Farewell to Boston, For Now

Boston Public Garden  

Time to start a new adventure

On Tuesday I leave Boston after 16 years (except for 20 month stint in Slovakia from 2012-2014), to start my new adventure. 

It will begin by seeing family in Colorado for a few weeks and then off to Portugal for two months, or more, if I get a long-term Visa. 

The Esplanade in Winter

It has been wonderful to live in this great city, with the last four years on Charles Street a block from the esplanade, where I would walk daily. 

In the last sixteen years I've owned and sold property, lived on the north shore (Salem), had six jobs (ugh!) and traveled to dozens of countries. My wanderlust bug is strong and I need to get back on the road again.

Here are a few of my posts on Mass/Boston/Salem over the years. So, farewell to Boston, for now. And, look for more posts of my new adventures over the next few months.

Provincetown in the Spring

Ride the Boston Rails Weekends for Only $10

Martha's Vineyard...Celebrating the Last Days of Summer

International Sand Sculpting Festival Revere Beach, MA

This is Why People Live in Massachusetts

Witches, Super Heros and Red with Her Wolf...Halloween in Salem

Sunday Afternoon Hike...Walking the Marblehead Rail Trail 

Chestnut Street: Merchants, Mansions and Memoirs

This is Why People Live in Massachusetts

I've always said the best thing about living on the East coast was the summer/fall time. It is truly wonderful for about 15 days a year and we are in that time right now.

The last week or so has been absolutely beautiful. It is why people live in Massachusetts and hold on to this time of year through the brutally cold and harsh winters.

I love taking my morning walk along the water in the morning at Pickering Wharf. Right now there is low tide and you can actually see the moon and the sun at the same time.

The streets of Salem are filled with tourists, buses and travelers lining Essex and Derby Streets. Living close to The House of Seven Gables brings some challenges, but for the most part it is by far one of the best locations I've ever lived.

It will be sad to say goodbye, but it's time for a new adventure. For now, I'm just enjoying the time I have left in this amazing place.

And, let's face it...I'm not going to miss another winter in New England.

Sunday Afternoon Hike...Walking the Marblehead Rail Trail

My View from Barnacle Restaurant at Lunch in Marblehead

After a particularly rainy evening, the fall sun shone bright and beautiful. I wanted a hike. I hadn't hike since early Spring at Crane Beach so I was hot, so to speak, to get my hike on.

I realize that Marblehead, being 4.5 miles from Salem is a nice hike through Marblehead Rail Trail Hawthorn Pond Conservation Area (about 10+ acres) just past Salem College and straight to the outskirts of Marblehead center.  

View of Salem from the trail

Straight Walk to Marblehead

Flowers Along the Trail

The trail was in full bloom with the occasional bike, baby stroller and runner. 

There are several places to take a side step through to the Hawthorn Pond. As you start on the trail you can turn right to Wyman Woods and wetlands area with beautiful views of Salem Harbor. 

I however, decided to go straight to Marblehead harbor for lunch.

I had been to Barnacle's before but not on foot. I came out of the trail head at Besson Street and then a nice walk down Washington Street. The main thorough fare through town. Marblehead, like Salem, was settled by sea merchants.

Typical Home in Historic Marblehead

Historic Plaques Grace the Homes

Little Flower Shop on Washington Street

I knew I was pretty close to the harbor and finally I saw a familiar street and knew I was close to the Barnacle Tavern right on the water. Good food and a perfect day for lunch outside. 

Afterwards I took a short stroll up to Fort Sewall (named after Supreme Court Justice Samuel 
Sewall) that sits right on a wall above the harbor.  The views of Marblehead head are breathtaking. The fort was constructed during the American Revolution but probably its greatest claim to fame was when in 1814 the U.S.S. Constitution hid out there from the British ships.

What a day and what a view! Not a bad way to spend a Sunday!

Rockport, Massachusetts: Historic and Naturally Beautiful

This summer has been amazing on the North Shore. I just don't want it to end, but I can feel the cool mornings are bringing fall much sooner than I would like. However, today was what summer should be; sunny, 78 degrees and only a few wisps of clouds in the sky.

I decided to take the train for a quick 40 minute ride north to Rockport. I had never been to the village before and heard it was similar to Gloucester but not filled with as many tourists. Although the weather brought out many sightseers. The streets were really filled with locals enjoying Sandy Bay and nearby Cape Ann.

View from Atlantic Avenue

Sandy Bay was colonized in 1692 and local seafarers were instrumental in holding back the British in the war of 1812, capturing a ships, cargo and crews.

Bearskin Neck is one of the main streets dotted with restaurants, art galleries, and shops. There are three main streets in town and several walks you can take. 

I chose the Bearskin Walk down Bradley Wharf where I ate outside enjoying the sun and cool breeze, at My Place on the Sea (delicious Portuguese fish stew and a Belgium beer). Then I walked down Main Street and the The Atlantic Path from the village center.

You can tell many of the shopkeepers live above their stores just like in Salem. Many of the older homes have been preserved and are rented out for the summer. I'm going to enjoy the weather for as long as I can. I know the winds of winter are coming.

Here's a few pics to stimulate the senses.

After lunch I had to stop here!

Just hanging out

Love these wildflowers

One And Done...The Adventure Continues On MA North Shore

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind for me.  On Monday, March 17 I received a job offer as Senior eCommerce Marketing Manager for PetEdge, Inc., a pet grooming supplier located on the north shore of Massachusetts in Beverly.  Yea, so happy!! But...it also meant I needed to buy a car and look for a place on the north shore to move, ugh!!

By Wednesday that same week I had purchased a car, and by Friday I found an apartment in Salem (about a 10 minute commute to Beverly), for a move-in April 1.

That Sunday, March 23 (my birthday), a couple of friends (Karen and Tara) and I took a hike along Crane's Beach...guess where, yep, on the north shore.

Crane's Beach on the North Shore, MA

The beach is very popular in the summer so I like to hike it either in the winter or fall. The sand dunes provide a real workout for my legs. There is a place on the trail that you can take to the beach but it was basically a wetland since there has been such a harsh winter in Massachusetts this year.  So, unfortunately we had to stay on the trail and come out where we started. It should be clear in a couple of weeks so I'll try it again. The views are spectacular and on clear days you can see all the way up and down the shore.

After the hike, my friends and I decided to eat in Salem at In A Pigs Eye, which we soon decided would be my local pub hangout. 

We stopped by to  take a look at "my little place" from the outside. It has a lovely porch that will be terrific for entertaining in summer, or just to sit with a nice glass of wine and read a book.

I'm about half a block from the water and can't wait to get into all Salem has to offer. It is pretty crazy around October because of Halloween, but frankly I'm really looking forward to it. At least I say that now. After all the tourists I may change my mind. The great part is off-street parking. No more worrying about where to park my car.

I've had a horrible time parking in Brookline. For some reason, (I'm sure it has to do with money), Brookline instituted a ban on street parking from 2am-6am so I've had to find parking in the nearby town of Brighton and it has been hit and miss. I've already had two parking tickets in one week.

The first week of the job is just like you might expect. Every night I come home exhausted and my head is about ready to explode. I know it will take some time to get into the groove. I'm just so thankful I have a job in such a short time of looking.

Within 2 weeks of arriving in Boston I had a job, car and new place to live. Whew! My friend Jen tagged me as "one and done" and she's right. 

Now on to the new adventure up the coast!