Thursday, June 12, 2008

I didn't check out the Freedom Trail but I did leave my room today....


Well you will be impressed to know I did make it out today, and what a gorgeous day it turned out to be. First stop was Sushi for lunch...oh wow, makes me realise how much I miss just standard little luxuries most western countries take for granted....then a speed boat ride on the harbour. Now this was a bit of fun actually. Codzilla was the name of the ride and it boasted a wild ride to go and discover the "mutant" Cod that legend has it, was formed out at the Water Treatment Plants situated on an island just outside of the harbour. Purely entertainment, and the speed boat donuts were very thrilling.....and some fantastic views of Boston Cityscape coming back in.



I then finally took off to see the movie I have been dying for one of the techies* to come along and see with me, however tonight they chose a funny Adam Sandler film at the same time and I was relegated to seeing Sex and The City on my own, crying with the opening scene which wasn't even sad...I think it just brought back so many memories from comforting years gone by when it used to be mine and my girlfriends equivalent to a Single Gal's manual. After a draining 2 and a bit hours of being dragged through the emotional equivalent of a wringer, I met the techies outside the theatre trying to hold back my tears when they asked me what I thought of the movie....CRAZY, but they were still laughing at their film whilst I was choking....please explain!?! The poor guys didn't know where to look when my voice broke and I quickly changed the subject. My boyfriend's explanation to my odd behavior is "you're just feeling uptight because it has been almost 3 weeks and you are missing me!" I love it.

Lately I have fallen victim to a new bad habit, and tonight was no exception after the movie. My guilty indulgence is sneaking off to the business lounge^ of an evening to sample their desserts. Never having been a sweet tooth, after 3 weeks of trying to fill up my idle hours in the day, I am finding I am longing for the 8th hour of the evening to view what is on offer for dessert, only to struggle getting to sleep due to the sugar rush.

So this evening after having my cream profiteroles and fairy cake, I decided I needed to end on a savoury note. After saying good evening to the the techies, I snuck off across the road to the local 7/11. Most people would be worried that a young girl walking the streets of Boston at 10.30pm would be a health hazard, but they have never seen Long Wharf in Summer. People spilling out onto the streets, enjoying the summer night, dining late and making good use of the agreeable climate. Anyway on arrival at 7/11, I was greeted by a beggar outside the door asking for change. I actually was taken aback, ignored him, then went about my way inside. As I entered he said "maybe on the way out sweetheart, but have a good evening". I felt terrible. So along with my snacks, I multiplied them by 2, paid for them, then looked for him outside. He was no longer there. So I started looking around the street for him and he was no where to be found. This was silly. Here I was standing with 2 Slurpees and a bag of sandwiches for him and some cheese and crackers for me. What was I to do with these if I could not find him and damn him for playing on my conscience like this, and then taking off leaving me holding the Slurpee. After realising this was probably a little dangerous, trying to find a substitute beggar to donate my purchases to, even contemplating walking into the shadowy park where I could see a big figure sleeping, I thought twice and headed back to my hotel. Even the poor guy in the elevator with me wouldn't accept my offer of a free Slurpee...must have thought I spiked it. Oh well, even when I tried to do a good deed, I was thawted. Should of just given him the 5 bucks when I had the chance. Kinda pales in comparison to the beggar I saw outside of MacDonalds at Clapham Common in London last year, when he was given a cheeseburger, threw it at the "donor" claiming he was vegetarian!!!


#techie is a slang term for pilot or flight engineer
^business lounge is a private lounge for premium guests to enjoy continental breakfast, internet facilities, happy hour appetisers and if you are lucky, Cheesecake Factory desserts in the evening!!!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Bourstonne (how the locals say Boston)

Well I must admit the first thing I loved when I got off the plane, was the way the true Bostonians (is that a word?) speak. It is with an American accent of course, but I think you all know that accent I mean..."you want a cup of coiffeee" kinda accent??



On my 7th day here for work, living out of a suitcase for the last 3 weeks, I am ashamed to say I haven't really tried to find out too much about the city I have called home for just over a week. With Americans on my crew, I have learnt that Boston is home to quite a substantial amount of American history, and on walking around the city, I have also discovered there is such a thing as the Freedom Trail, however the most I have seen on this trip, I am sorry to say, is the inside of my hotel room catching up on sleep I haven't really lost, oh and the Apple stores I have come to have a junkie type addiction to. Oh and New Kids on the Block originated from Boston.


I left home around 3 weeks ago, for an OS work trip. I am here in Boston, enjoying the erm, hotel. Seriously I have done nothing noteworthy (I have discovered late night television and a TV show soon to come to Australia called Flight of the Conchords!!!) and at the risk of being as my father said on MSN last week, "blasé to world travel now", it really is hard to enjoy a new place, when you don't have the same kinda like minded people to share it with.


Unlike flying for a big commercial airline and arriving in Hong Kong for 2 nights, with 16 crew on board of varying ages and interests, you were bound to find a kindred spirit with which to either grab a bite to eat, discover the cultural tastes on offer, or go out on a booze fuelled discovery of bars and clubs til dawn then straight to the hotel buffet for breakfast (my favourite thing to do!).

My crew all over 40 and married.


Don't get me wrong, these guys are absolutely lovely, however they don't have the same interests as me in what they want to do in their down time. (Their interests include jumping out of a perfectly working plane, driving all over the state and outside of it to find the best electronic bargains and looking for new luggage) Mine include, discovering local haunts (not the touristy places), fine dining, finding a gym that has a decent Body Pump class, and trying not to spend too much money...oh and seeing the Sex & the City film.



Of course, a girl of my position and experience, is not adverse to seeing the odd movie or going on a shopping expedition on my own, in fact I quite prefer doing these in the singular, however it is now getting old 3rd week in, that I am having to entertain myself in a fantastic new city I have never been to. I don't want for much, just a like minded person to exclaim "What a pretty park Boston Common is", or "How about those sirens that don't give up at any time of the day eh?"


I guess the main thing I have noticed with this kind of flying with less crew is that I am required to be more self sufficient, independent, flexible and prepared: to fly away at my passengers whim when they decide they don't want to be here anymore, to have a list of things to do before I get to my destination, and to smell the roses...I MIGHT NOT GET BACK HERE EVER AGAIN!!


Ok, tomorrow (with 2 days left here) I think I might go and do a Freedom Trail tour, or maybe even a boat trip on the harbour...or maybe might just head back to the Apple store and play on the computers.....what do you think???

What Happens on Tour Stays on Tour...Or on My Blog????

After years of reading chic lit books based on Blogs (short for Web Logs for those less internet savvy) and after envying a couple of girlfriend's (and even one ex boyfriend's) attempt at writing their own, I thought why not, of course I could try writing a blog....whether or not anyone is even interested in what I have to say on here, this is probably just a less invasive way of getting my thoughts out rather than having to pester people with my verbal dribble all day and all night..at least this is a avenue for you all to decide if and when you want to know what I have to say, and add your own input if so desired.

I cannot say what genre or topic will be mostly covered here, as I do find it rather hard to pigeon hole my interests, style or generally what I tend to muse on, however I can say it will be honest, frank, open and probably sometimes heartfelt.

Anyway, please be patient with me as I learn the new world of "The Blogger" and learn how to post (and take) photos and pictures and once I have something worth commenting on, then please feel free to give me some feedback via the comments section!!!

Girl on Tour