{"id":3065,"date":"2018-10-29T22:59:38","date_gmt":"2018-10-29T14:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=3065"},"modified":"2019-05-12T06:54:59","modified_gmt":"2019-05-11T22:54:59","slug":"201810boston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2018\/10\/29\/201810boston\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekend Trip to Boston: Flights, Bunker Hill and Naval Yard"},"content":{"rendered":"

Roughly a month ago a few college friends of mine told me they would be renting a house in Boston for the weekend and hold a gathering of chats and games and exchanges of cooking skills. Well, that sounds like an exciting way to spend a weekend that’s sure to go down in memories, so of course I’m in.<\/p>\n

\"Fiery<\/a>

<\/br>Fiery Clouds<\/p><\/div>
\n<\/p>\n

It happened that I obtained some Iberia miles earlier this year in a promotion that’s almost too good to be true. And Iberia was probably the best airline program for redeeming short haul return flights in US, with roundtrip DC to Boston in coach at 12k points. The only downside was that since it’s a weekend trip, availability on AA’s part was pretty limited. The most feasible seat I could find was Business on a 7:30 am flight. But given those were promotion miles about to expire before end of year, who cares?<\/p>\n

Flight AA2130 to Boston<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Ronald<\/a>

\"Ronald<\/a><\/br>Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport<\/br>American hub.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\nThis time, security lines at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport wasn’t as bad as my last holiday morning here. Everything else, the drowsiness on a morning DC metro ride mixed with anticipation of fond memories ahead was strikingly reminiscent.
\nOh, this time I had visual feast of morning colors breaking over distant horizons as I waited to board the plane.
\n

\"Break<\/a>

<\/br>Break of Day<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Legroom\"<\/a>

<\/br>Legroom<\/br>It\u2019s technically called “domestic<\/del> First”, so legs were easily crossed.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Sunrise\"<\/a>

<\/br>Sunrise<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

We encountered some delay in pushback, but our die-hard socks-fan capitan managed to keep us all cool and anticipant about a weekend in Boston. And Boston Red Socks lost that night in the World Series.<\/del><\/p>\n

\"Distant<\/a>

<\/br>Distant Washington and Jefferson Memorial<\/br>A constant background of this airport.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Ronald<\/a>

\"Ronald<\/a><\/br>Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport<\/br>Distant buildings glittered against morning sun as we thundered off.<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

After that, it was a clear day under we ascended into clouds outside Baltimore at 5500 meters.<\/p>\n

\"Pentagon<\/a>

<\/br>Pentagon City<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Pentagon\"<\/a>

<\/br>Pentagon<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Arlington<\/a>

\"Arlington<\/a><\/br>Arlington National Cemetery<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Rosslyn\"<\/a>

<\/br>Rosslyn<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"City<\/a>

<\/br>City of Arlington<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"City<\/a>

<\/br>City of Tysons<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Great<\/a>

<\/br>Great Falls Park<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"I270<\/a>

<\/br>I270 and Surrounding Cities<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Rockville\"<\/a>

<\/br>Rockville<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Maryland<\/a>

<\/br>Maryland Route 200<\/br>An often viable alternative to the traffic-packed I-495 North.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Rocky<\/a>

<\/br>Rocky Gorge Reservoir<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Baltimore<\/a>

<\/br>Baltimore Airport<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Baltimore<\/a>

\"Baltimore<\/a><\/br>Baltimore Harbor<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Farmland\"<\/a>

<\/br>Farmland<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

One sad note was that, this time I opted to sit at the port side hoping to catch some glimpses of New York city from above. Whatever’s left of my hope after weather forecast was dashed by the thick clouds covering the empire city.<\/p>\n

\"Toast\"<\/a>

<\/br>Toast<\/p><\/div>\n

As for the onboard service, on the good side, I have this proper glass cup holding juices that I can make toast with. We were offered “premium” snacks (which I interpreted as “salt-free nuts”). On the other hand, that’s the entire cabin service. Since I don’t drink alcohol, the same drink menu was offered in coach but delivered in plastic cups. Much saltier snacks were also offered in coach on my return trip.
\nSo, that left wider and more comfortable seats the good thing about flying in the front of the plane, pretty much.<\/p>\n

\"Rainbow<\/a>

<\/br>Rainbow and Moon<\/p><\/div>\n

On our approach to Boston, we flew right by capital of Rhode Island, Providence.
\nAnd over wonderful autumn colors of New England, where, unlike DC, leaves turned red first before falling off.<\/p>\n

