Boston
Date: November 2, 2013
This is the place I had lived from 1969 till 1973. My dinner time was 5:15 PM, restaurant can give no show tables to anytime dining passengers. Just prior to Boston, one couple sat there. We started to char. They live in the suburban of Boston. They told me there are changes in Boston - no above ground highway, streetcar, and more greens. When I left South Boston cruise terminal and really found out the difference. Today, it is more beautiful than yesterday, very clean and tidy in the harbour area. The old Boston Garden is now a new TD Garden. I walked from city hall area to downtown along Washington Street, it used to be department stores and movie theaters. I was quite disappointed to see Filene's is gone, only the old front wall stayed there with tons of constructions under way. The old theaters are replaced with glass and steel office buildings. The only area without changes - Boston Common, Park Street & Boylston subway stations. State building. The air from subway is still the same, stale and lousy.
Nov 2 is Saturday, the city was celebrating Boston Red Sox won World Series champion with a big parade. Traffic was in control. We had a hard to cross the street. We walked from Boston Common to City Hall area, we still could not get across, finally, we asked one policeman and explained him we had to get back to the ship before 4 PM. He asked the other policemen and guided us across the street.
Boston was founded in 1630 by Puritan colonists from England. Boston was incorporated as a city in 1822. It is the capital and the largest city of Massachusetts. Population is about 620K. The cruise ship put some interesting or historic points to visit: Faneull Hall and Quincy Marketplace, Public Garden, Newbury Street, Freedom Trail, and North End. The is special shuttle bus from port to the place near North end and Quincy Marketplace - $8 each way per person. A short distance with high fare, I should take city bus from port to subway station, then use subway to get to downtown.
Filene's Department
Filene's
Here used to Jordan Marsh, now, Macy's
Here used to be theatres
People gathering to celebrate Red Sox World Series Champion
Boylston Station - The street is now world famous after Boston Marathon day
Boston Common
Park Station
Massachusetts State Building
Hay market in North End
Newport
Date: November 3, 2013
Newport, Rhode Island, is famous for rich and famous people's mansions. I visited this place several years ago from Toronto's Safeway Bus Tours. The port is mainly for small ships and recreational boats. Emerald Princess anchored in sea and used tender to transfer us to shore. Weather was chilly and windy, not interesting to for walking. We just went to a local cafe for coffee and WiFi.
Newport was founded in 1639. It is the southernmost town on Aquidneck Island. It is situated 30 miles south of Providence and 80 miles south of Boston. Population is about 25K.
New York
Date: November 4, 2013
New York was founded by the Dutch West India Company established a trading post on the southern shore of Manna-hata island in 1642. It is located on the Eastern Atlantic coast of the United States, at the mouth of the Hudson River. Population is around 8.2 Millions.
The famous spots - Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Times Square, Empire State building, Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, and more. Personally, I like to visit Metropolitan Museum of Art, Radio City and 42nd Street and Times Square.
Emerald Princess docked at Brooklyn, the area is very quiet. Jimmy picked us and drove to his home. We had one day stayed in this city, but did not visit any special sight seeing place.
Norfolk
Date: November 5, 2013
Norfolk is the oldest of the Hampton's nine cities, founded in 1682 and incorporated in 1736. Located amidst Hampton Roads metro center of several towns and counties. Norfolk rests at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
The best of Norfolk from Princess: Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown, Norfolk Naval Station, Nauticus, USS Wisconsin, Governor's Palace & Capitol Building, MacArthur Memorial.
Emerald Princess docked just close to USS Wisconsin, the warship museum is not free, it is part of Nauticus. Downtown area has many historic buildings.
Thee largest naval installation in the world, the Norfolk Naval Base is homeport to over 100 ships and 26 aircraft squadrons and is the headquarters of the Atlantic Fleet.
USS Wisconsin
Norfolk - Mermaid city
Very nice public transportation
US Custom
Charleston
Date: November 7, 2013
Probably we all know the dance Charleston, yes, this dance is named for the harbour city Charleston, South Carolina. It is a rare chance to visit by cruise ship. For 2013, this is the only trip to this city. No wonder, even the ship crew were excited, they all tried to get ashore on their break time.
The cruise terminal is not convenient for bus to get in, for excursion passengers they all need to walk to their bus. The first impression of the city is their custom building, it looks like a museum. There is a big market for local arts or souvenirs. Horse carriage rides, just like go back to the last century. There are many famous buildings with beautiful gardens. It is worth your visit, do come over.
By eight friends of the "Merry Monarch", English King Charles II in 1670 as Charles Towne. Charlestonians quip that the Ashley and Cooper Rivers merge to form the Atlantic Ocean. Charleston is at Oyster Point, South Carolina. Population in the city is about 120 K, but for Metro is about 660 K.
The major attractions:
Battery Park, U>S> Naval & Maritime History, Old Exchange & provost Dungeon, Fort Sumter, Nathaniel Russell House, Magnolia Plantation & Garden, Joseph Manigault House, Boone Hall. Boone Hall, one of America's oldest working plantations. Our dinner next table couple, they told us this plantation exhibits slavery grew rice in this region because they know how to grow rice when they were in Africa. I do believe slavery is part of Colonial America history.
Custom House
One old theatre
City Hall
Market - several blocks
Grass can grow in the water
Aircraft Carrier - Yorktown
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