I sit here, about 9pm Eastern time, caring not so much about NY right now but thinking more about what to do in Boston.
People talk about your eyes being bigger than your stomach; as a kid that was only rarely a problem, for I had a big stomach. And a fast metabolism. I rarely bit off more than I could chew, literally and figuratively. These days, when it comes to food, it is a different matter, but not so much because of getting full, but because I don’t need all those calories. This is just a digression.
I look at Boston and the things I could do there and I want to have it all. I’m just going for a day. Originally it was a lunch trip. There in the morning; lunch; wander a bit; bus back at night. Now I’ll stay overnight, and so I’m considering, what can I do with that time?
I leave early in the morning, and hope to arrive by 11 or 11:30, traffic permitting. Find Amy’s office, drop off my bag or perhaps just get some maps, and then meet again for lunch at 1pm. Lunch until 2 or 2:30 or however long these folks can manage. Then an afternoon free, perhaps to wander around town, weather permitting. Meet up for dinner or at least at Richard and Amy’s place; there is a concert Richard wants to attend, and I’ll go. I can imagine sitting around chatting, shooting the breeze. Early enough to bed. Up in the morning on Saturday whenever they arise (they have a dog, though, which can complicate schedules), breakfast, then off to town to see a few things before bussing back sometime … in the afternoon? Wait until evening? About four hours back, I suppose, and then walking to a subway and coming back to Jyoti’s. But there is so much to see in Boston. There are tours, guided and self-guided. With a day, less, really, there is so much to see and do but so little time to do it, and I hate going someplace and not doing it justice. Harvard, MIT, museums, the historical districts, just sitting, relaxing, and having a coffee. See the human-skin book, or the Church of Christ, Science museum with a couple great displays. So much, so little time.
Today Jyoti and I decided against the Empire State Building, due to price … for now, and opted for some midtown East Side sights, such as Radio City, Rockefeller Center and Plaza, Saks 5th Avenue and Grand Central Station … before we went to the UN for a tour. Our Indian guide was young(ish) and competent, and energetic. He included a number of questions that were rhetorical even though he seemed to be asking for our input, for there were types of answers that he wanted … not necessarily critical or sarcastic responses. We got to see all the major “rooms” — where the Security Counsel meets, where the General Assembly meets, etc. It was nice. And but for a few young folks from New Mexico, Jyoti and I were the youngest there.
In the early evening, as I was finishing laundry and baking an apple pie, and getting ready to join Jyoti at a gelato place with Ana, “Chinese Bohemian Gypsy”‘s replacement — Cindy — arrived … to some if not much confusion. We eventually got it worked out; perhaps it helps that she’s friendlier and more likely to talk than her predecessor.
Early to bed tonight — I have to get up before 5 so I can get ready for Boston. It’s a 6:30 or 7am bus from Chinatown (subway, 1, down to Canal Street, then walk half a mile east, basically).
