Living each week like it's shark week: Hiking to Boston (8/14)

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Hiking to Boston (8/14)

(photo by Lily)
My dear friend Ashley, a southern California native like I am, faithlessly left us for Boston three years ago to attend Northeastern University. She comes back a lot, but we still miss having her around. Over the last year Lily and I began to discuss the possibility of visiting her, since neither of us had been to the East Coast. Naturally (I think this has to do with me being a younger sister and always playing pranks) I wanted to surprise Ashley, so we did all our planning in secret. We made arrangements with her roommate to stay with them, found out when she wouldn't be in class, and bought tickets for right after Lily's summer session classes ended in August for an eight-day trip.

We got our old friend Kim involved, and Lauren got on board (literally) as well. In the end, and this was pretty stressful, we showed up to Boston and completely surprised Ashley! Kim told her she was visiting for a while so Ashley would ask off the time for work, and she came to meet her at the airport. Ashley's face when Kim led her upstairs where we were waiting was priceless. We didn't capture it, unfortunately, because we were too busy crying and laughing, fortunately. It was a good way to start the trip.

Of course, in order to start the trip, we had to go to the airport. Early.

Very early.

I took this of Lily, unaware that I was documenting the very bracelets that would later cause her to be frisked by Homeland Security!

Which may or may not be true. For reals, though, she can't take those off and we had to wait a bit for security to let her pass. God knows those bracelets could be used to detonate missiles! Also, they threw away my shiny new bottle of sunscreen. I was upset. I'm an American citizen, damnit! And since when does sunscreen count as a liquid? I'd like to argue this for a while. More about the trip, though.

Ashley was so surprised! This was after the initial shock.
(by Lauren)

Ashley in her apartment

Lily, Lauren, Ashley, and electronics. Don't glare! I didn't mean to!

After we took the T to Ashley's in Brighton and settled in a bit (her gracious roommate Nick was very amused by Ashley's reaction to our appearance), all we could think of was food. After waking up at an ungodly hour, standing through airport security and being cramped in a plane for several hours, we were starved. Ashley decided a jaunt down her neighborhood to the Smoken' Joe's BBQ was in order, so we started walking--a novel idea!

On the way there Ashley's friend Marita actually saw us walking, got off the bus (she was headed to Ashley's apartment to see Nick, her boyfriend) and joined us! We all went into the restaurant and proceeded to, if you'll forgive my Americanism, get stuffed.

I ordered the pulled pork on Texas toast with St. Louis style (I think...whichever was the sweet one) "Q" sauce and sweet potato fries and mac 'n' cheese on the side. Delicious!

Lily got the same sides, but with ribs and the spicy sauce.

Everyone else got goodies, but we were too busy eating to notice. Don't worry, the table fries did not go unnoticed.

Naturally, one of the first things Lauren and I wanted to do was visit an East Coast Trader Joe's. We promptly went to the TJ's in Coolidge Corner.

The mid-August weather in Boston happened to be beautiful--slightly muggy, but with a nice balminess. The only thing that was off-putting were the occasional random showers during the day, but a small price to pay!

We quickly geeked out over the store.

It was re-dip-ulous.

What blew me away most were the signs.

They were crazy! Or should I say wicked?

By far, my favorite section was wine. Unbelievable!

Look at that international wine island!

We were thrown off by the different products and the COMPUTER-GENERATED price stickers. What's up with that??

Monrovia has never sounded so nice!

Bostonians are like, "Lake Arrowwhat?"

Following are for die-hards only.

!!!

Sorry for the softness.

Not a bad-looking display. Kind of a weak theme, though.

Sneak peek!

What the crap!

The shelves...don't have lips. Well, shouldn't we all like to live without earthquakes!

Chopp and Young's Double Chocolate Stout??

Wee-ird.

The ramp to the bathrooms, with a random-looking crew member.

Sticker bars are a surefire way to attract greedy children. No thanks!

Best of all! I loved that they had this for the customers.

That was how these four exciting girls from LA spent their first day in Boston. We sure know how to have a good time!

More on the next day another day.