Who fires at puppies....?

So said our guide, Ebenezer Macintosh, otherwise known as Steve, when he was explaining to us about the start of the fight for American Independence, and the fact that a very famous depiction of the Boston Massacre shows solders firing at puppies (as well as people!) We had walked from our rather plush brownstone apartment on the fairly grand and tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue to Boston Common. Here is the start of the Freedom Trail walks. Our guide spent the next 2 hours walking us past the Massachusetts State House, Granary Burying Ground, Old South Meeting House (where the decision to throw the tea into the sea was taken), Old State House, the alledged site of the Boston Massacre (which wasn't a massacre at all as only 5 people died, but even in 1770 it was all about propaganda) to Faneuil Hall. 

We were regaled with stories of Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and James Otis, and our guide took great delight in quashing any generally accepted versions of stories that are obviously fundamental for American history. 

It was so entertaining that when he advised that he would be starting a similar walk for a different part of the trail we couldn't help but join that too, and explored North End, past the site of Paul Revere's house, and the Blackstone Block where sailors would swap news from far off ports for bed and board, to Copp's Hill burying ground.

Whilst enroute during out second walk we were told in no uncertain terms that we should visit Maria's bakery as she made the best cannoli in town. Over the next couple of days this claim was refuted, and Mike's bakery staked it's claim too, with queues outside to match, but we had tasted Maria's cannoli by then and whilst delicious it was incredibly sweet!

After a good sit down and drink we met up with the rest and headed off to see a performance by Blue Man Group. I can't really describe the performance because it was like nothing I have ever seen, but basically there are 3 men dressed in blue who perform with drums and paint, do a form of silent slapstick comedy, ensure audience participation, and end up with so much toilet roll being thrown over the crowd that I was almost overwhelmed! There was some cringe-worthy elements that I just couldn't bear to watch! It was certainly different.