Girls’ Weekend
A real girls weekend…what a concept! It has been a long time since I took a trip on my own, so it was sorely needed. It all started when my good friend from college, Lidia, asked me if I wanted to go see Duran Duran together. We went to one of their shows many years back, in the mid-nineties, and I have to say it was one of the best Duran Duran concerts I have ever been at. It was basically a greatest hit show, so we danced and sang like 14 years old…except that at the end of the show we were exhausted, and completely aching… The last time DD played in San Diego it was on my due date…if Keegan would have been born late, I probably would have gone, but he was early. Thanks Keegan!
Anyway, DD were touring again, to promote their new album, and playing shows both near San Diego and in Las Vegas, where Lidia lives. Luck, once again was not on my side: I was in Italy at that time. Then Lidia came up with the prefect plan: they had a show in Boston, at the end of October. Lidia lived in Boston for 5 years, so she would be happy to go back, and I have always wanted to visit, plus the show was on a Friday night: I could not pass it up.
First I had to make sure it was OK with Matt: after all, he is the one that would have to be with Keegan for two and half days. After getting the green light, we bought tickets and booked the flight. I was very excited and a little nervous, just because Keegan is still in the “mommie” phase, and always wants me around.
We both left on Thursday night, with a red eye flight. Going at the airport alone, with only carry on luggage for a “short” 5 hours flight was a dream! I flew Jet Blue that, when not keeping passengers hostage on the tarmac for 7+ hours, it is a really “comfortable” airline. I was able to catch a little sleep, and met Lidia at the airport.
I got all my warmest clothes on and I have to say I was able not to freeze…but man it was chilly!
some cars had snow on them…welcome to Massachusetts
We immediately got a nice, warm breakfast and headed to the hotel. We were able to get an early check in so we snoozed a few hours, to get ready for the evening. When we woke up, the sun was still shining, and we went for a walk to the beautiful Public Gardens. We enjoyed the mild temperature and catching up: we have not seen each other in a while.
real fall and Autumn leaves
We had the mandatory stop at the Ducklings statue, and a photo-op at the Cheers pub.
We walked the replica of the London Bridge…we both have been at the one in London: now we are only missing the real one in Arizona.
We got an early dinner in an Irish pub, where I could taste an awesome cup of clam chowder, with mussel and fries, and of course a Samuel Adams OcktoberFest beer. Maybe not the best combo, but still delicious. Now that I have a smart phone, I had email a picture of it to Matt right away. (-:
We walked home, and watching the lit up marquee got us excited for the show that was only few blocks away, at the Wang Theater.
Needless to say, the crowd was the same exact crowd of 30 years ago: a bunch of teenage girls, now 30 years older, and with husbands and kids in tow. Quite interesting. The show was great: it is a small theater, so even if we were sitting in the balcony, we could see quite well. The show focused on the last album quite a bit, which fortunately I have bought and listened to (and it is pretty good), but of course they played many old hits, which are always more fun.
This was definitely not your 80s concert:
• we had assigned seas, instead of waiting for hours outside, and then fight to the death for getting access to the first rows
• no injuries or burns
• Simon made a lot of jokes and I can now almost fully understand
• The security was not only not searching for hidden cameras or recorders, but getting out of the way when you were taking pictures or video with cameras or smart phones
You can see a lot of them on YouTube, and Lidia made amazing pictures.
• the hysterical screaming was almost non-existent (thank God)
• I only spotted 1 real lighter during slow songs. In fact, even Simon le Bon asked the crowd to turn on their cell phones, and lighters. It prompted me to download the Zippo app…so very sad!
John is still hot…
… even if Simon is the one who aged the best
guess what song are they playing now?
What did not change:
• my determination to see them again next time to come
• it was a fun show, and we had a great time
• the songs still sounded great
• Simon still missed a few notes
• my determination to see them again next time to come
• the show was packed with enthusiastic fans, despite my parents guess that by the nineties nobody will even know who they were. (-:
I guess you can’t deny your past. I tell this to my students all the time: choose your band wisely, because these will be the bands you will listen to for the rest of your life. You can like more, different bands— and I do — but there will always a soft spot in your heart for the music of your adolescence and early twenties.
