Weee!!

This is not at all travel related...
But I am now engaged!! My boyfriend of over three years totally surprised me last night and proposed. We are both very excited and have had a lot of fun calling all the family and just looking at each other and giggling. I really love his family and feel so lucky to be welcomed into it and am really looking forward to starting a family of our own in the future.

On a travel note, I will be going to Nicaragua in a couple of weeks, and my fiancee (first time I got to use that) and I have a road trip planned for this summer.

Museum and River Walk

This weekend Rick and I visited the Museum of Science to view their Harry Potter exhibit, it was about as Halloweenish as we got all weekend. The museum was a lot of fun and since it was a shockingly beautiful and warm day for the end of October we decided to take a long walk along the Charles afterwards.
I'm gad the sun was shining and the river walk provided plenty of free entertainment because I was still smarting from the exorbitant price of the Museum.
So, Boston Museum of Science, here is my plea, make your admission fee reasonable for students and families. The New England Aquarium is 20.95 for adults, the Museum of Fine Arts is 20 for adults, 18 for students (I get in free with my student ID and lots of libraries have passes you can check out), Isabella Stewart Gardener is 12, the Institute of Contemporary Art is 15 general admission or 10 for students and seniors and free for youth (under 17). What was the point of that list of prices? That 26 dollars is a LOT to charge and when I asked if the science museum has any student discounts or discounted days I was told only M.I.T. students got discounts.

People complain about the state of education in America and that students aren't learning enough. Here is my response, as long as it is cheaper for parents to take their kids to the movies rather than to the museum this is what they are going to do. Museum of Science, please reduce your prices or add some discounted nights because you are more expensive than any other museum in Boston.

Boston for Free

Cities can often be expensive and Boston is not exception. However I am happy to say that there are a number of things you can do in Boston for free or for very cheap! I love seals so it should come as no surprise that I love the New England Aquarium. What I don't love is their very expensive price for entry. Lucky for me you can stand outside and watch the seals swimming and playing for hours at a time, for FREE! Last time Rick and I were even lucky enough to catch a training session and learn some more about my favorite pinipeds, the Harbour Seal!

Seal Kiss!

Boston Cruise

My roommate went on a cruise around the Boston harbor a couple of weeks ago, and she won four free tickets for another one. Since Rick and I were moving out soon we decided it would be a fun last hurrah!
There was great music, lots of great people watching, and more than plenty to drink!
Plus we got beautiful views of Boston and the harbor. Definitely a great way to celebrate summer in Boston!!

Dragonboat Festival

This last weekend was the annual (and awesome) Dragonboat festival in Cambridge. While people were racing along the Charles, I was lazily watching them and eating fantastic chana masala. I like events that involve me eating and being lazy while other people are working hard. In addition to the boat races there were performances of drumming, dancing, and martial arts.

The drumming was fantastic and so much fun to watch, especially for the last piece where they started flipping sticks and one guy even jumped over his drum.

All the while rowers were rowing, and we were eating.

Here you can see Rick sampling a dish, he was not as happy with it as I was with my chana masala, but when someone doesn't like rice, cooked vegetables, or spicy food it can be hard to find something they'll enjoy (at least at a festival that features asian foods). Luckily for us we were able to get him a whole pile of naan which was deemed edible! Since the festival was free we ended up having a beautiful and exciting day along the river for just the cost of the bus ride there, and whatever food we wanted to sample! Hurrah for city living and cheap entertainment!!