Getting lost in Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill was and still is the fashionable place to live in Boston. But, before Beacon Hill was the place to live, Bowdoin Square had the hot zip code. After the State House tour, I stopped by the Otis House on Cambridge Street. This house is the only surviving Federal period house in the Bowdoin Square area. All other period houses were destroyed when Boston leveled most of this area for "urban revitalization" in the 1960s. This house was built as a "starter" home for a wealthy Boston lawyer who also had a major role in developing real estate on Beacon Hill (and where he had his larger, permanent homes built). Decorated in the federal style, this house gives you and idea of what it would be like to live or visit an upper class family home. The tours are free for Boston residents and about $5-$10 for everyone else. It was definitely worth it for free but I would only pay full price if you happen to enjoy Federal period homes.

After stopping for lunch at a small sandwich cafe (which oddly was also connected to a Chinese Buffet and a Dunkin Donuts), I headed up Beacon Hill for a self-guided walking tour of homes of famous women who lived in Beacon Hill (http://www.bwht.org/BeaconHill.pdf). Lousia May Alcott lived here as well as some of the first female physicians and women who helped with the Underground Railroad. Beacon Hill was also home to the Portia School of Law which was an all female law school started in 1908.

I walked by Louisburg square where there are $$$$$$$ townhomes (I think U.S. Senator John Kerry owns one of them). The window boxes on the houses are beautiful. A walk along Charles Street was also entertaining and I found a chocolate shop and a cupcake shop but I was good and didn't buy anything. So, I can't say that those places are good but they definitely were fun to look at and I plan to someday buy $3 truffles or $4 cupcakes.... perhaps the next time I have a bad day...

Overall, Beacon Hill is a fun place to walk though and do a self-guided walking tour. And, if you follow Charles Street away from Mass General Hospital, you end up at the Boston Public Garden, one of my favorite places. While at the garden I discovered that George Washington was a Boston Bruins Fan (tonight is the final game and crazy Bostonians decided to dress him up for the occasion).

Otis House



The Otis House was one of the few remaining buildings left after the West End "Urban Renewal" of the late 1950s. (photo source: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/gallery/012109_west_end?pg=4)



My favorite mozzeralla, tomato, basil sandwich. Only $4.25 which is a really good deal in that part of town and anywhere in Boston.

Louisa May Alcott lived her for a short time as a child

The lady who lived in this house has a daring story. She and her husband were slaves so she dressed up as an injured master and had her husband pretend to be her slave and thus, they together made it to safety!

Window Boxes :)

Lousia May Alcott bought 10 Louisburg square at the end of her life

Louisburg square townhomes

I think it is neat how the chocolate shells and starfish are melted into the chocolate bar

mmmmm this looks good

What more proof do you need my athiest friends?

Too cute

okay, I'll admit, these cupcakes do look better than mine

Even the ducklings have Bruins jerseys!

Boston Public Garden

Who knew that George Washington was a Bruins Fan?