All-American Day!

(Sorry everyone for getting behind. I usually take time during our morning drives to write the blog and didn't have this luxury in the past few days.)

Happy 4th of July to everyone!

We awoke with only one destination on our mind: Fenway Park. Hillary and I had only planned two things that day: Go to Fenway early for a tour, enjoy the game, and go down to the Charles River for the fireworks show and Boston Pops concert.

We took the train into Boston again and arrived in time for Fenway's 9:00am stadium tour. Quite honestly, the tour was a disappointment. We had a young tour guide who didn't have the knowledge or enthusiasm that you would expect when getting to see an iconic park. Nonetheless, we did get some good pictures throughout the park. A few are below.

After the tour, we had about an 90 minutes to kill before the gates opened for the game. It was 92 degrees that afternoon and we were starting to feel the effects of the heat. Luckily, there was a department store nearby and we stopped in and bought 6 white hand towels for $6, soaked a few in cold water and used them to keep cool once we got to the game.

We decided to have lunch at one of the sports bars that are built into the outside of Fenway called "Game On!" As warm outside as it was, we ate light!

  

We arrived in time to see the grounds crew get the field into shape. As we approached our seats, there was shade over out seats. A WONDERFUL THING! I think it was at least a 10 degree difference in the shade vs. the sun.

Having been to many baseball stadiums, I have to say the most fun I've ever had at a ballgame happened here in Fenway Park. The fans are 100% obsessed with the game itself. You won't find many fans who are distracted and not paying attention. They are smart fans who don't clap randomly for everything and many of the fans around us were having intelligent baseball conversations. No drunk idiots shouting stupidity were found. From the Star Spangled Banner to Sweet Caroline, Boston knows how to show off great musicians and music throughout. They clap in-sync for every run that scores, they stand honor all military veterans who are recognized. Classy and smart fans.

 

I will always be a White Sox fan, but I can't help but be envious of a great fan base, team, and ballpark experience. Well done, Red Sox Nation.

 

(no sunburns here :s)

After the game, we ventured toward the Charles River (about a 15-20 minute walk from Fenway) to the band shell where the Boston Pops concert was taking place. Due to huge crowds, security, etc. we had to divert westward on the river to find a place to watch the fireworks. Speaking of security, I would bet our vacation budget that every law enforcement official in Boston, worked that night. There wasn't one officer on every street corner, there was 5 or 6. You couldn't turn around without seeing a squad car, SWAT vehicle (as seen below) or some type of national guard vehicle nearby full with law enforcement officers or troops. Feeling safe is an understatement! Boston couldn't have done a better job with a million people along the river.

As we got ready for the fireworks to start, someone was wiped out already and decided to take a nap!

 The fireworks show was specular! I would say it rivals New York of last year for the show itself but did a better job with the details of music being piped through speakers along the river and the view was better than last year when we were on a boat with (actually) a more limited view.

 

 

We took the train home that night. Unfortunately, the train didn't leave until an hour after we arrived at the station. But it was a free ride home that night (sponsored by the city).

 

Next up... Cooperstown!