Back to Boston

The day after the day we stayed at Normandy Farms all day, Tuesday, the 26th, we left early in the car. We decided the train wasn't worth it to go over that drama again. As we rode through Foxboro into Boston, I saw many interesting sites. We came into a quiet little apartment neighborhood, and parked our car close to the sidewalk. Towering over me was a short hill, of bright kelly green. Through the thick trees I could make out a stone tower, looking about over all of Boston. It looked about 290 ft high (in reality it was 291 ft high).

I went over about 20 large wide steps, up the hill, and when I came finally up I realized how huge the tower actually was. Beside the tower was a City-Hall looking building, and a doorway entering it. Another door, led to the Tower entrance. If you were exiting the building (the one looking like City Hall) you would be trapped in an area with a fence. You would have two choices: to go through the tower entrance, or to go back through the other building, and exit the way you came through.

I entered the building with Mom, Rebecca and Dad. A lady said as soon as we entered, "Welcome to the Bunker Hill Monument". This building is the Bunker Hill Battle Museum and the 'tower', as some people call it, is The Bunker Hill Monument. It has 294 steps up, and 294 down, so if you have any of you have asthma, heart diseases, or claustrophobia, please be careful or don't go at all. The Bunker Hill Monument has 588 steps in all.

"Now, let me first tell you that this in reality is Breeds Hill, and there was a misunderstanding at the time. The museum is free, so feel free to look around."

"Thank you," Mom said.

"Where's the restroom?" Dad asked with speed.

"Across the road in the visitors center."

Mom, Rebecca and Dad went, and I stayed. I didn't need to go to the restroom.

During that time period of them being absent, I read the basics of the battle and read about all the different parts.

A few minutes later Mom came back alone. I asked her if I could climb the steps to the monument, even though she wasn't. She said yes, and, taking off my jacket, phone, and videocamera bag (although still taking my video camera) and took off to climb the moutai... monument.

I went through the small entrance, and took the first step. On one side of the winding staircase, was a rail. The other side none. All you had to hold onto was a rock cylinder, which the stairs circled around. The stairs were small and many, taking not long to get tired.

The structure (monument) was of a cylinder shape.

Now, I knew enough not to quickly go up. I took my time, slowly surpassing each step. After about the 50th step, I started to tire a little, but kept on going up. Also at this time was a big step, where people would most likely take a break. I would stop to take a break at these steps in minutes to come.

People started to come down, taking the side with the rail. In this little amount of room they made their way down. On their faces I saw weariness, weakness, and fatigue. That didn't exactly lift my spirits.

On the 75th step, I was once again on one of those big steps. This made me rejoice, for almost all the steps were congested, and tiny, being only 2 ft in diameter.

I stopped, and I looked around. I saw on the cylinder rock, a small fenced window. I couldn't make anything out on the window, but it looked to be inside of the rock.

Also, straight across from that window, was another window looking the same, peering out onto a part of Boston. It looked cool, and made me think,"Wow, I'm pretty high up!"

These moments also occurred on the 100th, 125, 150, and 175. I also took breaks upon these.

In all this time I saw very shaken and tired and sweaty people, one of which was a big man with a bandanna. Another a foreign couple from Asia. Yet another was an old woman, who looked as if she was about to faint.

On the 200th, I said,"94 sweats to go!" I said this because each step brought a sweat.

75 more passed, and I started to see light and an end to stairs. I was SO glad!

At 290 I saw the top, and 4 more and I entered a room. It was circular (the shape of the monument) and had two benches filled with people. REALLY!, I thought.

I did sit on the small windowsill up above the benches though. In reality I wasn't as tired as I thought I was.

As I peeked out this ant-sized window, I saw a neighborhood of Boston. It was amazing! I saw people going to and fro, and their cars and patio.

Through two other windows I saw Downtown Boston, with all of it's skyscrapers and factories. In the other I saw the sea. It was so cool to think I was this high up, and it made me smile and chuckle.

In the middle of the "room", (I really shouldn't of called it a room at all,it's more of a small hand) was a hole with nothing shielding it from viewers falling save a metal see through plate.

After a long rest, I disembarked back down. I put my hand on the rail, and wiped my sweat off with my shirt. At about the 175th step, I heard and saw Mom and Rebecca. Mom was panting like a pack mule, and Rebecca was trying to help Mom.

"Hello," I said.

I went back up with them, wanting them to see the great view I saw before. Had I gone down and not gone with them at all, I would of saved myself a lot of energy.

I walked up with them again, and showed them the great them the great view. After some more good rest, (mostly done by them) I, (and Mom and Rebecca) went back down. I started to get very tired at the 150th down. By the time I had reached the last step down, I was ready to faint.

My knees were wobbly, my eyes filled with sweat, and my throat dry.

We met Dad outside and Mom asked me to take a picture, BEFORE sitting down.

After the picture, (where I could barely hold myself up, we disembarked down the stairs of the hill and waited for Dad to unlock the car, BEFORE sitting down. Also in this time period I was not allowed water - the water was in the car.

As I got into the car, I drank the water faster than you could say pickle. Then, I collapsed into my seat.

Mom climbed 588 steps, Rebecca the same. Dad of course climbed zero, and after adding it up in my head, I realized I completed 763 steps. THAT WAS TIRING!

Things I would improve on Bunker Hill:

1: The choice between an elevator and the stairs.

2: Air conditioning! It was 90* the day we were there.

3: Wider, bigger steps.

4: Soothing music.

5: Small benches placed on the 150th and 250th steps

6: An eight week body building course required before entering the monument. Okay, maybe that isn't necessary.

Later, we took a ride in a "duck", a land and water vehicle, where we went into the Boston Harbor and the town. Although I will not address that part of the day in this blog post. That will be mentioned in another.

I hate yellow jackets - not the team - the bug. I was stung last night,

Andrew.