Boston Strong

[Nexis4Jersey]

Very nice pictures ...

[Copes]

Great photos my friend. I'm happy I made a point of popping over to the photography section to check out your trip.

[SignalHillHiker]

Thanks, guys.

One more picture. I didn't use it in the main thread because it was too blurry (took three, but the plane was just moving too fast). But it's still cool to admire:

[Danny]

That was a beautiful trip, SignalHillHiker! Thanks for sharing.

Boston is my favourite city in the USA. Well, I must say I only know 6 large cities there. I love Boston´s streets and parks (Public Garden and Boston Common are simply lovely). I´ve unforgettable memories about my three times there. Boston is a very pretty european-north american city. I miss some pictures about Beacon Hill, a really pretty historic neighbourhood in Boston.

When I heard about the terrorist attacks in the Marathon of Boston, I felt much sadness, because I consider Boston as a quiet city with friendly and polite citizens. But as your tittle says: Boston is strong enough to recover from those terrible events.

Congrats and greetings from Madrid, Spain!

[destroycreate]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Thanks, guys.

One more picture. I didn't use it in the main thread because it was too blurry (took three, but the plane was just moving too fast). But it's still cool to admire:

It's incredible how much better the city looks without that monstrous highway that used to cut through the center of it. Now they just need to fill in those awkward spaces...as if Boston doesn't already have enough parks. I'd love to see some nice infill there.

[boulevardofdef]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

The people in Boston were so friendly. I couldn't break my Newfoundland habit of saying good morning to everyone I passed during my 4, 5, 6 a.m. hikes throughout the city... and they always responded positively.

Thanks for saying this. I don't know if you're aware of this, but Boston has somewhat of a reputation in the U.S. of being unfriendly -- and yet when I was there last year, I found the reality to be exactly the opposite.

[Insoluble]

Thanks for the great photo set! These are some terrific photos of Boston. It looks like you mostly stayed downtown and didn't venture into the Back Bay or North end on this trip. You'll have to visit again for sure!

I have to agree with others' comments as to how European Boston feels. It still has a distinctly American feel, but it is by far the most European feeling city in the U.S.

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

What building is that in Montreal with the beacon?

That's got to be Place Ville-Marie. It may no longer be Montréal's tallest, but it is still the centerpiece of her skyline as far as I'm concerned. I've always loved this beacon as well.

[brickell]

Great thread. Enjoyed the commentary.

[sterlippo1]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Aww, thank you!

Boston is amazing. I think back on cities with a similar population that I've been in... and Boston blows them out of the water. It could be age.

one of the best threads since i've been on here. Your pictures are incredible and brought out the best of Boston. Thanks and I'm so happy you became enchanted with Boston. It does that sometimes

Originally Posted by Expat

Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Boston --- a remarkable city in so many ways. I am convinced it is the best of America rolled into one city.

how have you been Expat? Glad to see you here!

Originally Posted by OhioGuy

Boston remains the one major East Coast city I have yet to visit. I need to fix that soon, especially after viewing these great photos!

yes, fix that soon

Originally Posted by jd3189

Boston has a great American/European vibe going on. I might transfer to Harvard just to be able to live in this city. I have to work hard.

triple hard or harder

[SignalHillHiker]

Thank you, all!

Originally Posted by Insoluble

Thanks for the great photo set! These are some terrific photos of Boston. It looks like you mostly stayed downtown and didn't venture into the Back Bay or North end on this trip. You'll have to visit again for sure!

I have to agree with others' comments as to how European Boston feels. It still has a distinctly American feel, but it is by far the most European feeling city in the U.S.

That's got to be Place Ville-Marie. It may no longer be Montréal's tallest, but it is still the centerpiece of her skyline as far as I'm concerned. I've always loved this beacon as well.

I don't know if I ended up in Back Bay but I definitely did in the North End.

I just didn't take my camera all the time because I wanted to be present and enjoy it myself too.