\"Providence\"<\/a>

\"Providence\"<\/a><\/br>Providence<\/br>If I zoomed in enough I could see the state capital building.<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"East<\/a>

<\/br>East Providence<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Autumn<\/a>

<\/br>Autumn Colors in East Providence<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Lake<\/a>

<\/br>Lake Massapoag<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Norwood<\/a>

<\/br>Norwood Memorial Airport<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Boston<\/a>

\"Boston<\/a><\/br>Boston Suburb<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Highrises<\/a>

\"City<\/a><\/br>City of Boston<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Ports<\/a>

<\/br>Ports of Boston<\/br>Downtown in the background.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Boston<\/a>

<\/br>Boston Channel<\/br>Bunker Hill Monument visible in the background.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Brief Conclusion<\/span><\/h4>\n

I sorted of understand why European carriers would block the center seat towards the front of the plane and market that as “short-haul first”. Yeah, 4-abrest business seats did feel cozy but blocked center seat wasn\u2019t much behind except in “elbow room”, for short hauls that probably didn\u2019t matter as much. Apart from that, there’s really not too much difference in essence on American Airlines between first and coach. The (non-alcoholic)<\/span> drinks were the same, the snacks were similar, and the person was transported from A to B. And unlike European counterparts, which despite downgraded seating, would be offering meals and lounge access, they were missing on AA. This time due to AA’s limited award availability I ticketed myself in first on a short flight, and somehow I’m convinced I would be happier sitting in coach afterwards.
\nAs for the people sitting in the front, I guess their ego was probably what kept such a product from extinction like in Europe. Oh, it did come with two free checked bags.<\/p>\n

Bunker Hill Monument<\/span><\/h3>\n

Most of my friends would arrive late afternoon or early evening that day, so I still have time to tour the city of Boston. Well, last time here I tried to climb Bunker Hill Monument but it was closed due to snow. This time, it’s a lovely autumn morning. So I followed my footsteps ten months ago and made my way to Bunker Hill Monument.<\/p>\n

\"Bunker<\/a>

\"Bunker<\/a><\/br>Bunker Hill Monument<\/p><\/div>\n

At the foot of Bunker Hill Monument is King Solomon Lodge Memorial in memory of the original 18-foot (5.5 m) wooden column erected in 1794.<\/p>\n

\"King<\/a>

<\/br>King Solomon Lodge Memorial<\/br>Model of first monument erected on Bunker Hill.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

After that, there were 300 or so steps to the top of Monument, which was the right amount of workout to remind me I was still young before I puffed and panted like everybody else.
\nAnd the top of Monument provided great views of the city on hill on a lovely autumn morning.<\/p>\n

\"I93<\/a>

<\/br>I93 and Surrounding Buildings<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Downtown<\/a>

<\/br>\"Downtown<\/a><\/br>Downtown Boston and Charles River<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Channel<\/a>

<\/br>Channel and Boston Airport<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Industrial<\/a>

<\/br>Industrial Land to the North<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Cambridge\"<\/a>

<\/br>Cambridge<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Back to earth, a small room by the entrance exhibited some statues and paintings.
\n

\"Statue<\/a>

<\/br>Statue of Joseph Warren<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

\nClick for official information board about Joseph Warren<\/summary>\n

Background<\/p>\n

A Harvard graduate and prominent local physician. Warren (1741-1775) became involved in the patriot cause in 1767 and soon rose to become one of its driving forces in Boston. In 1774, he drew up the Suffolk Resolves, a precursor to the Declaration of Independence. As chairman of the Boston Committee of Safety, Warren dispatched Paul Revere and William Dawes to send alarm to Lexington and Concord in April 1775. By the time of the Bunker Hill battle, Warren was president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, and had just been appointed a Major General in the Massachusetts militia.<\/p>\n

At the Battle<\/p>\n

Arriving in the early afternoon, Warren was offered overall command by both Colonel Prescott and Brigadier General Putnam but declined on the grounds that his commission as major general had not yet been officially approved. Warren took up a musket to fight alongside the other men in the redoubt. As The British troops stormed the redoubt, Warren was one of the last to leave. Just outside the redoubt, he was struck down by a bullet to his head and probably died instantly.<\/p>\n

