Patriots in the Cradle of Revolution

Another few days in the cradle of revolution...

Friday

Boxing Day... Apparently not a thing in America, but when you're on holidays everyday a holiday is a thing... Which kind of goes without saying... Turns out only a handful of states in America allow a public holiday the day after Christmas, which ones I couldn't say, but this is what I was told

I woke up late, headed to the Garden for the Nets and Celtics and was disappointed to find that the Pro-shop was closed again, even though it was a game day.  This really annoyed me.  I then got in a line outside the building, entered the building again through a different door, waited at the base of the stairs, and then headed up to scan my ticket and enter the arena.  The new Pro-Shop was upstairs, so I went there and had a look, but they didn't have anything that I wanted in a size I could use, so I ended up walking out, rejoining the line for admission and heading in.

To make up for the difficulties I had in the Pro-Shop, the seats I had were fantastic in their proximity to the floor.  I was in one corner (bottom right for those of you watching at home).  You could hear the players during parts of the game, setting up an offence, calling defensive switches, generally yelling... It was really cool.  Though, during the pre-game warmups I couldn't see much because people chose to stand at the very front of the section (I was in row D) and take photos or watch and it made it very difficult to see.

Really close seats

Real close!

The game featured the Brooklyn Nets, who had Kevin Garnett, still a much loved figure in Boston, in what could be his last game in the Garden.  Every time he scored or was introduced or acknowledged in any way the crowd would give a cheer.  I guess when you help the city raise a Championship banner, and then you are traded for a shamrock shaped megapenis of draft picks, the fans will show you love when you come back wearing another uniform (I'm not sure the same would go for Ray Allen, but perhaps that is just me not liking the Miami Heat again).

To be so close to the action was a bit of a blessing and a curse... You miss so much because there are obstructions in the way, patrons, staff members, players, backboard etc, but you are in a brilliant position to see the game and the players do their thing up close... They are amazing athletes!

National Anthem

KG

So close to the action

As the game started it was very closely contested by both teams.  Neither side took a major lead or fell behind too far, it was very well played by both teams.

During the middle of the 1st quarter a pair of girls sat in the seats next to me.  These girls were the stereotypical Boston girls which was discussed in some length in the movie Ted.  They were more interested in taking duckface selfies and trying to get on the big screen than they were in watching the game.

What? Moment of the Day
Boston Girl (to me): "How many quarters are there in the game?"
Sam: 'Uh... 4'
Boston: "Oh, I guess that makes sense"
Sam: *rolls eyes and goes back to the game*

The Celtics lead for most of the first half (although the scores were tied at half time), and even took a slight lead in the second half to go up 7 points at 3 quarter time.  However, the Nets fought back in the last quarter and it was basket for basket late.  In the final minute the scores were still tied and we looked set for free basketball, but with 14.9 seconds left the Nets went up 106-104, and following two free throws it became 108-104.  Boston then hit a 3 pointer, and with 1.7 left on the clock the score was 108-107.  Brooklyn missed the first of their free throws after the Celtics intentionally fouled them, and then made the second, bringing the score to 109-107.

With so little time left and no timeouts to advance the ball, the ball was lobbed the length of the court to Jared Sullinger, who put up a buzzer beater to send the game to overtime... It hit back rim, bounced up, down, and out...

Final, Nets 109, Celtics 107

It was a wonderfully entertaining game, even though the good guys lost.  The game was always close, it was a high standard and it was a team I cared about so I put away the camera for large parts and just enjoyed the game for the game.  Really good day out at the Garden.

I would have liked to have seen Rajon Rondo one more time in Celtic green but unfortunately his trade to Dallas a week earlier kind of kiboshed that... Let the rebuild roll on...

Enjoying my day at the Garden

Close up action

Celtics inbound the ball

I walked out onto Causeway Street and bought another t-shirt, there were some pretty funny ones out there being sold by the street vendors, and the brain-snapping deals he was offering caused me to buy for friends.  I then decided to make the most of the daylight and walked along Causeway Street and through back streets to Boston Common.

Boston Common was established in 1634 and has been used for many purposes over the years, originally used to graze cattle and to train militia, it is now just a public park.  It is the oldest city park in America.  I was walking through to try to find the Cheers Bar, however, I was unsuccessful.  Walking through the Common on such a nice day wasn't a bad result though, even though I couldn't find the bar.

Boston Common

View of Boston Common towards the Massachusetts State House

As I walked to the other side of the park I saw a hop-on hop-off trolley going on by... So, with some luck I jumped on and had the brilliant tour guide Bubba from two days earlier.

