Boston has an unprepossessing skyline. As I returned from my morning run along the Esplanade, and crossed back over the bridge, I realized that the skyline over the river was probably one of the main reasons Boston always made me think of London. The buildings lining the river are of a similar height as in London, with the occasional high-rise shooting up from the mass of turrets, coils and red-brick chimneys. All that is absent are the grey, concrete monstrosities London erected in the sixties. Today's grey, overcast sky also added to the Londonish feeling.

I'd woken up tired and groggy and really didn't feel up to running. I went down to the lobby area and poured myself two cups of coffee to take back to my room. Immediately after I'd walked past the cute guy at the desk, I suddenly realized what it must look like, and popped my head back into the doorway and told him "In case you're wondering, these are both for me!" The guy laughed uproariously. Of course I should have asked him up to share the coffee with me :)

By the time I got back from my run, my friend Bob had arrived and was waiting, so I took a quick shower (although Bob probably has a different opinion on how quick it was!) After we'd both consumed caesar salads with chicken at Marcellos, we took a cab over to Charlestown to see the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides", the oldest, fully-commissioned naval vessel still afloat in the World, dating from the 1790s. It was a highlight of my trip. Although I already knew pretty much everything the young navy guide told us, I still enjoyed hearing it fresh. I got egg on my face though, when I asked him if he knew that HMS Victory was actually twenty years older than the Constition, and was also fully commissioned (it's the flagship of the British Royal Navy). He pointed out that the Victory wasn't afloat. Apparently it's resting in a mud bank. Oh well.

Old Ironsides

Keith rethinks his fantasy that he'd have made a good sailor

We lucked out right after the tour in being on the spot when the Canadian frigate "La Ville Quebec" came into dock beside the Constitution on a friendly visit. Bob and I lingered to watch for about forty five minutes as they went through the docking process.

Docking the Canadian frigate "La Ville Quebec"

Cute Canadian sailor boy

By this time, I at least, was completely fagged out, so we hitched a ride on a trolley-tour bus back to Boston and the hotel, and I took a long nap.

It was a cool, but comfortable evening, as we came out to go for dinner. We had a wonderful meal at Davios, then took a slow stroll up and down Newbury Street, thoroughly enjoying the evening crowds who were either walking, like we were, or eating at one of the many outside cafes. It was the kind of Summer evening feeling I rarely experience in San Francisco, where the evenings are usually too cold.

Keith and Bob at dinner