"Boston - the Beantown" a Boston Travel Page by PetraG

Grand claims have been made of Massachusetts’ capital of Boston throughout its history. They are reflected in several of its nicknames: ‘Cradle of Modern America,’ ‘Hub of the Solar System’ and ‘Athens of America.’ However, in the beginning, when the settlement took root in 1624, it was simply called ‘Trimountain’, given its location beside three hills on the mouth of the Charles River. This was before being named after the small English town in Lincolnshire, the original home of several founding Puritan families.

The ‘Cradle of Modern America’ sums up its relationship to the country as a whole. As the capital of the original Massachusetts Bay Colony founded in 1630, it is the place where, with the incident of the Boston Tea Party in 1773, the Revolutionary War against British Colonial rule was ignited.

Of Boston’s many famous sons, the statesman, scientist and inventor Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) stands in the highest regard. His Boston can be rediscovered on foot – and, indeed, despite being in the acclaimed land of the auto, Boston today refers to itself as the ‘Walking City’. The Freedom Trail is a physical manifestation of the birth of the modern American Republic – around four kilometres (2.5 miles) of the city’s streets and sights. Also, Boston’s place in black American history can be discovered by following the 2.5km (1.6-mile) Black Heritage Trail – as the city was a goal of black slaves escaping the oppressive South on the ‘Underground Railway’.

Boston’s sharp Puritan roots have been softened over the centuries, yet it retains an ethic of commitment to life as a whole, be that sports, pastimes, work, cafés, bars or culture. But, after all, the city that imported an English pub (which later became the model for TV’s hugely successful Cheers), hosts the Boston Pops concerts and gave the rock music world Aerosmith is hardly going to let the weather dominate it.

Modern Boston is very much a microcosm of New England. It has the typical East Coast climate of hot, humid summers and freezing winters. In autumn, the white church steeples of the suburbs create a stunning contrast to the turning colours of the surrounding trees. The thousands of students returning to begin their new academic year add a human vibrancy to this striking setting. Perhaps, after all, the city deserves to be called the ‘Rome of Massachusetts’, since all New England roads, physical, cultural and historical, lead to it.

Most of the Boston National Historical Park sites are connected by the Freedom Trail. Recognized as a National Recreation Trail, the 3-mile trail is a walking tour of 16 sites and structures of historic importance in downtown Boston and Charlestown. Ninety-minute tours begin at the Visitor Center at 15 State Street and cover the heart of the Freedom Trail from the Old South Meeting House to the Old North Church. Tours leave at regular intervals in the spring, summer, and fall, weather permitting.

The Boston Red Sox, the Boston Baseball team in the Major League Baseball, is the most important thing for most inhabitants of the city. Their sport is very important for them.
The team won the World Series in 2004 after many, many non-successful years and in 2005 they're standing in the Play-offs again. That's why Bonston people take their love for this team very serious!
Me, as a big Baseball fan watched a game at the famous stadium called Fenway Park - and it was awesome!