Aside from some chatty foreigners who drowned out the guide the tour was decent.  Though, most of the tour that I got was a repeat of what I had heard two days earlier.  The first stop was the Cheers Bar, or as Bubba called it, the 'Cheahs Bah', so I did find it eventually, but I chose not to get off and go inside.  I had been 4 years earlier with Dad.  Many of the next stops were hotels in the Copley Square area.  This was near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, although, the Marathon site was not a stop on the bus.  After this we ended up going by Fenway Park, the Back Bay Fens, over to MIT, and essentially the entire portion of the tour I took on Christmas Eve.

Boston on the Charles River at dusk

At the end of the tour I got an Uber home, chatted to the guy about Arsenal who had played earlier in the day (it has taken heaps of getting used to, normally a day game in England will be late night, but when in America a day game in England is early morning... I've not kept up with the Premier League at all), and then headed on home.

It was a very uneventful night, TV and then bed. 

Saturday

I had the intention to achieve a heap of things on Saturday.  Walking tour on the Freedom Trail, go to the Boston Tea Party ships and museum, going out to Foxborough to go to the Patriots Hall of Fame... But I again stayed in bed and wasn't able to achieve all these lofty goals... In fact, this cost me twice due to the sequencing of the day, but that will become a bit clearer in a moment.


I headed first to the Boston Tea Party ships and museum, this was the closest thing to my place and I had a free ticket thanks to the hop-on hop-off trolley.  The walk-through I was on was at 12:15 PM.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Throwing the tea into Boston Harbor

These ships were exact replicas of the originals... Imagine riding one of these across the Atlantic!

Much similar to the Civil War bloke in Atlanta, those in the Boston Tea Party Museum did not break character the entire time, the girl who was taking our group through the museum introduced herself as Maggie... We were each given a place card with a name, and this was the person I was on December 16, 1773... On 16 December 1773, I was Thomas Porter... Everyone working there was in character at all times and was wearing period clothing...

Australia Moment of the Day:
Maggie: "So, where are you from?"
Sam: 'Australia'
Maggie: "Oh, an escaped convict?"
Sam: 'Well, no, I'm from the free settlement colony'
Maggie: "Doesn't mean you're not an escaped convict"
Sam: 'True'
Maggie: "OK, are you happy to have a speaking role?"
Sam: 'Sure'
Maggie: "OK, well, you look like a Thomas Porter... Nice to meet you Porter"
Sam: 'Thanks'
Maggie (to guy behind me): "And where are you from?"
Guy: 'Texas'
Maggie: "Where? I don't know what that place is"
Guy: 'Oh, uh, Indian Territory'
Maggie: "And yet you have come here to protest these taxes?"
Guy: 'So it would appear'

As Maggie walked out to let more people in she loudly muttered to herself something about 'these damned oppressive taxes'.  It was a really great job on her part.

Samuel Adams walked in and gave a rousing speech to the gathered crowd and gave a run down of the Acts of Parliament taxing the American colonists despite a lack of representation in that Parliament... Even I, Thomas Porter, was able to address the assembly...

I, Thomas Porter, Speaking Role of the Day:
Sam Adams: "What say you Mr Porter?"
Sam Thomas Porter: 'Aye! Parliament not only taxed our paper and ink, they even taxed our playing cards and dice!'
Sam Adams: "Well said Porter"

I, Thomas Porter

The cool part about the Boston Tea Party Museum was that everyone got into the act and played a role even though it was super awkward for those of us who weren't in period garb.  The American Revolution and the Napoleonic Eras are two of my favourite periods of history, and some of the fashions (not so much the wigs) were pretty cool, tricorn hats, grandiose jackets and all that stuff.  Would've been cool to go through the museum in period garb.

After Sam Adams gave his speech, received a message from the Governer saying that the ships would have to be unloaded, Sam Adams raised the paper and said 'this meeting can do nothing further to save this country' (which was a coded message to the Sons of Liberty to let them know to head down to Griffin Wharf because it was game on!), we headed down to the ships.  Apparently there were several hundred boxes on each of the 3 ships, so, it would have taken an entire night of hard labour to throw the tea into the sea. 

After the ship we headed into the museum and had a walk through the attitudes in Boston from loyalists and Patriots, followed by the attitudes and arguments of the King and of Samuel Adams.  The doors were automated, and a kid commented to Maggie that it was a magic door... Maggie replied "Yes, we got the doors from Salem"... Salem, Massachusetts of course was the site of the witch trials and hysteria... This was a wonderful touch by Maggie.

