A City with foundations...

Saturday the 4th October was a crisp, sunny autumn morning. By 9am we were at Windsor Gardens station.

The station is walking distance from our home and definitely the most beautiful train stop I have ever seen. I must add that "train-stop-spotting" has never been a great pastime of mine.

Within an hour we were at South Station Boston and we began appreciate the city as we walked towards the New England Aquarium.

The aquarium was a pleasing experience but isn't as good as the Two Oceans aquarium at the Cape Town Waterfront. The interactive dimension of the aquarium is very good however, which kept Michael and Caleigh engaged.

Heather was in charge of navigation and I've never seen her so motivated! She proceeded to march us past Faneuil Hall towards Boston Common. On the way I spotted some ridiculously cool cars down an alley way that led us to the City Hall plaza where a classic American muscle-car and hotrod expo was being hosted.

I admit it, I became deliriously ectatic about every Corvette, Mustang, Thunderbird and low rider on display. Just be glad that I haven't posted every picture taken at this point in our trip.

As we arrived at the common gardens we were greeted by the typical western city cultural melting pot . Of interest were some antiwar protestors who were suprisingly loud considering their advanced age and underwhelming numbers.

I can't say that I don't in some way agree with their point. But is it my South African disposition (ie: complain in the privacy of your home about your government) that made me regard then as odd curiosities worthy of a photo, no more?

After a long trek and with the children flagging, we finally found the original "Cheers" pub. Inspiration for the successful TV series.

I had to assure my kids that "Cheers" was a really a good show and worthy of the footslogging it took to simply walk through the souvenir laden premises. To the boys horror we avoided sitting down to enjoy a meal there, fearing the Brand mark-up on prices. Besides if I wasn't going to drink an ale, what would be the point?

The passage of time since the airing of "Cheers" was emphasised by the pictures of a stunning Kirsty Alley who is currently parodied for her obesity.

Amongst all the walking and wonder we stumbled upon a grave yard. It was the final resting place of John Winthrop. He has a previous mention in my blog for being the founding father of Boston who preached a famous sermon casting a vision for the city as being a "City on a Hill". A city built on God's principles. A shining light of righteousness and justice to the world.

I felt summoned to the spot. It couldn't believe I had found his resting place so soon after our arrival. Don't get me wrong, he isn't a hero to me. I doubt whether I would have enjoyed hanging out with a Puritan. But his message holds a prophetic power today. I can't help think that God is linking the vision of a City on a Hill inside me to a dream of a godly man centuries ago.

A foundational moment in our Boston adventure, pointing to the foundations of the city of Boston.