Wednesday in Boston and Salem

Wednesday started with Jess vomiting again. So we had to make a quick change of plans to minimize walking.

We drove to the Public Garden, right by Boston Common.



The main attraction...the ducks from Make Way for Ducklings! This book is special to us because it was given to us by Aunt Kathleen. The ducks were all dressed in Easter bonnets!






Then we walked to the bridge over the pond. I like the distance maintained from Jessica! The pond was totally drained for maintenance.



But we did find a few ducks!



Washington's statue in the park:



Meg is a magnet to all animals:



We walked across the street to the Cheers bar:



We drove over the Boston Marathon finish line, too, but no pics. It was poignant for us, with Chris as a runner, and the jury finding Tsarnayev (??) guilty that very day. News trucks were everywhere.

We drove to Salem for lunch and the rest of the day. We went to this cool museum and learned a lot about the witch trials:



There was a short play, with actual accusations from a deposition:



Then we descended to the dungeon in the basement and saw creepy things like a man being crushed to death bc he wouldn't admit to witchcraft:



And scenes of the accused in the dungeon, where up to 100 people were kept in a small room:



We were happy to leave and go to the NPS visitor center next! Here's a Paul Revere bell!



The girls filled out their NPS Junior Ranger booklets over the course of the day and said the pledge:



...to earn their badge!! This is one of three they earned on this trip.



Proud Junior Rangers:



Then we met up with a friend of mine and her daughters. She took us on a walk to the wharf, and the girls walked all the way to the end - the lighthouse! We also saw a replica trade ship and the girls collected shells.



Jess and her new friend chatted constantly about minecraft! And they learned they're both leftys, and have lost the same four teeth.



Then we walked to the second oldest cemetery in New England. We tried to find the oldest grave. Meg found one from 1620!!



Salem spookiness:



Cool carvings:



Next to the cemetery was the memorial for the 19 people killed in the witch trials:



Walking back to the visitors center, I found a huge row of witch hazel in full bloom! I bet 99.99% of people don't get it! Witches...Salem...get it??



It was a cold, blustery day, and we were exhausted, so we retired early to our hotel near Salem. It was nice to order takeout and veg in front of the TV for a bit!

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