We saw one of the two remaining original boxes from the Boston Tea Party that are still in existence.  This was a really cool piece of history to see!  Regrettably no photography was allowed, but it was very cool to see... And that really got me thinking, I am all excited and chuffed to say that I saw a small wooden box... We then watched a short video on the events leading up to the shot heard around the world at Lexington when the British Regulars were heading to Concord to seize the guns and powder of the Massachusetts militia, and then I left the museum.  It was a really enjoyable experience and museum.  I thanked Maggie for the tour and her effort, to which she said 'nice meeting you Porter!'... Even when I was leaving she was keeping me to character.

Thomas Porter wearing his Tricorn hat

I walked from the Tea Party ships to Boston Common where I tried to get on the 2 PM walking tour... Unfortunately walking tours in the winter months on leave at 11 AM, noon, and 1 PM... It was 1:40 PM... So, I paid $3 for a Freedom Trail self guided tour (I.e. a pamphlet) and set off on the Freedom Trail.  I was a little disappointed that the original pamphlet I had didn't tell me winter hours were different and as a result I missed the walking tour.  But I hit the Trail and walked on through Boston Common.  I headed up to the Mass State House, then back into the Common, over to the Park Street Congregational Church... Without a guide I was tearing through the early portion of the Trail. 

The next place I got to was the Boston Burying Ground, where I ran into the 1 PM tour... Which was massive... And due to the sheer size, I was able to just jump on the back end and take the tour for free... I got a few dirty looks because I didn't have a pin to say I was on the tour, but my argument was I did pay... $3 for the pamphlet... I also lost my pin... And I was on the trail anyway, I was just walking at my own pace, which just happened to be at the same pace as the tour... No one said anything, so, I got away with it... Worked for me...

Boston Burying Ground... The tour is large and visible on the left

Grave of John Hancock

Grave of Paul Revere

Old Town Hall, the site of the first public school in America... The statue is Benjamin Franklin, who went to school there and dropped out

Omni Parker House - The oldest running hotel in America

The Old South Meeting House - The site of Sam Adams' real life pre-Tea Party rally

After I began the walking tour we headed to Old City Hall, where the site of the first public school house in America existed.  People like John Hancock and Sam Adams studied there... All were welcome... Except blacks and women...

Across the street is the Omni Parker House, the oldest running hotel in America.  It is the place where Boston Cream Pie was invented, it was a favourite hang out of John F. Kennedy, he had his bachelor party there and proposed to Jacqui Kennedy there...  Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese Communist revolutionary leader worked there as a pastry chef back before he became a revolutionary... The week before Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, John Wilkes Booth was seen in the back alley practising his shooting... It is a hell of a spot, so much history, random history, there...

We then headed down to the Old State House, the site of the Boston Massacre.  I like the idea of knowing where I am standing... Where I was standing, back on March 5, 1770, the British army killed 5 people and wounded 6, and the incident was used by Sam Adams' and the Sons of Liberty as a propaganda incident against the British.  Knowing where you're standing... Very cool...

The Old State House and the site of the Boston Massacre

The tour ended at Faneuil Hall, where I walked on through, then through the Quincy Markets and then did some shopping (the selection was better than at the Bruins/Celtics Pro-Shops).

I then continued on the Freedom Trail, walking by myself through the North End, by the Paul Revere House (his house as far as I can tell), the Old North Church (where the lanterns were hung prior to the midnight ride), walked over to Charles Town and the Bunker Hill Monument (the Battle of Bunker Hill which took place on Breeds Hill, was where the quote 'Don't fire until you see the whites in their eyes' was coined... This was so that the Patriot defenders, who were running low on ammo, could get the most purchase for their shots).

Grasshopper on top of Faneuil Hall... It is full of gold... Legit

Samuel Adams and Faneuil Hall

Revere House

Statue of Paul Revere and the Old North Church

Old North Church

Bunker Hill Memorial

After the end of the Freedom Trail, I got a ride from Charlestown back to South Boston where I settled in for the night.  The Jurassic Park trilogy was on AMC, so my night was set (although, I had to watch it in the order 2-3-1), and I have grown to love AMC so much since I have been here... From The Walking Dead to wonderful film trilogies, this is a great channel!

I spent the night watching AMC, blogging, and dealing with that bloody cat... It kept growling at me, even after I fed it... I don't know what I am doing wrong!

I went to bed at the end of the films, Patriot football on Sunday!

