Good old Boston

At most places on this trip, I’ve combined eating out with cooking in the hostel kitchen. There comes a point when I miss vegetables in as close to original form as possible (perhaps, lightly cooked). In Boston, I had found a well-stocked Whole Foods Market. Whilst in the kitchen, I had several people asking me what I was cooking since it smelt good. It was a conversation starter. I couldn’t, however, take any of the credit. To keep cooking simple (and quick), I’d bought some vegetables, rice and, on this occasion, a spicy, garlic, tomato Chinese sauce. It perked up any dish and the smell was irresistible! (I’ve tried to find, unsuccessfully, something similar in London.)

During one conversation, someone asked me how I kept my weight down and was curious to see what sort of food I was cooking! That resulted in me giving her some advice about nutrition. It’s constantly surprising how so many people are not aware how calorific some (generally processed) food is.

My last day in Boston, like so many days on this trip, was inspired by a random conversation I had with someone.

After breakfast, I was speaking to a volunteer guide at the hostel. And like so many volunteers I’d met at hostels, he was thoughtful and considerate. He asked me what I was doing today. I told him roughly what I was planning. He said that it sounded good and went on to ask whether I’d been to various other places. In particular, he recommended seeing the older parts of Boston with their brownstone buildings: Beacon Hill, Louisberg Square, the cobbled streets of Acorn Street, Charles Street and finally to pop into Tatte Cafe for a cuppa. He also made a gun gesture with his pointed index and middle fingers, saying that I should avoid a particular part of Boston that was notorious for killings!

I ended up enjoying Boston more than I expected and felt a bit rushed to be leaving the following morning. Like so many places on this trip, there was lots to see once you got to know the place.

Next stop: the Big Apple!

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