The next morning we woke up under gray skies and ominous forecast: an apocalyptic storm was coming, and we better be prepared. This was a major bummer, since we had the full day for exploring the city a we wanted to go to Salem for the annual Halloween celebration. Anyway, we took it as it came, and we went visiting the city. Lidia was an excellent tour guide: we walked most of the freedom trail, we say the Paul Rivere’s house, and Samuel Adams’ grave, with a couple of detours to Dunkin’ Donuts, Lidia’s favorite coffee shop.
We visited the Main Public Library, which is amazing: it looks like a classic museum, and it is so beautiful. They have several special room, including a map room, with little nooks for children to read themed books or play related activities.
It also had a wonderful courtyard, with a Mother and Child statue fountain.
I crossed the finish line at the Boston marathon, the closest I will ever be to the actual event.
We just meandered the street, catching civil war impersonator at any corner.
We saw Samuel Adam’s grave and Benjamin Franklin’s statue: I had to get a picture of him since he was born on my birthday…or is it the other way around?
In the same square there was the democratic Donkey, and a place to stand in opposition.
a cool bridge, but I don’t remember the name
Boston is definitely a beautiful city, and I do want to come Back sometime, to spend more time here.
We had lunch at Regina’s Pizzeria in the Italian neighborhood, North End.
Just as we finished up, it started raining. And we are not talking about San Diego rain: it poured. We quickly caught the subway, and headed to the Samuel Adams Brewery for a free tour. We had to wait a while, but it was warm and dry, so we did not mind.
The tour was fun, and pretty short and lead to the tasting part: we tried three different beers, and we enjoyed them all. Samuel Adams is one of my favorite beers anyway.
With rain still pouring we headed back to the hotel to rest and relax. Salem was out of the questions, and the train to Cambridge, our alternate location, was under construction, so taking the alternate buses in this messy weather was not an option. So we walked to a nice, warm, Irish pub for a great dinner. We relaxed and chatted, and then watched the first snow fall down. It was cold, and windy but it was fun to see snow falling: I am not sure when was the last time I saw real snow.
We slowly walked back, watching all the “kids” heading to their parties in skimpy clothing. This made me realize that young people are crazy everywhere: in San Diego you see them walking on the boardwalk in t-shirt, shorts and sheep skin Uggs boots, even if it is 70 out. In Boston, you see them wearing coats, dress clothing and flip flops even if it is 50 outside. Or you see them wearing shorts and skimpy dresses even if it is snowing…like the famous Italian verse says: quant’e’ bella giovinezza… (how beautiful is youth).
The next morning, bright and early, I headed to the airport (thank you Lidia for riding the bus with me). Of course the sun was shining and the weather was mild. I had to be in Boston the only night they had a major storm! Oh well, it does not matter: I had a wonderful time, and it went by way too quickly. Thank you Lidia for coming up with the idea and thank you Matt for encouraging me to go.
The flight back was unremarkablele, except for the mad rush to board: despite being at the airport 1.5 hour early, I was the last one to board. It took 50 minutes to clear security, including having to wait to for the result of the full body scan. I still made it in time to buy a small replica of the airplane I was flying in for Keegan, and then I settled in. The flight was quite pleasant. Free xm radio, synced mostly on 80s and 90s music, and I even caught a video of Wild Boys on Vh1 classic…I had the chance to read uninterrupted for hours—which was a wonderful vacation in itself— a very interesting, if haunting book, Room, which I really liked.
We landed early, and I caught a cab only to arrive at an empty home: Matt and Keegan were at the zoo.
It was great to see them both, and even greater to know that Keegan was very good, and he had a great “guys’ weekend”. Matt kept him busy, and while he was very happy to see me, I sighed with relief, knowing that, despite his mommy phase, I can leave him without worry…
Does that mean I can do more girls weekends?????
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