Hi TDudette, I'm curious to know what your mother wrote about single life in Boston during that time after listening to two single women (30ish & 40ish) lament one night about the men in Boston. They are not happy with the current prospects. So much so that one of them is moving to NYC!

Great trip report - as one who has lived in Boston area for 3o years it still gave me new appreciation of reas I have come to take for granted. Glad you had a good time and it seems good weather. I have not taken Amtrak along that route in about 20 years, although DH does for business about once/month. Makes me want to hop on the train next time he does.

Oh AnnMarie, the pictures were wonderful. yk is right, the one of you in the hat is adorable. I can't speak for any other years but the single life in Boston from 1969-76 was fantastic. Sigh.................

Mother had a "steady" so she never lamented about men except that her BF lived at home with his mother. Guess I should have said "dating life." They went to the movies often and were very involved in church activities. His family owned a little grocery and he was a professional musician on weekends, and she played piano well. She was busily purchasing items for her "hope chest"-linens and china-while waiting for this guy to leave home. He never did and she started seeing my Dad. Get this, she did get special permission from her boss to keep working after she got married!

Every summer, they went "down" to Maine to stay at family "camps". In addition to the movies, they ate out quite often. The Coconut Grove had not burned but I don't remember her going there-it must have been too expensive.

Her best girlfriend was married. They wrote letters to one another more than telephoned so I think she BFF lived outside of Boston proper. Mom knew how to drive before she knew how to start a car-her boyfriend did that for her! So women still define themselves by their men, eh?

Thank you, gail!

cmcfong,

TDudette, the women I spoke with are of the belief that the men they meet, or have dated, are intimated and/or put-off by their careers--one is an economist, the other a professor. What a treasure those journals must be! You are so fortunate to have them. Thanks for the story about your mother, I really enjoyed the insight.

I stopped by the BPL today before the BSO Friday matinee concert. I don't understand how you managed to visit BPL when the courtyard fountain is ON?! I've been to the BPL many times and not once is the fountain flowing. You must be a special guest.

I really enjoyed the BSO concert today: with Bernard Haitink (he's 80) and Sir James Galway playing a flute concerto (he's 70). Both look fantastic for their ages!

DH & I are taking advantage of BSO's offer ($20 for <40) for next weekend's concert. Joshua Bell will be playing Brahms violin concerto. Our seats are right in the center of orchestral stalls. I just checked BSO's website: those seats retail for $96! Now if I can figure out how to stop getting older...

A qusetion for you, AnnMarie: did you visit the Moakley courthouse on a weekday or weekend? I'm thinking of going this weekend but I'm not sure if the building is open?

yk, you're killing me. Joshua Bell? *sigh* Happy for you, wishing I were there. Would love to hear how beautiful that performace was.

Visited the Moakley on a Friday expecting the courthouse to be closed during the weekend.

As for the slowing of the aging process...I believe in pickling myself form the inside out.

Weekdays it is...

http://www.moakleycourthouse.com/calendar/calendar.html

form = from, gawd.

Hi AnnMarie_C,

I just typed in the word "Baltimore" under Advanced Search to see if prospective travellers needed advice on the topic and was very pleased to see your trip report!

I took the train from Baltimore to Boston about 9 1/2 years ago to see the New England city for the first time and like you was very happy to have done it that way for the views of the Connecticut shoreline going north from New York City. Funny enough, for me, so different is the feel of Baltimore from Boston, I remember feeling as if I were arriving, not in Europe, but rather to a Canadian city I had never been to before.

I too love the Public Gardens (the swan boats!)and walking along the Charles River. How special it must have been seeing two of my favourite places with the bonuses that you had, the Freedom Trail (unlike my visit, with a knowledgeable tour guide!) and the Old South Church (unlike my visit, with an organ concert going on!).

I went back again (this time from Montreal where I live now) in 2007 and can see why you found it a satisfying substitute for Europe. Boston is a graceful, civilized place with as you say terrific architecture, art, great food.

Thanks for sharing! Daniel

"...so different is the feel of Baltimore from Boston..." could not agree with you more. Unfortunately, I'm not so familiar with Canada to make the comparison. Spent a lovely week in Vancouver, a few days in Ontario. Montreal has long been on "my list"! Lucky you, living there.

The swan boats must have been stored for the season for there wasn't a swan boat in sight! Sounds as though my trip report brought back some happy memories for you--I'm glad! Thanks for your feedback.

Glad this popped up again. With luck DH and I will get to London and the Tate before Boston in March.

We are in the Annapolis area. If you ever want a GTG, please let me know. We had a great time in DC with MaiTaiTom and company and several Fodo's from the general area.

That would be great, TDudette--maybe once it warms a bit we could plan something for Annapolis? I love it there and still haven't been since we moved back. As always, I'm open to suggestion but let's keep it in mind--I would love to meet the Fodorites in this area.

Excellent. Come April, I'll put out a new thread for May or June.

That would be great, TDudette--thank you! Look forward to meeting you.