city park in the US.

The Robert Gould Shaw memorial depicts him leading the infantry as it departed the city to fight in the South. It is the first civic monument to honour the heroism of the African American soldiers.

The Exchange is a "living room" for the financial district with space to meet and collaborate in any weather and still feel like you're outdoors.

We finished our tour and headed to Quincy Market.

Quincy Market, which was first established in 1826...

And Faneuil Hall marketplace...so many yummy choices for food.

They were whipping up salads and we made at least one healthy choice during our stay!

Delish!

Buskers...

This guy was left holding a wobbly set of props... Kudos to him; he didn't let it fall!

While "Bob" did his juggling act...

Huge statue of Mayor Kevin White, who served four terms as Boston's mayor from 1968 to 1984. This was during racially turbulent times and the start of desegregation in the 1960s and 1970s.