I’m told it’s pronounced: mohn-steh

If you go to Chicago and visit Wrigley Field, then you head over to Boston, I believe you’re required to see Fenway.  I suspect there is some kind of baseball rule about that.  Wrigley Field was built in 1914, but Fenway beat that by two years, coming in at 1912.  For a little historical context, that was the same year the Titanic sank, Woodrow Wilson was elected President and five years before the US entered into World War 1.  It’s been there a while.  I am so disappointed in the Texas Rangers, honestly.  The Ballpark I loved most of all and visited more times than I can count was in use by the team from 1994  until 2019.  Who builds a new thing to replace a perfect, beautiful thing after a short 25 years of use?  I’ll tell you one thing- it isn’t Boston.  We particularly enjoyed the one moment in the tour when we walked behind a mom and her little boy, both with really spot-on Boston accents, decked out in team gear.  The boy said he wanted to stay there forever.  His mom explained that you can’t do that, and as she spoke, she pronounced monster just like I knew she would.  The green mohn-steh.  The whole thing was perfect.  

We took the subway to Fenway, toured the grounds and stopped for a slice of pizza on the way back to our hotel.  It was a beautiful, sunny, perfect day.  It still is, in fact, but Cas and I have just about hit the halfway mark on this trip, so it’s laundry day.  With that, we are off, hopefully to locate a historically significant laundromat- or just a nice, clean one.  

Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2sYnZaQSheDb6sfJ6

The Adirondack

Yesterday in the afternoon, Cas and I started out with the idea that we would visit Paul Revere’s house, and I bet we would have done it, too, were it not for the extremely long line out front and the light mist falling from the sky.  We simultaneously decided to skip it, and instead, go to a wine bar, as we were in the Italian neighborhood again.  We’d had a big couple of pastries for late breakfast, so we decided to have a meal at around three.  This was lunch-dinner.  There’s no language equivalent to the word “brunch” that encompasses those two meals.  We didn’t want to have dinner too late, though, as we had places to be.  The Adirondack III sailed at seven, meaning we needed to be there at 6:30, and of course, we were at the harbor, looking out at the water at around six.  We needed the early bird special, for sure.  If you’re in Boston, of course, you need seafood. Lots and lots of seafood.  But do yourself a favor, take a moment and have some Italian.  There is a robust section of town with amazing Italian restaurants, and fortunately, if you’re doing Boston tourist stuff, you’ll do plenty of walking to burn all of those calories.  We were very happy with our momentary diversion from seafood, though tomorrow, it may be time for another lobster roll.  But from our Italian restaurant, we headed to the harbor.  

It was really the luckiest thing that our fireworks-viewing cruise on the third was cancelled and they let us reschedule for the fourth.  We got on a beautiful sailboat that came complete with wine and blankets.  We had our little hooded windbreakers and we sat, looking out at the water, the fireworks and the far more populated larger vessels.  Some other boats were equipped with spectacular speaker systems, but unfortunately, they were not equipped with anything desirable in the way of music.  After a while, I think our captain was deliberately sailing to spots away from the loud boats.  

We were going for a decidedly different vibe: 

After the fireworks, we were scheduled back at the harbor at 10:30.  About 30 minutes before that, it started to really rain.  Because Cas and I are officially done being soaking wet, we decided to take the crew up on their offer of accommodations below deck.  We sat at the table in the center of the covered space and played word puzzle games on my phone for about 20 minutes until it was time to get off the boat and make our way back to the hotel with great speed.  We got exactly one patch of sunshine in Boston so far, and it was just long enough to get a gorgeous sunset.  I’m calling that a win.  

So, for your enjoyment, take a look at our photos.  We’re off to Fenway this morning, then to a laundromat of no historical significance.  

Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2sYnZaQSheDb6sfJ6

Happy birthday, America!

This morning started off with a quick walk to the Old State House.  There was a Fourth of July parade that ended there, and when the marching band, the volunteers dressed in period costumes and our drum-and-fife buddies from yesterday at the Old North Church arrived, the next event on the docket was for them to stand and listen to a full reading of the Declaration of Independence.  It was really cool, and somehow, Cas and I happened to walk up at the exact right moment to get a good viewing spot.  We stood for well over an hour as the parade wound its way toward us, then we heard a word from the mayor, the reading of the Declaration and a really beautiful rendition of God Bless America.  

