More Massachussets

 Salem Mass. the town of mystery and history.  We drive around historic homes including the House of Seven Gables.  In 1668, merchant and ship-owner John Turner built a house on Salem Harbor that was destined to become one of America’s most beloved historic home as depicted in Hawthorne’s novel.

 Finding public parking we were able walk around the area of the witch trials.  It’s sad to think about how people can be so prejudice toward others out of fear.  Residents in colonial Massachusetts accused people of witchcraft between February 1692 and May 1693. The trials resulted in the executions of twenty people, fourteen of them women. Five others (including two infant children) died in prison.

Behaviors such as excommunication from church, confiscation of land and property and torture in which the subject is pressed beneath an increasingly heavy load of stones were used to converse guilty pleas. Eventually those who admitted guilt were hung and denied Christian burials.

This one might have been a relative.

We appreciated the current respect shown with fresh roses weekly.

Searching for happier times and more acceptance we head to Provincetown.  The Jeep transported us again and even with this small vehicle, parking is hard to find.  Finally, we find a lot for a restaurant, why not?   Lunch at Bubalas by the bay, very LGBTQ friendly and good food.  We people watch and enjoy the weather.

Then a drive to the National seashore area and view lighthouses. Somehow taking a wrong turn, we end up Jeeping on horse trail.

Boston, Mass

After days of conversation about our options and enjoying the dog days of summer in New England, we travel to Boston. Trying to see Boston in a day was a whirlwind.  We start at the USS Constitution, Old Ironsides is as impressive as reported.  The whole waterfront area is a must see.  

 

 

As we start to drive to other locations in town we learn all reports about narrow streets and lack of parking is as reported.

Many areas of the city are difficult to drive and limited parking is expensive.  We find ourselves being bad tourists and driving site to site.  I take pictures from our moving vehicle, the Jeep, and read about history on Wikipedia.  Of course we see a demonstration on the steps of the capitol just blocks from the office of Ally McBeal, our favorite character from Boston, sorry Cheer's.

Finally stopping for coffee in Quincy near Adams homes a National Park. The beautiful warm day gives us more time for continued thoughtful conversation. We decide, we don’t want to sell the RV and we are going to need to find work at our next stop so we don’t deplete our savings.  

We receive a call from our friend Ruth in Washington with an interesting offer.  She works part-time at an RV and boat storage lot.  Her boss is looking for a live-in overnight security guard in Bellingham. There is no pay for the position but free RV spot in exchange for our presence.  We agree to head to Bellingham, Washington after our commitment at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. 

We celebrate our decision with our friend Dara from California who is visiting family in Boston.  She takes us out for a wonderful Italian dinner in town.