Boston is the oldest city in the United States. The American Revolution started here. And, many believe that the so-called “Cradle of Liberty” was Faneuil Hall, a meeting place where the likes of John Adams, Paul Revere, and Samuel Adams (before he invented beer, remember?) conspired to make life in the colonies miserable for the Brits.
John Hancock, before he invented banking, was involved in those rebellious meetings, as well.
The Hall itself, and the area around it, have changed a bit in the past 270 years. Faneuil Hall is now a museum, but it is surrounded with tourist commercial businesses crammed with various trinkets manufactured in China. The Founding Fathers would be proud of the money-making chops of their descendants here in Boston.
As in most other Boston commercial venues, there is a shop which sells sports stuff. If you’re not a sports fan, then you would probably be unaware that Boston is a HUGE sports town, the home of many world champion teams. Strolling through a place like this, in this town, is unlike anything I’ve seen before…in the San Diego area (haha). Of course, they’ve had major league sports here since…major league sports were invented, for God’s sake.
The Quincy Market building has been right adjacent to Faneuil Hall for 150 years. It has been converted into a mall of sorts, with high-priced grab food in the middle aisle, and assorted vendors in the out-facing stalls. We bought some junk there, but no food.
This whole tourist trap is located in a very nice spot not too far from the harbor, surrounded by an interesting mix of old and modern buildings.
This building seems to have a crown on top.
This is the old Customs House.
The harbor is nice.
Here’s a tall one.
We eventually ended up in an Irish pub just around the corner from Faneuil Hall. It is called the Black Rose.
We had a nice lunch in there. Charlie had a cocktail and some fish tacos and I had a beer and a Reuben sandwich. Yummy!
My photo was taken just before I spilled some Reuben grease on my shirt, thereby requiring me to purchase an authentic Black Rose tee shirt for $20.
Damn…I almost made it out of the Faneuil Hall tourist trap without buying one stinking thing!