On our first day in Massachusetts we (Peg and I and dear friend Al Burrage) had a council of war and planned where we wanted to go and what sites we wanted to see. Peg's main concern was to see Quincy, Massachusetts. Ever since she had seen the mini-series on televsion based on John Quincy and Abigail Adams (and read the books of course), and attended a history class with her mom at a local community college, Peg has wanted to visit the Adams' homes. Visiting Quincy became our number one goal.
"Just minutes south of Boston awaits one of New England's most captivating destinations, the City of Quincy ("quin-zee"). Called the 'City of Presidents' and 'Birthplace of the American Dream', Quincy is the birthplace of the second and sixth U.S. Presidents, John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams. Rich in historic treasures, Quincy's impressive past remains vibrant today as the city lays claim to an exciting future."
Although our number one goal was to visit Quincy, Massachusetts and visit the home of John Quincy Adams and Abigail, when we are in West Dennis on Cape Cod, has led our immediate goal was lunch. We have seen many bars and restaurants that looked interesting, but a closer examination we found them to be closed. A dinner for two, including lobster advertised for $ 16.95. I parked the car and walked to the restaurant just a sign that their opening hours are shown in 4.00. I cried when they closed the door.
Returning to the carI saw a Brazilian restaurant, Terra Brasili's. They advertized a lunch buffet. We walked in to investigate. The buffet looked inviting. Peg decided to pay for her buffet by the weight, while Al and I decided to try the full buffet for only $13.99. I was a little familiar with dinner from South America. On a trip to Seattle we discoverd the Buenos Aires Grill, where we have dined three times now.
After serving ourselves side dishes and salads, we were able to choose our meats. Since Peg was paid for the weight, could only go into the kitchen, once for a cut of lamb. Al and I a "Yes" and "no" were card to display next to our place dishes. Until the card read "Yes" to continue the cook would bring skewers of meat and cut sections of the table. Our problem was only with the lamb. It 'been exaggerated for our tastes. But the tenderloin, rump roast, pork loin, bacon wrapped chicken breast and sausage, all cooked to perfection. Beefwas all served moist and rare. All said, "I've died and gone to meat heaven." For about fifteen minutes I joined him there.
After lunch we drove to the Adams National Historic Site. Peg signed up for the two hour tour. Al roamed around the gardens, and I put the seat back in our car and took a nap. The historical site was beautiful, and I did enjoy what I saw.
"Located just eight miles south of Boston, this site commemorates the public careers and literary contributions of John Adams, second president of the United States and four generations of his family, including John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the country. It 's the onlyplace in the nation, where the story of two presidents of their birth to their last resting place may be told.
The park is about 13 hectares and has 11 historic buildings, including two modest homes that the proposed salt field oldest presidential birthplaces in the United States. Start your visit here. John Adams was born innorth house in 1735, and some 75 yards away to the south, stands the house where in 1765 he brought his new bride, Abigail Smith. Their son, John Quincy Adams, was born in that house in 1767.
John Adams and his family were living in the second house when he drafted the Massachusetts Constitution, the forerunner of the U.S. Constitution, and this is where Abigail wrote many of her famous letters during the Revolutionary War, reminding her husband to 'remember the ladies'."
The family's mansion with its beautiful gardens is the start of the tour. Known as the "Old House," John Adams bought this dwelling from the Vassal-Borland family in 1787 and moved in shortly afterward with his family. The Old House was home to four generations of the Adams family: two presidents, statesmen, authors, and scholars. It remained in the family until 1946, when the Adams Memorial Society donated the house, along with its contents and grounds, to the federal government.
While peacefully rocking on the porch of the mansion and waiting for Peg to finish her tour, I received a call from a client, Harry and David, the gourmet condiment people. We laughed and talked a while . . . and I promised to eat three lobsters during the trip for my contact. It was difficult, but I did.
"The Old House holds a vast collection of decorative arts, objects, furnishings, and memorabilia acquired over nearly 150 years by different family members at various times. Adjacent to the Old House is the Stone Library, which was constructed in 1870 by Charles Francis Adams, John and Abigail's grandson.
Considered this country's first presidential library, today the beautiful building houses 14,000 volumes accumulated by several generations of the family."