*****

And you are right that it's Place Ville-Marie. Acajack had the answer but I gave it to Kevin on FB instead of here. Never thought others might like to know too, ha!

[jeddy1989]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Thank you so much, everyone.

*****

Alps: St. John's International Airport is relatively new and was built from scratch all in one go, some distance from the old airport - that's why it looks like an attractive whole, rather than a combination of buildings from different eras like many other airports.

BUT it's already too small - there are only three gates, I believe - so they're going to be expanding it. And there's a lot of work (road re-alignment, etc.) going on outside the airport. I didn't share a picture because the bustle made it look so messy, but it feels like a construction zone right now:

I think it has 5 gates

They're gonna turn her from this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St._John%27s_Airport_Aerial_Picture.jpg

into this (doubled in size and capacity 10 years ahead of projections):

http://www.stjohnsairport.com/index/index.cfm?id=190

small but perdy and growing

[franktko]

Originally Posted by Danny

When I heard about the terrorist attacks in the Marathon of Boston, I felt much sadness, because I consider Boston as a quiet city with friendly and polite citizens. But as your tittle says: Boston is strong enough to recover from those terrible events.

It was a similar feeling for myself. These events really hit home for me here in Montreal, not only because Boston is close to us geographically but the Northeast US and Boston in particular are the US citizens that are closest to us here in Canada, in terms of our beliefs, values and what we want as a society, having a more liberal mentality and wanting to take care of our less fortunate citizens. I sometime feel that it's just a matter of time, before something happens in my area, seeing it happening in our backyard in the US... It's unfortunate that cities that are open to the world, welcoming everyone from any backgrounds into our community, have to endure these unfortunate events.

Just like NYC, these events will just make Boston a stronger community with a deep feeling of belonging and wanting to help each other even more.

Then, when everything is back to normal or so, we can beat the sh** out of them on the ice! Go Habs Go!!

[TAZ4ate0]

Excellent thread. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

A side note: One of our local tv news anchors just moved to Phoenix from the Boston area about four months ago. He was able to give some good descriptions and coomentary, of and on the city, in the days following the bombings. It was quite interesting to hear.

[Townie709]

Beautiful pictures, Signal! Boston is one of the places I really want to visit someday!

[SignalHillHiker]

Thanks!

*****

RE: St. John's International Airport's plan... MOAR SURFACE PARKING LOTS! But, seriously, enough with that. The Airport Authority needs to give its head a shake. Ours has to be one of the only airports left in the world without a hotel on site.

So... partner with a major hotel chain, share the cost of a LARGE and proper parkade, and stick the hotel on top of it.

[toyota74]

Really enjoying this tread and the last one coming from you Signal....already looking forward to the next.Thanks and well done.

[rthomasd]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Great thread. I've always thought of Boston as a very European kind of place and yet very American at the same time. God those street scenes are beautiful. Such a fine city. Beautiful

One of my first thoughts after the bombings and gun battles with the police was how disruptive and terrifying it must have been. Boston strikes me as being one of the most civilized places in the US.

What building is that in Montreal with the beacon? I thought that was a camera flash when I first saw it. I swear, somewhere back in my ancestry there must be some New England heritage, because I have always loved the sight of a beacon/lighthouse light off in the distance. There's just something about it.

It's been 3 or 4 years since I've been to Montreal, but I believe the beacon tower is the Hydro Quebec building.

[i_am_hydrogen]

You really made the best of some dreary conditions. Inspiring shots!

[montréaliste]

Originally Posted by rthomasd

It's been 3 or 4 years since I've been to Montreal, but I believe the beacon tower is the Hydro Quebec building.

It's Place Ville-Marie.

Great thread SignalHillHiker, beautiful pix all around. I wish the little shit who did this to the people of Boston some long solitary time to think of how he paid back the courtesy of living in the great USA. I have no sympathy for him whatever. I have sympathy for the suffering families of the missing and the hurt, period.

[kool maudit]

it's 1 place ville marie.