Ever since I moved back to Chicago, travel seems to have fallen from the top of my list of favorite activities. Maybe it's because O'Hare is so tough to get to from where I live (either spend over 1 hr on bus/El, or 1/2 hr driving + crazy parking fees at the airport). Nonetheless, this year I'm determined to pick up my love for travel again. So, Boston it is for Easter weekend.
My first visit to Boston was back in 2009, Labor day weekend. The weather then was spectacular: sunny & cool, perfect respite from humid Philly summers. I fell in love with Boston on that trip. It's compact, old, kinda like Philly, but so much cleaner, more refined. I thought to myself: if Philly could clean itself up, this is how glorious it'd be. My favorite part of that trip was sitting on the grass in a park near the North End, watching Bostonians enjoy the beautiful weather with their kids & dogs. Of course, the food was no slouch too. Boston introduced me to the lovely world of raw oysters.
Luckily for me, this trip starts on the last day of Boston's winter Restaurant Week. So instead of taking it easy on my day off and sleeping in, I took an early flight timed just right so I'd land in time for lunch. My restaurant of choice was B&G Oysters, by famous chef/restauranteur Babara Lynch. You can read all about that here. Thanks to this restaurant, I've found a new favorite neighborhood in Boston - South End.
I was instantly drawn to the rows of beautifully manicured townhouses. Yes, it's not quite spring yet, so most of the trees are still leafless-twigs. I can only imagine how breath-taking it'll be when spring flowers arrive.
Over the years, my travel style has really evolved. Before, I'd arrange a jam-packed itinerary, covering all the major museums, sightseeing spots, and restaurants. Now, nothing beats strolling through a local neighborhood, admiring the different streetscape & how the locals just go about their lives. Of course, I still do extensive research before a trip, just to get a general idea of the main sights. But now I always include time for random neighborhood strolls.
I was able to get in touch with my roommate back in Philly, who moved to Boston shortly after I moved back to Chicago for dental school. We randomly walked from South End north towards Newberry. Then we came upon the First Christian Science Church. Lately I've been a bit obsessed with churches, so I asked my friend: Have you ever been in there?
Friend: Nope. Is it open to public?
Me: Dunno. Let's find out!
We were greeted by a friendly receptionist, who told us the free tour just started, so she took us up to the 2nd floor to join the tour. Well well, that's some good luck!
Turns out the church actually has two sections. We started out in the new wing, completed in 1906. It has a beautiful domed ceiling, and one of the largest pipe organs in the world.
The original wing was built back in 1894. It's a lot smaller and darker, but quite intimate. All of the stained glass windows were illuminated by natural light.
The tour wasn't very long, only about 25 min. Certainly worth checking out if you are curious what lies within the beautifully sculptured exterior. The church is part of a complex designed by IM Pei, which includes a long reflection pool and administrative building. Unfortunately the water in the pool is drained during winter, so visit in the warmer seasons if you can.
After the church tour, we parted ways as I head back to the hotel for a brief rest, meet up with my college buddy and get ready for restaurant week dinner at Mistral. Stay tuned!
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