Sunday

I had a lazy morning on Sunday.  I had to be at South Station for an 11 AM train, so, I took as much time as I could before heading to the station.  It appeared to be a very popular way to get to Foxborough, which is about 30 miles from Boston.  I bought a return ticket for $15, and hopped on the train after waiting in a long line.

I sat next to a father and son (the son was my age) and we chatted the entire way to Foxborough.  Jack was the father, Justin was the son.  We went through plenty of topics, including travels, Australia, Australian sports, gun law (after we chatted briefly about the Sydney incident), American football, work/jobs and a plethora of other things.  The trip didn't feel very long due to this conversation.  As we arrived into the station near Gillette Stadium we saw people walking along the tracks while the train was still in motion... This seemed really unsafe, but who am I to say...

South Station lines

Having to walk alongside the train to get to the arena

View from the train station

I jumped off the train at about 12:15 PM, so, I had 45 minutes to get to the arena, do any shopping, and get to my seat before kickoff. 

Getting in to the arena was nothing short of a clusterfuck.  I mean, there was little to no order lining up, and everyone seemed very rushed.  The actual going through security was fairly standard, but the lining and getting in was a major pain in the arse.  After having my ticket scanned I went into the Patriots Pro-Shop and bought a pair of t-shirts, the lines inside the store were ridiculous... They went around the store, I mean, the line moved quickly, but it was ridiculous how long it was... After getting out quickly so I didn't miss anything I made my way to my seat and got there just before the teams entered the arena. 

Entering Gillette Stadium

Decent seats

Today's bad guys, the Buffalo Bills

The Patriots enter the field

Tom Brady

Massachusetts Militiamen

New England Championship Banners

Perfect Regular Season Banner; still disappointing not to have a 19-0 banner

The game was a dead rubber for New England, having already sewn up the 1 seed in the AFC.  So, it was treated as a pre-season game.  For example, healthy players were withheld such as Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, and players such as Tom Brady, Devin McCourty and others only played a half of football. The team played really poorly, which was really disappointing for me given the distance I had travelled to see them... But, I mean, there is a bigger prize at the end that is the aim, so I can understand it...

I barely sat down all first half, as the people in front of me (season ticket holders) stood the entire time (two old people made out the entire game!)... "Hey Wilfohk, quit nekkin' on your daughtah!"... The first half was really poor, with Buffalo scoring a touchdown early, another a short while later, and New England only managing to kick field goals.

Playing for Buffalo, not surprising

Brady pre-snap

Brady passes

Brady takes the snap

Minutemen ready to fire

Ready

Aim

Fire!

The second half belonged to Jimmy Garoppolo... "They call him Superbowl Jimmy!" (according to the guy behind me)...  He'll develop, but he looked flustered a fair bit, young quarterback I guess... Anyway, at half time Buffalo lead 17-6, and with Brady and the rest of the first teamers out of the game it became a very painful second half to watch... New England never really looked in the game but they also didn't look like they cared... Buffalo didn't score in the second half and you wonder how much they put in at the end, it was the end of another season not in the playoffs and they had the game pretty well in hand. 

Final, Buffalo 17, New England Reserves 9

Actually wearing colours to a game!

Garoppolo's Offence as Brady looks on from the sideline with his arms crossed... Clearly feeling as happy watching as we all were

With the Massachusetts Minutemen

I walked back to the train, rushing for the most part, then sat down and was bored out of my brain for the next hour or so until we made it back to South Station.  I got home in time for the second half of the Green Bay-Detroit game for the NFC North Division Title (Green Bay won).  I ate some leftovers, did some washing up after my week housesitting in Boston, and settled in for the Sunday Night Football game between the Steelers and Bengals for the AFC North Division Title.

I also had to deal with some mobile phone bullshit with Telstra... I was given some bad information about a casual contract when I was at home before I left, and I had to clean up the bad information all the way from Boston.

Whilst watching the Steelers game the playoff schedule was released.  The Patriots will open the Divisional Round, so if I can find a TV set in Italy I will be able to watch them play on a Saturday night... Hopefully they play better against whoever they play than they did against Buffalo.

I watched the game, packed my bag and then headed to bed. 

It was a busy day, but a day where I didn't do a heap more than ride a train to a football game, watch a game, ride home, and sit in front of the TV and clean the house.

I love the city of Boston.  I really do.  It is the cradle of revolution.  It is the home of the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Patriots.  It is a city steeped in history and with a good sense of humour.  And it is my favourite city in the United States.  I cannot wait to come back again!

Back to New York for New Years up next!