This is great. We fly to Boston and actually land ten minutes early. Now we are thinking that we can get to our hotel and still visit Aaron who is getting ready for his graduation from Norwich University in Vermont. But – hold it – our prearranged car rental from Budget Rental has a line about four miles long. No problem – we have reserved our car. Wrong. We are directed to the back of the line. Two hours later we get our car. Now it’s too late for any hope of getting to the college so we call in our apologies to Aaron and head straight for our hotel in White River Junction - about an hour from Norwich. There were no accommodations available any closer. Fortunately, the Holiday Inn Express was wonderful – even if it was a Holiday Inn. Much of what made this a pleasant stay was the guy who greeted us upon arrival. He seemed to really like that we had come to stay.

Our daughter-in-law and their two children (1 and 3½ ), Ramona and I had enough baggage for 20 people. I can tell you that Ramona and I usually travel light. We are seasoned travelers. But – with two young kids, there seems a need to have “enough”. We spilled some wine on the bedding. I went to the front desk to ask where I could buy some club soda to get wine out. (it really does get wine stains out). He offered to have the sheets changed. I assured him that it was very little and it did not bother us but I wanted to remove it before it became permanent. He assured me that he had stuff that would get anything out of the sheets – anytime – and asked us not to concern ourselves. That’s class.

Prior to our arrival at the hotel we desperately wanted to find some good food. None of us had eaten since early morning. The only place we could find was a little place named “Big Cheese Pizza” This was not what we had hoped for but we were desperate. Perhaps we’ll be surprised. We were not surprised. The food was awful.

The next morning we partook in the free breakfast. Not great but adequate. And – the coffee was good – a rarity in hotels. Then – on to Norwich. Read more on our VERMONT page.

Back from our adventure at Norwich University in Vermont, it is now time to take Boston seriously and roan its downtown streets. The days we were there were weather pleasant. We saw mimes, people dressed as though they were statues and a couple of guys that looked like one was holding the othere up with one arm while sitting on the ground himself. We didn’t spend a lot of time in the big city because our goal was to get to Plymouth where had rented a house for a few days. The house was an old would frame home near the beach that led a short distance to the famous Plymouth Rock. The home had two bed rooms that would easilly accommodate my sons family as well as Ramona and myself. It had a nice front porch with rocking chairs that brought back days long past when I enjoyed the same experience at my Uncles home as a young boy.

Each morning we walked the beach and had breakfast at the little “water Street Café” that we found by chance, and came to love.