When I was eight I lived in Cambridge for a year. To my eight year old brain it was the most unique, most interesting experience of my life. There was snow, and pizza slices and yellow school buses. It was completely unlike anything I had seen before, which is probably why I have so many vivid memories of it.
So it was purely nostalgia that motivated Cambridge being on our road trip itinerary. I didn't want to do anything touristy, or visit any cultural hot spots.
So we arrived in Cambridge. All in all, we spent two nights, and a day-and-a-bit in the city.
I have to admit I was a little disappointed. It was a little bit like revisiting any cherished childhood memory I guess - it is never as big, or as sparkly, or as amazing as it was when you were little. In fact, my school seemed to have closed down. The building was still there, but it was an empty husk - a dusty shell. The park by our house was smaller. Literally. And without the thick layer of snow covering everything, a integral part to many of my memories of our time there, it just didn't seem like quite the same thing.
But it was still exciting and interesting to go back, and re-discover the area. And luckily we had some amazing meals, and got to meet up with some friends.
Our first dinner was at Atwood's, and our very friendly waitress helped us choose delicious drinks (beer for Husband, cider for me) and meals (mac and cheese for Husband, gorgonzola apple salad for me).
1 October 2012
On Monday we visited the MIT museum, which was packed with incredible robots, holograms and moving art exhibitions. We then popped into The Friendly Toast for an awesome burger lunch with Shannon, a newly-made American friend. It was lovely to just sit back and chat, and the restaurant was something else - it was boldly kitsch, wonderfully so. My sweet potato fries were to die for. My burger, was, as usual, too big to finish.
We spent the afternoon exploring Cambridge and rounded off the day with a drink at the famous Cheers bar - which is just like it is on the TV show - but that was because they had built a replica bar above the original bar. It was even equipped with set lights.
Next up was an incredible lobster-themed dinner at The Atlantic Fish Co in Boston with our wonderful friend Jess, and her brother Matt. The evening was filled with fun conversation, and the food was out-of-this-world.
All in all, I wouldn't say that Cambridge is somewhere that should be top of your list of spots to visit as soon as possible. It's a sweet little city, but has maybe deteriorated somewhat since the last time I was here. Boston seemed like a much more up-market interesting place to be, from our short drive around before and after dinner, and given more time, we would have liked to explore it a bit more.
But time is short, and there are a lot more miles still to cover. It's time to go discover the great state of Maine, where I can only imagine we'll be feasting on heaps more lobster!
Restaurants in Review:
Atwood's
877 Cambridge Street Cambridge, MA 02141
1 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA 02139
| 84 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02108 |
761 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116
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3 comments:
Gee,Rrobyn I remember shopping often at the Broadway shop. and dropping you and Dillon off at the school. And Trowbridge Place looks like it's had a bit of a makeover (needed it!). Lovely pix, good memories. luv, mom
The building did look new and fresh. But otherwise the area seemed a lot more run down than I remembered. Angelo's Pizza was still there though, hehe!
xx
The building did look new and fresh. But otherwise the area seemed a lot more run down than I remembered. Angelo's Pizza was still there though, hehe!
xx
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