Looking in my rearview mirror I saw Peg get off the trolley and walk towards the car. She was tired, however I was refreshed. We left the historical site and headed to Harbor Express, which is next to the site of the U.S.S. Salem. The USS Salem CA-139 is now the worlds only preserved heavy cruiser. She is moored at her birthplace, the former Fore River Shipyard.
"Ordered by the US Navy on 14 June, 1943, USS Salem (CA 139) was laid down on 4 July, 1945 at the Bethlehem Steel Company's Quincy Yard in Quincy, MA and launched on 25 March, 1947. She was commissioned at the Boston Navy Yard on 14 May, 1949.
U.S.S. Salem served a distinguished 10 year career as flagship of the US Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and the Second Fleet in the Atlantic. During her career she served as host to such notables as the US Ambassador to Spain, John D. Lodge; the Honorable Thomas S. Gates, Undersecretary of the Navy; Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; the Shah of Iran; the President of Lebanon and the King and Queen of Greece.
Although Salem never fired her mighty guns in anger, her very presence served as a stimulus for peace during those troubled times that came to be called the Cold War. She served as a Lady of Diplomacy, rather than as a means of exerting brute force."
Before Al and I were kicked off the cruiser, we stepped inside one of the main turrets. I can't imagine the massive damage that must have been done to inner ears of anyone inside the main gun like that. There is even an alarm bell inside. When that went off it had to deafen anyone inside. These guns fire eight inch shells weighing about 240 pounds a distance of up to 18 miles. It was fun turning some of the controls inside the turret, but during a time of war I bet the walls seemed to get closer and closer. I could almost feel the pressure . . . and we still had the door open. We said goodbye to a friendly volunteer working on the deck (the volunteers are building a haunted ship for Halloween to raise money for the Sea Scouts).
We stepped onto the gangway and were surprised to see a German submarine sitting next to the Salem. Boarding the cruiser all our attention was focused on the heavy cruiser. It was a shock to see a two man submarine. I wasn't even aware that the Germans had such a thing during World War II. I knew the Japanese did, but I didn't know about the Kriegsmarine.
We walked all around the sub and when I got to a computer I checked out information on the internet about the mini-submarine, which would have carried two torpedoes. During WW II the German Navy constructed a very small submarine, designed for two crewmembers. The general term for this variable U-Boot "seal", the seal means. The technical equipment for the small U-boat was almost the same as that of larger-size boats. In addition to the boat in Quincy, you can visit a museum technician at Monaco Munich: Deutsches Museum. Most of the "seal" the survivors and the Association of Driver seal - SEAL-The Association of Sailors. Klaus Mattes wrote an interesting book The seals on the technical issues and the operations of Germanmini-submarine.
"The U-5075, a training kleinst-u-boot, was brought to the US for testing and evaluation in 1945. Then parts of it (the periscope, passive sonar and torpedoes) were removed for further evaluation. Our "075" was then put on display at the Groton Submarine Base (SuBase), in front of the administrative building. It sat there for about 50 years being ignored and neglected. Then it was moved to the USS Nautilus Museum just outside the main gate of the SuBase. In 1997 it was As a marine survey (an occupational injury / damage assessment). A few years later, our museum in Quincy received the seal. This was necessary because the Nautilus Museum, the space of the estate so that's the U.S. Navy 50 foot X-1 Four-man U-boat could display. About The X-1 must be restored. "
Al and I played with a gun station on the pier and a mine. Although I have my shoes, I could not work in the mine. It 'a Jeep was there too, but had no seats,This has been sitting a bit 'uncomfortable. Al and I have come to believe our games, and returned to the car. Peg was a bit 'grumpy. Had only a short nap. Peg is expected to be gone for hours. The cruiser was actually closed, so we only played for half an hour. . . and that was part of the descent control of the ferry the next day for Boston.
We really enjoyed our day in Quincy, and the next day we really enjoyed our day in Boston, but if you get theopportunity to return to Massachusetts I think we will stay in Quincy for several days and take the ferry to downtown Boston. That way, we can enjoy both Boston and Quincy. It will also stretch our budget by staying in Quincy rather than the higher priced hotels of Boston.