New England Day 15: Boston: Francis's Fire Station, Boston Tea Party, Hotel

Saturday morning, we met up with U's cousin Francis who is a firefighter in Somerville, MA. She gave us a tour of her station. It was very informative. We watched dispatch respond to several calls in various parts of the city. Megan and Matthew helped put compressed air in a tank. Megan and Sarah slid down the fire poles multiple times. We saw the kitchen and sleeping areas as well as the tv room and break room.

Megan, Francis, Me and Sarah on one of the ladder trucks.

Shortly after the above picture, the alarm went off and the firemen left on a call. We didn't even hear the alarm at first so our first indication that we needed to get off the truck was seeing someone slide down the firepole.

Francis teaching us about the job of a firefighter. She was impressed by how much Megan and Matthew already knew. (It's what happens when you've learned about something since the time you were small and you've just had a fire academy at school.)

Matthew with an air pack on.

Francis showed them how to hook up the various hoses and adjust them.

Maybe not the wording I would want to see on my life support equipment...

They were able to attach and test the mask and air bottle.  She also showed them the alarm system they use if a firefighter isn't moving.

Learning how to calibrate the equipment.

Matthew, Francis, Megan and Sarah on one of the trucks.

Matthew and Megan, Me, Francis, U and Sarah at the station.

After visiting the station, we went to a nearby restaurant to have lunch with Francis.

We then went to the Boston Tea Party Museum.

Samuel Adams riling up the crowd.

Matthew getting ready to throw some tea off the ship.

There it goes!

Megan also participated in the ruckus.

She doesn't look like she regrets her actions one bit!

Some of the cramped quarters down below.

Matthew steering the ship.

Megan takes a turn as well.

Matthew, Me and Megan at the bow of the ship.

Matthew and Megan with a minute man.

Sign outside the Tea Party Museum. It's based on public opinion, not academic analysis, and it's interesting some of the places not included like Independence Hall in Philadelphia and the monuments and memorials in Washington D.C.. Still, it's interesting to look at and realize my kids have been to six of these places. Me has been to 9 (all but Plimoth Plantation) and U has been to 8.

We headed to Copley Square.

Matthew with John Copley. At the Old State House, everyone is given the card of someone from colonial times. Matthew was John Copley, portrait painter of many of the colonial leaders.

Trinity Church.

Reflection of Trinity Church in the John Hancock building.

Megan and Matthew liked the tortoise and the hare statues. They were created by the same artist who made the "Make Way for Ducklings" statues.

We knew Boston was playing in the playoffs and when we saw a lot of Red Sox shirts, we looked up to see when their game was. Turns out it was this night at Fenway Park so we headed down to one of the most famous ballparks. There were a lot of people and lots of positive energy.

Some random person gave Matthew this sign so he could cheer on the Red Sox.

The green monster!

Lights from the stadium.

Megan, Sarah and Matthew on the ride home.

Here are a few pictures of from our hotel.

The two beds in our room. There was also a pull out sofa.

Breakfast was included. We mostly served ourselves from a buffet but we could order omelets, pancakes and French toast from the kitchen. It was really fancy with white tablecloths and everything.

Matthew, Megan, U and Sarah at breakfast one morning.

Some fancy water was got from the hotel since we didn't want the wine they initially gave us.

Mirror from the room in which Charles Dickens stayed.

A few selfies in the mirror, trying to see if we see Dickens' reflection and just for fun.

Charles Dickens' door while he stayed at the hotel.

Matthew doing some lifting.

Megan getting in some more exercise.

Lobby of the hotel. It was fancy!