As the band departed (playing a Sousa march, of course), we went for a cup of coffee in the Italian neighborhood.  It was a good spot to sit for a moment after standing up for so long.  Heck, it was nice just to walk to the coffee shop so we could move our legs.  From there, we went to the harbor.  The USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) usually stays docked, but for the Fourth, it sailed around the harbor.  It was really something to behold, and we waited around at the dock for it to come closer.  It was worth it.  As it sailed by, a light mist of rain started, and with that, we decided to take a mid-day break.  I have no intention of getting soaking wet again, especially with big plans for this evening.  We have a harbor cruise tonight, and it promises a great view of the fireworks.  

It’s looking like a good time for a nap, or at least, a little rest and relaxation.  Here you go- hope you can experience a little patriotism or awe when you see the photo of Old Ironsides.  

And here are all of the other photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2sYnZaQSheDb6sfJ6

Boston goals

This morning, Cas and I started off with a quick bite at a coffee shop in the Italian area of town.  We each had a cappuccino, and we split a chocolate cannoli.  That’s apparently a cannoli whose shell is dipped in dark chocolate prior to adding the filling.  Wow.  It was pretty spectacular.  Today was a day that vacillated between rain and drizzle pretty much the whole time, reserving the breaks in the weather for the moments when Cas and I were inside of a building.  It was like clockwork.  We’d go in somewhere, and the rain would let up.  We’d step out again, and it was downpour time.  I am writing this right now while Cas is in the bathroom aiming a blow dryer at his jeans.  

In spite of the general crappiness of the weather, we managed to accomplish a lot of our Boston goals.  We left the coffee shop and headed to the Old North Church, where we caught a reading of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.  We stuck around the church for a while, looking around the inside and the grounds until it was time for the Middlesex County Volunteer Fifes and Drums group.  They came out in costume and they played so well and so loud that I was ready to go into battle.  The group had period costumes and plenty of personality.  We hung out for several songs.  

When we left there, we headed out to accomplish our most significant Boston goals.  Cas wanted to eat clam chowder and a lobster roll.  I wanted to visit the Bell In Hand, the oldest continuously operating bar in America.  We did all of those things at the same table.  The Bell In Hand has very good clam chowder and excellent lobster rolls.  Check and check.  

My day could have wrapped up there, and I would have been happy, but we wanted to walk along the Freedom Trail and see a few things before cashing in our chips for the day.  We had other things we wanted to see, and it would have been pretty straightforward, but the weather decided to add a layer of challenge.  I don’t remember the last time my feet were this wet with shoes on.  It must have been a water ride at an amusement park . We would walk a bit, then stop somewhere for a visit or a beer.  That would be the precise moment the rain would let up.  We got confident looking out a window and headed for the door, just in time to welcome the next wave of rain.  Every single time.  The rain was nearly constant, and the winds made sure you couldn’t just casually hold an umbrella.  You had to wield it.  You had to aim it against the winds, or risk it flipping inside out, as so many of them did today. It was just crappy.  

But, like I said, we accomplished our big, Boston goals today, and we even stopped in at the Cheers bar.  No Ted Danson, I’m afraid, and George Wendt was nowhere in sight.  And because Karma must be trying to make up for things, our Harbor Cruise that was scheduled for this evening was rescheduled.  They called today and said they would be cancelling tonight, but somehow, they magically had two spots on tomorrow night’s boat, when the weather appears to be more promising.  So, the crummy weather got our July 3 fireworks harbor cruise (where there probably won’t be fireworks, because, weather…) moved to July 4th (where there probably will be be two days’ worth of amazing fireworks.).

Heck, I’ll take it.  Should be good as soon as we both dry out.  In the meantime, we have dinner reservations just around the corner from the hotel.  Good thing, too.  I don’t think I have much hope of dry pants by then, and walking outside in shorts is going to make me go pretty fast.  

Here are many damp photos,  Enjoy: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2sYnZaQSheDb6sfJ6

A mostly good day

This morning, we had breakfast sandwiches at the Caribou Coffee on Main Street in Red Wing.  It was a Hardee’s way back when I remember it, but even longer before that, it was a train station.  There is a big bell on the wall from that moment in the life of the building.  It’s a giant of a coffee shop- this is no strip mall special.  After the Caribou Coffee, we went to the Red Wing Pottery museum, then walked across the parking lot to the Pottery Place, which had been a more robust shopping center when I was younger.  Now, it appears to be a series of “antique” shops.  I kind of felt like it was more of a large garage sale.  