About the Portrait<\/p>\n

The Bunker Hill Monument Association selected prominent local sculptor Henry Dexter of Cambridgeport to carve the statue in 1855. The statue was funded by over $5000 in private donations and took two years to complete. A building was constructed to house the statue on this site and the dedication took place on June 17, 1857. The statue is 7\u2019 high, cut from a 7-ton block of Italian marble, and rests on a pedestal of Verd Antique marble from Roxbury, Vermont.
\n<\/details>\n

Across the street, NPS operated a bigger museum with more exhibits, including vivid recreation of the Battle of Bunker Hill.<\/p>\n

\"Cartoon\"<\/a>

<\/br>Cartoon<\/br>By The Boston Globe, “Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell traveled to New England for the sixtieth anniversary of the Bunker Hill Monument. This cartoon depicted the monument and the bell as partners in a patriotic dance, with the monument as the leading, male partner.<\/i>“<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\nTo me, this is definitely the most interesting exhibit piece. Arguably to this day, Liberty Bell had much more culture influence than the Bunker Hill Monument which was nearly forgotten in a residential community. Perhaps that’s why it’s the attractive female part.<\/p>\n

After that, I found in Boston’s Navy Yard and not far from USS Constitution that I visited last winter, there’s USS Cassin Young open to visitors. Since I already followed my footstep last winter to Bunker Hill, why not continue to Navy Yard?<\/p>\n

\"Civil<\/a>

<\/br>Civil War Monument<\/br>In culture-rich Charlestown.<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Autumn<\/a>

<\/br>Autumn Colors<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

USS Cassin Young<\/span><\/h3>\n

A Fletcher-class destroyer launched in 1943 and served in World War II and Korean War in the Pacific\u2019s, USS Cassin Young was a peephole into the US navy half a century back. Interestingly, 14 of the 175 Fletcher-class destroyers that US made during World War II were built in Charlestown Navy Yard, but USS Cassin Young wasn’t one of those.<\/p>\n

Not like USS Constitution which was still an active ship on the Navy where tours were escorted, the decommissioned USS Cassin Young offered a self-guided exploration experience. The downside was that only deck level was accessible.
\n

\"Ammunition<\/a>

<\/br>Ammunition Handling Room<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

\nClick for official information board about Ammunition Handling Room<\/summary>\n

Here in the handling room, nine men stood by ready to move projectiles and powder cases up the electric hoist to the 5\u201d 38-caliber gun mount
\ndirectly above on the next deck. Each of the five 5\u201d gun mounts on the ship has a handling room beneath it. In battle, this crew moved 24 to 30 shells and powder casing a minute up to the gun mount.
\n<\/details>\n

\"Guns\"<\/a>

<\/br>Guns<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Downtown<\/a>

<\/br>Downtown Boston<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Anti-Aircraft<\/a>

<\/br>Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun<\/br>As a video game enthusiast, I thought how great an arcade game it would be if we fit screens in front of this.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Practice<\/a>

<\/br>Practice Loading Machine<\/br>Gun crews used this machine and dummy ammunition to practice loading the 5-inch, 38 caliber guns which had to be loaded by hand. .Teamwork was essential for rapid, accurate fire in combat.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Anti-Aircraft<\/a>

<\/br>Anti-Aircraft Gun<\/br>A better anti-aircraft gun more higher speed aircrafts.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Torpedo<\/a>

<\/br>Torpedo Structure<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Captain\u2019s<\/a>

<\/br>Captain\u2019s In Port Cabin<\/br>The Commanding Officer of the CASSIN YOUNG used this cabin as an office and berthing Space while the ship was in port. While at sea he slept in a similar cabin behind the pilot house on the bridge, two levels up..<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Combat<\/a>

<\/br>Combat Information Center<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

\nClick for official information board about Combat Information Center<\/summary>\n

C.l.C. was the information center on board ship. Information collected by visual means and by radar, sonar, and radio was assembled and evaluated here and then relayed to the appropriate combat stations on the ship or to neighboring vessels. Ten to twelve crewmen worked in C.I.C., including the ship\u2019s Executive Officer.
\n“During battle, as far as we were concerned as radar pickets, the most important job of the ship was C.I.C. There was a serious debate during the end of the war as to whether the Captain should be in C.I.C. and the exec on the bridge. Because everything happened in CI.C…..”<\/i>
\nPaul M. lanes
\nExecutive Officer, 1944-45
\nUSS CASSIN YOUNG
\n<\/details>\n

