Boston

Boston is a delightful place to be. It was 97 degrees today and everyone was about in sundresses and sandals. My sister lives on Marlborough Street in Back Bay. We enjoyed shopping on Newbury and Boylston Streets and spent a very long time in the Apple store looking at phones and computers and iPads. I felt overwhelmed by all the merchandise everywhere and could not actually buy anything, except in the bookstore, where I felt very comfortable (I have been buying books in Ecuador). There is so much here, and all is crisp and clean and organized, at least it looks like that on the surface.

We ate ice cream and smoothies and espressos and salad and wine and nothing tasted like anything in Ecuador and it was all wonderful. We walked and talked and explored. At the new Old South Church and Trinity churches, we played tourist and everything felt so different from Quito. The style was neoGothic and dark and oppressive and I could not sense the faith that was palpable in the colonial churches I had become so familiar with. I was more appreciative when I decided to approach these places as museums and just read the 'self guided' tour and focused on the stained glass windows which were quite marvelous.

I remember meeting my first husband Ron at the Copley Plaza Hotel in 1988 when I attended a review course for board exams. So much happened in that hotel, I could not tell Maya the whole story, so I don't think she was aware of the wistfulness in my voice.

The library was closed, but beckons for another visit. We have much more to explore in the next few days.