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Though modest, the Ramada Inn proved a cost effective lodging saving enough money to convince my boss that she should pay for part of the cost of my rental car.

Speaking of the car: A 2001 Nissan Altima, pictured here at a small airfield I discovered near my hotel. One evening after class I went out to the airfield to watch the planes... I have a pilots license and an instructors license, both long disused.

I bought a sandwich, a drink, and had an impromptu picnic here on the grassy hill adjacent to the runway.

I can remember wondering how much this plane was worth... Turns out about $80 thousand - it's a high performance kit built with a name something like Lancer IV.

After the picnic it was off to meet Thom who was arriving late that evening at the big airport, Logan International. This entailed a longish drive through Boston, but traffic was good and I arrived early. As it turned out Thom's flight was late and also was delayed upon arrival due to ground traffic (planes) congestion.

The following day we visited the Boston Public Garden, a beautiful green space in the centre of the downtown area right across from the Boston Common.

Thom poses in front of George Washington's statue in the Boston Public Garden.

Time for refreshments! We found this custom sandwich shop a few blocks from the John Hancock Tower.

Thom and a real Boston bruin - The FAO Schwarz bear nearby the Hancock Tower.

Boston Public Garden, Boston Common and Downtown Boston.

View of the Charles River and Cambridge in the distance from the observation deck of the John Hancock Tower. The Campus of M.I.T. is visible in the top left corner of the picture.

Longfellow Bridge and Charles River Dam in the distance. Hatch Memorial Shell (band shell) is visible in the centre right side of the picture and Back Bay in the foreground of the shot.

Overlooking the South End From the Hancock Tower

On the way to the State House we passed along Newbury street, pictured above.