Our final day in Boston was due to be a full on one - food, the Freedom Trail, more food, and (f)baseball.

It started back at the Boston Common where we went to pick up a second "breakfast" from one of the many food trucks in the area. I don't know what it is about the US but it seems there's always a food truck around and it's not your standard fairground hotdog and chips stand - it's actually good food! We stopped by the award-winning and highly rated Roxy's Grilled Cheese for a triple cheese (vermont cheddar, muenster, fontina) - absolutely NOM!!!

Afterwards, it was time to burn off those calories with a little walk. The Freedom Trail is a 4km long journey through the centre of Boston, winding through a number of significant historical sites of the city, as well as the history of the United States. Starting at Boston Common (America's oldest park), our tour guide took us past a number of sites including the Granary Burying Ground where Boston patriots John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Paul Revere are buried, Boston Latin School which is the oldest public school in America, and the site of the Boston Massacre (despite it being called a "massacre" only five people died and it was called as such for propaganda to fuel tensions between the Americans and the British).

Our guided tour ended outside Faneuil Hall, where Americans first protested against various taxes imposed by the British, and still has a cruicial role in politics today. It's still a place of protest, but it's also known as "the home of free speech" and political candidates nearly always hold rallies at this important historical site.

We continued on the trail ourselves, heading towards North End - also known as Little Italy. Our friend Federica had recommended to head to Maria's Pasty Shop to try a traditional Sicilian sweet, cannoli - fried pasty dough filled with ricotta. Following our sweet break, we continued on the trail, past Paul Revere's house and the iconic Old North Church where two lanterns were hung from the steeple to warn patriots across the river that the British were coming by sea ("one if by land, two if by sea").

Before we could finish the whole trail, it was time to leave to see the Boston Red Sox play the Pittsburgh PIrates in the second game of the season. Being a Kiwi sports fan, I usually sit there and watch a game of whatever sport, cheer a bit when my team scores and enjoy the atmosphere. Sport is the US is a whole other ballgame (pun intended, sorry). The atmosphere in and around the stadium is insane. Bands play on the concourse, beer and food is plentiful, and it feels you can't walk around anywhere without stumbling across some sort of merchandise stall.

Once you're inside the stadium, there are all the standard traditions including the first pitch (of which there were actually about 10 for a number of game day sponsors), the national anthem (which everyone actually sings with gusto and cheers at the end), as well as everyone singing along to Take Me Out To The Ball Game and some major Boston anthems. It wasn't spontaneous like you'd get at a rugby or football match - it was all announced and organised. But the thing that really surprised me (although on reflection it shouldn't have) is the show of patriotism throughout the night. One example - between one set of innings, they had "Hats Off to Heroes" where someone who serves in the military stood on a platform at the edge of the field, the announcer told everyone who they were and what they had done, and as the name suggests everyone took their hats off and started cheering. All this bundled together, as well as the sellers trying to sell hot dogs throughout the stands just like they do in the movies, and it was an atmosphere like no other. You certainly wouldn't get this at Eden Park!

Once that was over (the game went into the 12th inning with the Red Sox finally winning 3-0) it was time to head back to our Airbnb and get ready to head to our next sop the following morning - NYC...

#USA #Boston #Travel #Rebecca #Edward #Sport #Baseball #Video