As this was our first weekend in Boston the folks at Babson College very kindly arranged a day out for us. There was a minivan waiting for us after lunch to take us to the JFK Presidential Library and Museum, and then we headed into downtown Boston for some exploring and some dinner before the minivan returned us safely to Babson. A complete no hassle day out, and a lot of fun!
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The outside of the Library - it's quite an edifice.
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Ruairidh lines us all up to get a group photo.
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John F Kennedy - a man I knew little about before today. I have seen the films "JFK" and "13 days" (about the cuban missile crisis) but that is the sum total of my (Hollywood-ised) knowledge!
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It's hard not to be impressed by the grandeur of your surroundings, but it's the oratory that really struck me. Newsreels of speeches from his campaigns, acceptance, and inaguration as President. This is especially interesting as Obama will take office this week, a man with almost as much hope and expectation riding on him as JFK.
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The main hall of the library has a HUGE flag hanging in it. In spite of myself, I am forced to admit it's quite an inspiring sight.
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The view across the harbour to Boston.
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Mubbasher wanted a souvenir of his visit and asked me to take this photo. I suppose I should have got him to take one of me too - sorry Mum, I didn't think of it at the time!
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The exhibition really was very good, and had a strong narrative running through it so that you really felt you got a coherent story. It provoked a fair bit of discussion too.
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Oh dear, I've disturbed Neil, Martyn and Ian from their chat. Sorry to intrude!
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How many Saltire Fellows does it take to figure out a Boston Transit map?
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We walked the streets of Boston for about half an hour before cold kicked in and by consensus we retreated to the nearest pub. It was supposed to be about -15 centigrade (with windchill making it feel colder) and after about 10 minutes in the street you couldn't really feel your face any more...
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Mubbasher and Neil in the pub.
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Simon and Ruairidh, also in the pub.
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James, Iain, Martyn, Jim and Paul enjoying the delights of Tams bar.
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Dinner was arranged for us in a private dining room at McCormick & Schmick's. Very swish! Notice how Jim has a celebrity-like 6th sense for a camera pointing at him...
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Martyn and Mubbasher again.
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I had Clam Chowder which was delicious, followed by a rather magnificent piece of Sirloin and finishing off with this huge and rich cheesecake. It was lovely, but we were all so full by the time it arrived that none of us cleared our plates. The waitress assured us this was not unusual, but we still felt bad!
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Mubbasher doing his best with his cheesecake.
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Ian has an expressive moment with Martyn!
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Paul and Iain keeping an eye on me from the looks of things!
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Oh no - Jim has missed the camera this time!
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That's better!
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Mubbasher has a cheesy wave that just can't be equalled.
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At the end of the meal our waitress very kindly took this group photo of all 14 of us. Dinner was great and we were really well looked after, so thanks to all the folks at McCormick & Schmick's and of course to Jean who organised the whole day for us!
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