The Northern Isles Day 2
The Northern Isles
Day 2 - Friday, July 11, 2003 - Seattle to Boston
As the four of us had an early flight to Boston, we were up at 5:30 AM. The night had been cool and our sleep was very sound and refreshing. Just before I got into the shower, Susan brought me a cup of Starbucks French Roast - what a way to wake up!
By 6:15 we were ready to leave and took our suitcase to the driveway to await the vehicle to take us to the airport. The van from Shuttle Service arrived about 10 minutes early so we were able to load the three pieces of our luggage into the van as well as Susan and Bob’s three.
With this much luggage, we could not fit them into one of their vehicles. So Bob had prearranged the pick-up and it worked well. The driver took us right to the check-in for Alaska.
Bob did their electronic check-in and after we had our backs checked we had to take them to the X-Ray machines to be inspected. Unlike Denver, we did not have to wait and we proceeded to Concourse N, Gate 8 to meet our aircraft.
We stopped to have a little breakfast, Bob and Susan had BK and I stopped at a bagel store. We ate, talked, did some photography and then went to the gate. They called us to board and the flight is about 90% full.
I was able to move one row back and get an exit row seat with space between the gentleman on the isle. This also gave Gennie a little more room. Alaska served a very good breakfast - pancakes, eggs, sausage, fruit, muffins and beverage. We certainly were not expecting this level of service.
We crossed over the northern portion of the US, seeing the Columbia River down below and Mt. Rainier in the distance. I was able to spend some time on the computer catching up on the journal for Days 1 & 2 while we flew over the central portion of the US.
By the time we got to the Mississippi River the view was obscured by heavy clouds. Gennie and I both read and napped as we went further East. When we got to Massachusetts, the pilot came on and told us we were delayed by air traffic control as the weather in Boston was going to be a factor.
When we landed we saw that the visibility was very low and the runway was spotted with water. The temperature in Boston in the mid 60s. We got our luggage and had to get a taxi at the curb.
We spoke to Jimmy Mulrey, the dispatcher and asked him for a cab. While we waited we also asked for a restaurant recommendation. He told us the AMRHEINS Restaurant in South Boston.
The taxi took us to the Seaport Hotel, $27 trip and we checked in - very, very nice. NO smoking anywhere in the hotel and there is a fee of $150 on the credit card if one smokes in the room.
We took our luggage to the rooms on the 12th floor overlooking Boston Harbor and promised to meet Bob and Susan at 6:30 to go to dinner. While waiting I found a T-1 connection for the internet in the room. I was able to configure my laptop and hook up. When I called to find out the charge, they told me that it was one of the benefits of the hotel. How nice!
The four of us went downstairs, got in a taxi and asked to be taken to Amrheins for dinner. What a good choice. We told the hostess, Marcia, that we had been told by Jimmy to eat dinner there. She laughed and told us that he was one of the family. His uncle owned the restaurant.
We sat down, had glasses of wine and ordered lobster stuffed mushrooms and fried calamari. Very good. Then we had our salads and soup. When our main course arrived it was stupendous.
Susan and I had the two lobsters plate. Gennie had the lobster cakes and scallops and Bob had the filet mignons and shrimp. Everything was excellent. The lobsters were sweet and succulent. What a great treat.
After a two hour meal, we walked around the restaurant and saw their bar, the oldest carved bar in Boston. We thanked the people at the restaurant and took a taxi to get home.
We then went for a long walk on a short pier and saw the skyline at night over the water. We returned to our hotel, said our goodnights and retired to our rooms to organize for tomorrow, type today’s journal and get things ready.
Seaport Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts
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