Figures and Figureheads

She seemed a little wooden.  ;-)

Looks like he's been there awhile!

Cute dinosaur!

I've seen a few cities doing these painted figures....Vancouver had bears in 2006 and Victoria had orca whales in 04 or 05.  Here, I've seen painted sperm whales.  Salem has figureheads and they were beautifully done.

This one was my fave.  The gold thread and sequins work was incredible.

Scarlet letter! This must be Hester Prynne.

Salem, MA: Witch City

So Salem is cool.  WICKED cool.  I will so totally be going back up there again!!!  I'd like to go in the fall for sure.  I shot quite a few pics so this will take a couple/three posts.  It's amazing!!!

Moriah & Bruce were visiting family in New Brunswick in mid-August and they decided to take a quick side trip into New England (and they made the most of that visit too, I might add...she's now seen more of parts of NH and Maine than I have!).  Moriah & I have been friends since about 2008, from Facebook, and she used to live in Victoria, BC.  We got together for dinner once in Tacoma in 2009, and for dinner & Ghostly Walks in Victoria in 2010.  The year I moved back, her husband was transferred to Ottawa.  We decided to meet in Salem, which was roughly half way from where I live and where she was staying in NH.

First, I had to endure the morning rush hour slog through South Boston which really sucked.  Good thing I left at 7:45 to be there by 10!!

After the split for the airport, traffic opened up in the tunnel and on the Zakim Bridge. 

I got up there pretty quickly after the traffic lightened up, found the parking garage and visitor center where we were meeting.  I had about 10 minutes to spare so I took a quick walk around the block.

Inside the visitor center

Very cute historical vignettes and displays set up.

Funky art on the parking garage.

Love the architecture.  More brick here than in most of the other places I've visited.

America's version of Ollivander's.

We just didn't have time to stop in this time.  I will definitely go next time though.

A lot of places were closed the day we went, which was on a Monday.  There was a locked gate to this alley, so I couldn't get better angles of this mural.

There were quite a few role players roaming the streets! 

Bruce & Moriah!  How cute!

Scituate

My dear friend JoLisa was in town with her hubby and son for a wedding, so we were able to get together one Sunday for a trip up to Scituate.  That town's name is pronounced 'Situate'.  She & I had never met in person before, having been Facebook friends since April, 2009, probably because of playing Hatchlings. Over time we've gotten to be really close from chatting all the time.  It was to the point where I forgot that I never met her in real life before!  

I picked her up at her hotel in Plymouth and we headed up.  Here's a map to show where it is on the coast. All I can say is, thank god she had a smart phone that was able to give me audible turn by turn directions because I never would have found it!!!

The first place we went was to the lighthouse.

We walked out on this breakwater all the way to the end.  

Busy day out on the Bay! It was sooooo nice out.

Josie!!

Cool ship leaving the harbour.

Then in full sail!

Down at the end of the jetty.  

Anchors Aweigh!

I loved the glass bits embedded in the sidewalk.

What a great bead shop this is!!!!!!  I was fairly good....kept it under $35.

We went inside an antique shop and were delighted with the decorated ceiling tiles.

The proprietor said she passed out the tiles to local kids to decorate and return.  What an awesome idea!!!!

I like this old sign.  Pilgrim Highway is Rte. 3.

On the way back, I asked if she had a chance to see the Monument to the Forefathers, since she was in Plymouth almost every day.  She was surprised to hear about it because no one had told them it was there.  I chuckled because that seemed to be the case, despite it being in this location since the late 1800s.  So I took her to see it.

By the way, if you ever find yourself in Scituate, you must stop by for a slice or two at Harbor House of Pizza.  It was absolutely mouth watering delicious.  It's probably a good thing it's so far away or I'd be eating there every night!!!!!   A big THANK YOU to JoLisa for treating me to lunch there and for hanging out with me!