There was one really great thing at a spot in the museum building we both found impressive.  One group had its sale items all laid out and priced on tables, with a lucite box nearby that had a slot in the top like a piggy bank.  They were just trusting folks to put money in- nobody was minding the store.  It probably worked, too, as it appeared to be a kind of charitable outfit.  You’d have to be pretty low to steal from them.  

Anyhow, we headed to the airport, and we found that we had a little extra time, so we stopped by the sculpture garden that is home to Spoonbridge and Cherry, an iconic Minneapolis landmark.  When you’re near Minneapolis, and you’ve got about 30 minutes to fill, stop by and take a look.  It’s a pretty cool collection of sculptures.  And today, I learned that the cherry stem has a mist sprayer attached to the top.  In all the photos I had seen of this sculpture, I had no idea there was any plumbing involved.  It was both literally and figuratively cool.  

After that, the day was largely about the tedious parts of travel.  We had a flight back to Chicago, then from there to Boston.  The Chicago flight went off without a hitch, but the Boston flight was delayed for an hour and a half, during which we were all seated on the airplane.  It made me very happy that we had called the hotel to let them know we were arriving late.  We told them we’d be in after 10.  We arrived at 11:59, so I suppose we were on the level.  The other thing I was really happy about?  The box of breakfast bars I had stashed in my messenger bag.  We had bought two different kinds in Chicago so we could have breakfast in the hotel room without much difficulty, and we had the leftovers with us on the delayed flight.  We just finished the last few in the room, well after midnight.  It’s not a perfect dinner, but it will do the job, and we’re both ready for our heads to hit the pillows.  

So, it was a mostly good day with a lost hour and a half at the end, but it worked out, anyhow.  Sometimes, delays happen, but we took off, landed safely, and had enough to eat.  We’ll reboot and have a great day tomorrow.  I mean, if you spend your time looking for things to be upset about, you’ll definitely find them.  I’d rather be happy we made it and ready for tomorrow.  

Here, again, is a link to the photo album, and with that, I’m out.  Good night!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2sYnZaQSheDb6sfJ6

Minnesota Nice

There is a particular way Minnesotans are described, sometimes.  We’re “Minnesota Nice.”  Minnesotans are widely viewed as polite and friendly.  That certainly was what I hope Cas took away from our Red Wing adventures yesterday.  I felt totally at ease, surrounded by people who look, act and dress like me.  Sure, that’s to be expected.  I was born here and spent the first seven years of my life in this city.  Stands to reason that I kind of fit in here.  

So, I left you hanging at Randy’s.  That was the first thing we did yesterday, but by no means was it the last.  From there, we went on a little walk down Main Street, because, of course, it’s called Main Street.  We went past the school where I attended up until second grade, the park near that school where I used to play, and into the public library where I checked out my first book.  With a little more wandering, we landed at the river.  Red Wing was a big hub back in the day, with a train depot and great access to the Mississippi River, lots of business flowed through Red Wing in its heyday.  

After our stroll through downtown and by the river, we hopped in the rental car and drove to the trailhead for Barn Bluff.  Leave it to pragmatic midwesterners to name a bluff because it resembles a barn.  Cas loves hiking, and I have developed a fondness for it, as well, so up we went, and Barn Bluff, though its name is rather ordinary, did not disappoint.  We took in views of the river, the city, and everything we could see from atop the large chunk of rock.  It was beautiful, and afterward, we were filthy.  So, we headed back to the hotel to clean up a little prior to lunch.  

We went to lunch at a spot called Liberty’s, which I always enjoyed.  It was founded in Red Wing a year after I was ”founded” here, so it’s in good company.  There are classic motorcycles hanging from the ceiling at Liberty’s, a fact that I certainly must relate to my dad, in case that’s a new feature since his las visit.  He’ll be in the area at the end of the summer, and I suspect he will want to come in, have a beer and grab a ladder for closer inspection.  After that, we walked to the Red Wing Shoe museum and store to have a look at the world’s largest work boot.  Why wouldn’t you?  Then we waked through the Uffda Shop, and despite the very Scandinavian-ness of everything in there, we didn’t find anything we couldn’t live without.  

