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PaperclipPerfector  3mo ago (text post)   2555 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for August 2, 2024

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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I haven't been to Boston in years. I used to take the Amtrak there from DC once a year for PAX East, and it was extremely depressing. Passing through Baltimore, all you see are the ruins of brownstones as far as the eye can see. At some point, I think north of New York, it's more ruins along a bunch of eroded shoreline that comes almost up to the rail tracks. A few mostly abandoned and hollowed out downtowns (and this was pre COVID) at various Amtrak stops along the way in small and dying towns. Then finally you get to Boston, and it's pretty nice. I do remember seeing a bit of nightlife along the street I took back to my hotel from the convention center. Lots of pretty girls in itty bitty dresses in near freezing temperatures. At one point I took a shortcut down a side street and ended up near some strip clubs while a hobo began accosting us for a light and then money. Then they followed us for 3 blocks ranting and raving while we tried to ignore him and avoid eye contact.

At one point we did the whole "Freedom Tour" I think it was called, where you visit a bunch of famous Bostonian's houses from the Revolutionary period and walk up the Bunker Hill monument. That was fun. It was also fun visiting the Sam Adams Brewery, and trying everything they cook up. Highly recommend it.

The areas we went to, including Boston had a lot of tourists, which might have skewed things. There were lots of licence plates from all over New England, plus Quebec, New York, and a surprising number from Texas. And lots of racks and trailers. Maine obviously benefits enormously from being so close to the Northeastern US, otherwise I think its economy would be a lot more like ours. Every trip I've made to New England has been short and I hope to be able to explore more in the future. Everything is very expensive though.

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