Back in Boston after All These Years

I lived in Boston for a few years growing up (2-3^rd grade in primary school) and while studying at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA we’d often head into Boston for the weekend.  So I was not unfamiliar with Boston, but it’d been many, many years since I was last back.

Cisco’s Global Partner Summit was taking place in Boston (June 3-7), so I arrived the day prior to be sure I was in time for the on-site prep meeting before the media and analysts arrived.  This provided my friend and colleague Helen and I with an opportunity to take a walking tour of Faneuil Hall, the Old South Meeting House where the Boston Tea Party was planned, and the Old State House which was the site of the Boston Massacre. Then we walked along the Boston Freedom Trail tour on our own and visited Paul Revere’s House, the Old North Church (where the “one if by land, two if by sea” lanterns were hung) and the Massachusetts State House.

Faneuil Hall

Old South Meeting House

Walking on the Freedom Trail (yes, those are my toes)

Helen's looking lovely in front of the Old State House

The Old North Church

Each of the families had a cubicle like this for a pew in the Old North Church

Paul Revere's Home

With the journalists from Australia and India we also visited the Harvard Campus, the world famous Union Oyster House and took the original Boston Duck Tour.  

As our visit to Boston was a few months after the Boston Marathon bombings, we also paid our respects at the memorial that had been established for those tragically killed and injured.  There were many, many messages for the victims written on running shoes and on the number bibs of runners, it was all very moving and sad. 

We also took the journalists to see the Boston Red Sox play against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park.  For many it was their first American baseball game, hotdog and 7^th Inning Stretch “Take me out to the Ballgame”.  

This Fenway hotdog is basically just a hotdog in between a piece of Wonder White bread

Molly Ringwald at the Sydney Writer’s Festival 2013

In a flash back to the 1980s, Molly Ringwald was in Sydney to promote her first fiction book When it Happens to You and perform with her jazz band.  It was fascinating to hear how she met her husband in an online writer’s forum and how she read at every chance she had in between filming scenes.  I purchased her book “Getting the Pretty Back” and waited in line for her autograph.

I enjoyed several other sessions as well (May 25-26):

• Is Rhetoric Dead: In the Age of the Soundbite? There was a hearty debate amongst the panelists which include ex-speechwriter for Kevin Rudd, James Button, Federal Member for Wentworth Malcolm Turnbull, political journalist and social commentator Annabel Crabb and Executive Director of the Plain English Foundation Neil James.
• The Misogyny Factor a book by Dr. Anne Summers who has worked as a senior bureaucrat and political adviser, and is the former editor-in-chief of Ms. magazine
• Gillian Mears: Foal’s Bread and Living LifeThe Closing Address:  Claire Messud who addressed her American, Canadian and French identities and growing up in Sydney and a writer’s rootlessness in the global era.

During the Writer's Festival, the Sydney Festival of Lights was also on and the Sydney Harbour Bridge was also a part of the light-show.

Last But Not Least: Hunter Valley Wine Region in NSW

While Hunter Valley wine region is the closest to home, only a 1.5 hour drive from Sydney, it’s the only top wine region in Australia and New Zealand I had yet to visit. 

While I’d talked with friends about a weekend trip to the wineries at Hunter Valley, taking in a concert and pampering at a spa, it’d never come to fruition.  Coordinating busy schedules, finances and organizing the weekend were the main culprits.

It turns out the secret to success was taking the spontaneous approach.  Seeing a free weekend coming up (May 11-12), I rang my very capable travel agent Kim Mason (who has booked all my amazing vacations and who I highly recommend) and voila a gorgeous weekend in Hunter Valley!

The half-day wine tour very conveniently included a pick up at my lovely hotel Pepper’s Guest House and included tastings at:

• McLeish Estate - My favorites were the Tri Moir (cabernet/merlot/shiraz)
• Tamburlaine Organic Wines – The 2010 Nobel Chardonnay (Botrytis) reminded me of  the De Bortoli’s Noble One dessert wine
• And then we wrapped up at the cheese and chocolate tasting

Before my pampering massage and facial treatment on Sunday, I squeezed in visits to two more wineries at Tyrrell’s Wines and Audrey Wilkinson Winery.

As I’m a fan of big reds that fill your mouth with lots of berry flavor and spices, Margaret River and the Barossa Valley are definite favorites.  Mudgee is where you go for solid wines that are a real bargain.  In comparison, Hunter Valley had some interesting wines that were noteworthy – just not the kind of wine that you’d save for a special occasion.  

Beautiful view at Audrey Wilkinson Winery.