After that, we got in the car and drove a little.  We went to the very first house I ever lived in, but we were there when I was a baby, so no memory lane, I’m afraid.  Then, we saw the place my family lived until I was seven.  That one, I remember.  It looks smaller.  Probably because I’m bigger.  We drove down the gravel road where my mom grew up, photographed the spot where my grandpa’s house used to be and made our way to the church where my folks were married and where I was baptized.  We were standing out front when the 6pm church bells chimed.  It was such a long series of chimes, that I captured a quick video of the bells- it’s in the photo album.  

I know it sounds like our day took us from one end of Minnesota to the other, but we actually had a little time to kill before dinner at this point- Oh, I mean supper.  I failed to mention, when you are in Red Wing, you have breakfast, dinner and supper, in that order.  There is no such thing as lunch, and dinner is in the middle of the day.  So what I meant to say was that we had a little time to kill before supper.  That’s better.  So we headed to Colvill Park. It’s pretty, right on the water, and in the winter, it’s a spot where you can see lots and lots of bald eagles.  Not so much in the summer, though.  No matter.  We both suspect we saw one flying around early in the morning, but he was pretty quick, and we can’t be sure.  

For supper, we headed to the Smokin’ Oak.  It’s a nice enough place, but Cas has long been fascinated by the Minnesotan pronunciation fo the long O.  The Smokin’ Oak has two of them, and just saying the name in the voice of the people here was enough to sell him on a meal there.  It was really good. We had rotisserie chicken and ribs, and our waiter told us the “hot” barbecue sauce is “hot to a Midwesterner, but I don’t know where you’re from.”  I found that both practical and helpful.  Cas found the sauce just about perfect.  I went for the regular sauce.  

With that done. We went back to the historic Saint James Hotel.  It’s what the local folks would call “spendy.”  The rate isn’t all that bad, honestly, and it opened its doors in 1875, so it’s pretty cool.  We’re staying on the fourth floor of the building that sits right between the river and Main Street.  It’s gorgeous.  And as a benefit for booking when and how we did, we somehow scored a $20 gift card to their bar, so that’s how we capped off the evening.  We had fancy cocktails in the Saint James bar.  

It’s a traveling day again, so we need to head out soon, maybe return to Randy’s, or maybe head over to the rather cool looking Caribou Coffee shop, then head to the Minneapolis Saint Paul airport for our trip to Boston.  

I leave you with this photo- Cas and I in front of the world’s largest work boot.  

And here are the rest of the photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2sYnZaQSheDb6sfJ6

Randy’s

When my mother and I were teaching together, we had the unique benefit of having spring break and both of us being adults.  For about 12 years in a row, we came to Minnesota.  We typically spent the end of the week in Rochester with my paternal grandmother, but we started right here in Red Wing with Grandpa Lou.  My maternal grandmother died very young, and Grandpa Lou remarried, so these visits were to see him and my step-grandmother.  My mom had red hair, so I always gave her a little bit of grief for being Phyllis’ red-headed stepchild.  

Mom, Grandpa, Phyllis and I would often have breakfast at a spot that was nothing really extravagant, but to me, it was the very most Red Wing place to go: Randy’s. Randy’s, for me, is a extra-large plate of memories with a side of nostalgia.  Cas and I walked in this morning, placed our orders and walked to a booth on the side by the door.  I had sat in that booth before.  We were near a large table in the center of the room, filled with folks from my grandfather’s generation.  I like to refer to them as Grandpa did- old duffers.  The old duffers at Randy’s are as much a part of this memory for me as the plates, the booths and the food.  What they do- every time- is walk around and fill each other’s coffee cups.  The restaurant keeps a pot in the middle on sort of a service island, and if one of the old guys has an empty cup, he goes and picks up the pot to fill up everyone else’s cup in the place.  

Cas was sitting at the table with two coffee cups in front of him when this happened.  I was up locating a spoon to stir in the cream and sugar.  Neither of us needed a refill, but it was the very most Red Wing moment I could have hoped for.  Just an old duffer, walking around with a coffee pot, like I had seen so many times before, but not for a long time.  

There were plenty of other things we did this morning, and we’re about to head out for lunch.  I promise, I will write about the rest of it all later- walking by the river, the mayflies, the hike up Barn Bluff- but for now, I had to talk about Randy’s.  For a nothing special kind of restaurant, it certainly made my whole morning.  

And just because it’s always at the end, here is the photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2sYnZaQSheDb6sfJ6