Seals! Trains!
Last Thursday was our last full day in Boston and when I asked Henry what he'd like to do he said "Ride on the train." My kid's so easy.
We headed out the door and on the walk to the closest train station I decided that since people usually go somewhere specific after they get on the train, we'd head over to the Aquarium to check out the seal exhibit (which is right outside the entrance and therefore free).
Henry got the true commuter's experience since he not only rode on the red line, but on the green and blue lines as well. Later when it was time to get back on the trains to go home, he summed up how he (and many others) felt about this particular adventure by emphatically declaring "No ride the blue train! No ride the green train!" True, true.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Long Wharf and I try to go at least once whenever we visit. I love being near the water and watching the planes take off and if you're lucky in the summer you might catch sight of a tall ship. Despite the many field trips I took as a kid to various historical sites around Boston and Concord, I feel like there's nowhere else in the area that is as steeped in history as that one spot, for me anyway. Before heading over to the Aquarium Henry and I walked down to the waters edge and looked at the occasional boat that would motor by and watch the planes taking off and landing. Henry particularly enjoyed throwing rocks down a set of stairs onto the lower level of the plaza.
Eventually we headed over to the seal exhibit at the Aquarium, making our way through scores of school kids who were congregating near school busses that would take them back to school, so we couldn't have timed things better. Henry fell madly in love with the seals, and spent a full five minutes with his nose against the glass. I asked him if he wanted to go in and look at the fish and he actually seemed pretty excited about the prospect. When I tried to buy a ticket the woman behind the glass said she happened to have an extra ticket so I totally got in for free which, you know, score!
Although the penguin exhibit was closed for maintenance, Henry really enjoyed wandering around and checking everything else out. He loved seeing the crabs in the Harbor Island exhibit and the giant turtles in the main tank, but by far his favorite thing about the Aquarium was the giant red lobster lollipop we bought on the way out of the cafeteria. When we walked outside some kid came up to Henry and started saying something until he caught sight of the lollipop that was half hanging out Henry's mouth. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared, wide-eyed. Later he passed us again with his dad and I heard him say "Dad, that kid has the biggest lollipop!" His dad looked, laughed, and said "Yeah, he really does."
A (short!) trip on the green line and long ride on the red train later we were back at home, waiting for Grammy and Grandpa to get home so we could get in one last hurrah before we headed back to PA the next day.
Friday was a very long and sad car ride home.