It's Just a Walk in the Park -- Literally!

 Day 7 - August 2, 2019 - Boston MA

Finally, today is the day we get to see Neel's smiling face, and it will be later on this afternoon.  In the meantime, Patrice takes us on a walking tour of the city (knowing how much we love to walk), and we stop for lunch at JM Curley Restaurant.  While Herb is reading something on his phone, I notice the framed menu board for folks sitting at the bar.  It is entitled, "Law and Order."  How clever!

I point this out to Patrice, and we are both amused.

After lunch, we continue our walk and come upon a lovely park where Canadian geese are feeding in the lime green grass.  I could have zoomed in to get a closeup of them, but I enjoyed better framing the photo with the beautiful trees.

Looking around to the other side of the park, we see families sitting on the grass for a picnic, or to read a book, or are just catching some rays.  It is a very pleasant temperature for the month of August, here in Boston.

It gives me a great thrill to see something nautical -- a replica of a bollard!  Two bollards, actually, one on either side of the round platform.  Willie's Tug would tie to a cleat, but huge ships that come into the port of Boston need a huge structure to tie up to.  I would love to have seen this happen, but here we are in the park.

Patrice had said she had a surprise for us, so off we go. A must-see TV series for Roxie and Ed, Patrice and Neel, and Herb and myself was Downton Abbey.  We could not wait for the next episode to see where the story went.  So we find ourselves in Boston Common seeing banners advertising a traveling exhibition of Downton Abbey, where we would see recreations of the British historical period drama's elaborate sets and more than 50 of the show's iconic costumes.  It will be held in the Castle at Park Plaza.

Now it is 5 o'clock and Happy Hour, with dinner to follow.  Soon we will see Neel, who is manager of the Parish Cafe and Bar, a nice restaurant in the heart of Boston, offering indoor and outdoor seating.  There are many different beers, wines, and cocktails, and the varied menu makes it so hard to choose.  

The hostess seats us inside with a great view of the bar, where we see a sign just above the bartender that says, "Beware of Attack Waitress."  How cute!  When she brings our beverages, she does not attack any of us.

Finally we see Neel!  He has been around somewhere doing his managing things.  I love his smile.

From the menu I choose a Zuni Roll, which is turkey, bacon & cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla, served with cranberry chipotle; it pairs well with a chilled glass of white wine.  No photo of my food, but I do take a photo of the other three.

Willie of Sweet Caroline

     and of Walldog and Willie

     Friday, August 2, 2019