OK, this place is different. When you travel you realize the extent to which this is a nation of many mini-nations. In Boston, for example, they are so quick on the horn there is no way to avoid getting one if you are first in line. You had better keep an eye out for the yellow and be ready to stomp it.
We managed to hit four Five Guys Burgers and my family has come to the conclusion they are the best ever. My oldest son contends the Burger Lounge has a slight edge but they are pricier. Hopefully my investment will pan out.
We have just checked in near Harvard Yard. The Tufts University tour went went on earlier today was very interesting in that there was a real information session. The energetic presenter, Dan, gave us the true flavor of the Tufts-person. We wisely skipped the tour as we have learned you do either one or the other. Pizza nearby was poor as the area seems surrounded by an indifferent neighborhood.
The weather is cool and breezy and the attack of killer-humidity has been a no-show on this trip. Boston College tomorrow and Harvard Saturday.
I have been on a family trip in New England over the past two weeks looking at colleges for my 17 year old son. It is always interesting to note differences between the West and the East on trips such as this.
A few words about driving after 2200 miles on the road. Drivers are not more or less safe or courteous. The frequent encounter with toll booths is a drag but the roads are in the same general condition. The state highway patrols here are mostly in unmarked cars and rarely drive-they seem to prefer to sit, partially hidden in medians, perhaps lying in wait for a doughnut truck to drive by. One pain in getting gas is that the automatic fill feature on gas pumps is disabled, something about fire danger, but I fail to see the logic in this one. I imagine filling your car in 15 degree weather would be a real winner.
One has a sense of more trucks but maybe that is because most thru-ways are only two or three lanes. Four-laners seem more rare. They definitely have better truck stops with far better food.
There seems to be plenty of sprawl but it is hidden better with all of the trees. Speaking of trees, the rain even in the summer is continual. I thought there was a drought back here. Still we have avoided the worst of the humidity belt as the rain and wind have kept things cool.
Starbucks seem not nearly as ubiquitous and it is hard to find. I know in my home town they are everywhere. More later.
