Summer trip one of three is complete, and it really did teach me a lot. Let's start with Boston.
I really enjoyed Boston. It's obviously best-known for it's role in the lead-up to the Revolutionary War. I learned about the different people and places involved in this lead-up by taking a walking tour of the Freedom Trail, and I highly recommend it. The Freedom Trail consists of sixteen historically significant sites, and walking the trail provides a good overview of Boston's role in the early days of the revolution. So, Boston gets a 10/10 for history.
Salem also gets a 10/10 for history, both in terms of its role throughout American history and its history with the witch trials. In both my tour of the Freedom Trail and my walking tour of Salem, certain themes emerged that are still relevant today. Hysteria, corruption, and hatred, not anything supernatural, led to the deaths of innocent people in the Salem. In Boston, it took years for any change to come about, and that change was only possible because of the bravery of ordinary people (and John Hancock's money).
I also liked Boston's vibes. Bostonians like their sports, they like their beer, and they can be tough and feisty. It's also a pretty liberal city. Lots of Pride Flags of all kinds and colors. No MAGA hats or flags. And, or course, it's the home to many prestigious colleges and universities, and higher education has become a "liberal" idea. My point being, conservatism doesn't have a stronghold on being "tough" or "manly" or "sporty." You can like sports, and support the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. You can be tough, and be educated. It doesn't have to be one or the other. In the conservative state of Tennessee, and in other conservative areas, I think there is this stereotype, particularly of men, that liberals are weak and conservatives are strong. That's not true, and I think Boston shows that.
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| The "Teen Central" section at the Boston Public Library. |
Anyway, onto to Brooklyn. Well, I stayed in Brooklyn with a friend but most of my activities were in Manhattan, but I wanted the alliteration to work. New York is New York. Busy, expensive, and a million things to do. My biggest day on this trip was a day of early 2000s contrasts. I started the Friday I was there are the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Both the memorial and museum were very well-done, and struck a good balance of information and reflection.
Then, later that day, I went to the Avril Lavigne concert, with We the Kings and Simple Plan as the openers. It was a fantastic concert. These artists were also a huge part of the early 2000s, and seeing them the same day I went to the 9/11 Memorial was a reminder of many things that affected my childhood and adolescence, as well as the childhood and adolescence of many Millennials. And you know us Millennials, we're lazy and we ruin everything.
But let's think. We began our adolescence with 9/11, an event that fundamentally changed how the world worked and world history. Our popular artists of the time then released songs about rejecting norms and traditions, and the importance of being yourself as opposed to being part of the crowd. Then came the 2008 recession right when were starting college or entering the workforce, and then the immense changes in politics, and then COVID, and so on. It's been a lot! So yeah, we may be more focused on living life than strictly working. We want experiences and relationships and jobs that matter. We tried sticking to the straight and narrow as kids, but that didn't really get us anywhere. And we definitely don't know what's going to come next. So, in the wise words of Ms. Lavigne:
"All my life, I've been good, but now. I'm thinking, 'What the hell?'"
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| One World Trade |
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| 9/11 Memorial |
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| Avril Lavigne |
And finally, Bermuda. First of all, the entire island is gorgeous. And if were a rich, work from home tech bro or something, I would move there in a heartbreak. Beautiful seas, beautiful beaches, and the island is small enough that you can easily access whatever amenities you need (though they will probably be super expensive). And no one lived there before the British shipwrecked there in the 1600s, so you don't even need to worry about the effect on any indigenous groups. I loved exploring the island and I highly recommend it.
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| It's gorgeous. |
And throughout all three destinations, I learned that I am getting old. I'm talking aches and pains. My full summer travels may only last another year or two as my body reaches its limits.
Anyway, I would say trip number one was a success. We got some education and some some relaxation. Lots of boxes checked. Now, it's onto Iceland and Turkey!
