Boston Tour Blog, Part 2

Today we learned about the Salem Witch Trials, ate delicious seafood, basically drove into a parade (and the grid-locked traffic jam surrounding it), and checked out a massive street festival in Harvard Square.  That was all before we visited our first campus of the day.  

The day started in Salem at the Witch Dungeon Museum.  It's probably an understatement to say that Salem gets geared up for Halloween.  Children and adults alike were dressed in costumes, a guy in a demented clown mask played saxophone on the street corner, and the locals were surely counting the days 'til next Friday's Zombie Prom.  That's a real thing.  After some educational programming about the Salem Witch Trials, we ate lunch in Salem then boarded the bus for what was supposed to be an easy trip to Northeastern University. 

Hanging out in Harvard Yard

As it turned out, a Columbus Day Parade (we assume) made it nearly impossible to get into downtown. Frank, our expert driver, navigated us through closed roads and less-than-accommodating tourists in SUVs.  Erik, our tour director, called a quick audible and we skipped Northeastern to head to Cambridge. We would re-visit campus later.  

After some pretty serious bus-ride napping, we arrived in Cambridge with an hour to kill and were provided with the perfect outlet. A massive festival was happening in Harvard Square, including live music, more people in costumes, and lots of street vendors.  We browsed the Harvard Coop (their bookstore), ate ice cream, and people-watched.  

We then toured Harvard.  We first saw Harvard Yard, which was full of activity.  Josh, our North Carolinian tour guide told us all about the various traditions around housing and dining and pointed out where a number of famous alumni and ex-presidents lived and sometimes high-kicked dressed in drag (see: JFK and the Hasty Pudding Peformers).  Josh also taught us how to Primal Scream like Harvard students (fully clothed, however, unlike actual Harvard students).  

After dinner we drove back into the city to see if we could have better luck visiting Northeastern. Lovett alumna and NU Huskies basketball player Te'Erica Eason recruited a sophomore teammate, and the two of them led us around campus.  We learned about the co-op and internship opportunities Northeastern is known for, saw the only Taco Bell in Boston (so they say), and walked a beautiful city-campus that really didn't feel very urban at all, considering its proximity to the Boston city center.  Now it's time for bed.  Tomorrow's an early start; we're headed on a little road trip west to Amherst.