\"Small<\/a>

<\/br>Small Kitchen by CIC<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Stateroom\"<\/a>

<\/br>Stateroom<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Main<\/a>

<\/br>Main Galley<\/br>Three giant ovens on one side, it looks to me that they could make little more than bread or doughnuts, which definitely sound not so appetizing. No wonder in the official audio guide app, one chef said “he got more complaints than compliments.”<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Backup<\/a>

<\/br>Backup Electronics Room<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Medical<\/a>

<\/br>Medical Room<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Support\/Operation<\/a>

<\/br>Support\/Operation Office<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"USS<\/a>

<\/br>USS Cassin Young<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

After that, I got word from one of the local party organizers saying he could use an extra pair of hands buying supplies. So I met up with him and spent a busy afternoon preparing for a weekend-ful of fun.
\nSince this is a public post, I will skip how we enjoyed our weekend and jump to the return flight on Monday.<\/p>\n

Flight AA2143 to Washington DC<\/span><\/h3>\n

It was drizzling when I stepped out of my overnight lodge, and by the time I reached metro station in central Cambridge, spires of churches were piercing through clouds as the sun poured down. The skies were colorful again.
\n

\"Boston<\/a>

<\/br>Boston Logan Airport<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Boston<\/a>

<\/br>Boston Logan Airport Terminal B Interior<\/br>This part seemed newly renovated with elevated roofs and huge windows.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Boarding<\/a>

<\/br>Boarding Flight to Washington DC<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Boston<\/a>

<\/br>Boston Logan Airport<\/br>The bump on the lower-left corner revealed how much Airbus designed the A319 rear cargo door to the front, it went quite significantly into the wing box. I remembered it was pretty much to the back on Boeing’s 737 series.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Overlooking<\/a>

\"Overlooking<\/a><\/br>\"Overlooking<\/a>\"Overlooking<\/a><\/br>Overlooking Boston Airport<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Even though the flight’s full, A319’s superior performance combined with little fuel load for a short distance flight (and maybe some audacity from the flight deck), the flaps were retracted literally right after we were airborne, which was something I’d never seen before.<\/p>\n

\"Downtown<\/a>

<\/br>Downtown Boston under Clouds<\/p><\/div>\n

After that, it was a rather bumpy climb \/ joyful ride into the clouds. Despite that, seatbelt signs were turned off at exactly 3000 meters in elevation. Another gallant act from the flight deck.<\/p>\n

\"Hingham<\/a>

<\/br>Hingham Bay<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Scituate<\/a>

<\/br>Scituate Neck<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Town<\/a>

<\/br>Town of Lebanon and Round Water Reservoir<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

There wasn’t much to talk about for this flight, same drink and snacks service as business class that I took only three days ago, in a cost-effective way though.
\nThat is, until I looked out of window and found buildings that I recognized. Oh, I was flying by my home.<\/p>\n

\"I495<\/a>

<\/br>I495 North and Beltsville<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"I495<\/a>

<\/br>I495 North<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Beltsville\"<\/a>

<\/br>Beltsville<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"College<\/a>

<\/br>College Park<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Amtrak<\/a>

<\/br>Amtrak Ivy City Maintenance Facility<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Overlooking<\/a>

\"Overlooking<\/a><\/br>\"Overlooking<\/a><\/br>\"Overlooking<\/a><\/br>Overlooking Washington DC<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

The grids and diagonals of Washington DC streets looked rather impressive from above. I picked a port side seat on the flight to Boston hoping to catch sights of New York City and got spoiled by the clouds, but this unexpected magnificence of Washington DC (and my home in its suburb) did make that up.<\/p>\n

\"Overlooking<\/a>

<\/br>Overlooking Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport across Potomac River<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"National<\/a>

<\/br>National Harbor and I495 South<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Mock-Up<\/a>

<\/br>Mock-Up Air Force One<\/br>A retired 747 being painted “Air Force One” livery.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Ronald<\/a>

\"Ronald<\/a><\/br>Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport<\/br>American hub.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Distant<\/a>

<\/br>Distant Washington and Jefferson Memorial<\/br>Back where I began.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

So this concludes a weekend-ful of memories.<\/p>\n

END<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Roughly a month ago a few college friends of mine told me they would be renting a house in Boston for the weekend and hold a gathering of chats and games and exchanges of cooking skills. Well, that… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[188,339,371],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3065"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3065"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3187,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3065\/revisions\/3187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}