Boston to Franklin, MA

 May 14 and 15th:  Yesterday was spent on our own wandering the city, following most of a Volkswalk route, plus some extra distance at "U Mass Boston" (University of Massachusetts in Boston).  Total walkway 11.2 miles, with little to no elevation gain.  Where we went and what we saw are documented in the photos:

We started the morning with breakfast downtown, as an Italian diner - fast and efficient.

The diner - they do a lot of take-out business!

We started the Volkswalk nearby with lots of tall buildings (the Financial District), but took no photos.  We traversed a small lane - Winthrop Lane - that had a variety of interesting inset plaques/ tiles.

Lobsters

Baseball history.

The most "artistic" tiles

The route next went through Chinatown, with interesting murals.

After Chinatown, we went through the middle of Tufts Medical Center (no photos).

Fayette Street, named for Lafayette and the step child of Beacon Hill.

Historic Salada Tea Doors on a modern building.

Close up of one panel of tea house doors.

John Hancock Building

The Boston Public Library.

In the library, a mural of book covers.

One of several historic rooms in the library - Abbey Room, named for the artist.

The staircase in the library, with one of the two marble lions.

The library courtyard and fountain.

One of the bronze doors to the library.

Next, we did a quick walk around in the State House.

The obilgatory dome.

Rotunda.

The Grand Staircase.

The Hall of Flags.

Front of the "capital."

After a stop at the J.P. Licks for smoothies and the side trip to the State House, we decided to hop the MBTA and ride to U Mass Boston on the southeast waterfront.  We walked some more from the station to the campus and back.  This is also the site for John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.

Today, short walk to breakfast, passing again by the Boston Tea Party Museum.

One of series of public sculptures in Seaport.

At 1:30 pm, we caught a commuter train from South Station to Franklin, MA. where Betsy's sister Catherine lives.  She was working so we went for a walk (of course), passing by her condo, and entering the Franklin Sculpture Park (shown).

The Tin Bear.

What I call the "Roy G Biv" sculpture.

We met up with Catherine for dinner in our motel studio room.  Catherine was to work until late, but got off early and joined us. 

Cheers!