Sandy gets around.....: Charlestown!

The Bunker Hill Tower is a 5 minute walk from Emily's apartment!

My eldest daughter, Emily, recently moved to Charlestown! You can only imagine how excited I am about this. Founded in 1629, Charlestown is Boston's oldest neighborhood. Being located on both the Charles and Mystic rivers, it has a deep maritime history. The USS Constitution, better known as Old Ironsides, is docked in the Charleston Navy Yard. Launched in 1797, Old Ironnsides is the oldest commissioned vessel in the US Navy and was named by George Washington.

Speaking of historical facts, Boston silversmith Paul Revere rode from Charlestown to Lexington and Concord with the warning, "the British are coming." Remember learning that in history class? Two months later, the Battle of Bunker Hill ensued (I guess it actually took place on Breeds Hill) which resulted in the destruction and evacuation of much of the town.

During the 1960s and until mid-1990, Charlestown was infamous for its Irish mafia presence. In late 1980, however, Charlestown underwent a massive gentrification process similar to the of the South end. Many professionals from the upper middle class, attracted to Charlestown's proximity to downtown and its colonial, red brick row house dwellings (similar to those on Beacon Hill), moved into the neighborhood. Today it's a mix of upper-middle and middle-class residences, housing projects and a large working class Irish-American population and culture. You can enjoy stunning views of the Boston skyline from the Navy Yard's green spaces and piers (we did from Pier 6!, a popular restaurant).

St. Mary's Church.

Restaurants galore w/n walking distance, including this sweet find...Tangierino's where we went and shared a hookah! while my husband had his cigar...quite exotic, I need to return and have some Moroccan food, the menu seemed very appealing and I learned they also did Tarot readings and had a belly dancer! We popped in unexpectedy but the staff was very gracious and welcoming, and I will return!

Tangierino's!

I wishI knew what this building was....

We walked around her neighborhood, and I took these pics....It seems to be a nice mix of apartment dwellings (2, 3, & 4 story) and family homes as well as brick townhouses! I especially liked the gas powered lighting on the streets, makes it much more visually appealing!

Someone's back yard....

Quite lovely isn't it?

Our view as we walked over to the USS Constitution and from Pier 6....I need to return in the evening.

the USS Constitution

the is part of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, which has 10 lanes; the bridge and connecting tunnels were built as part of the Big Dig, the largest highway construction project in the U.S. I think it's quite attractive and I'm always drawn to taking pictures of it!

Once you've crossed over (another smaller bridge, not the one above) you're in the North End with its restaurants, bakeries, stores...eat as much as you can of anything and everything!

on Sunday we walked to the metro at Haymarket Square and took the orange line all the way to Jamaica Plains so that we could go to the Arnold Arboretum and participate in Lilac Sunday....well worth the trek over there, it's free to get in and you could spend hours/days there and not get to see everything! It's owned by Harvard Uniersity.

It was also Mother's Day, here I am with my eldest daughter, the one who moved to Boston, Emily!

Pretty isn't it, although I think the lilacs would have been at their peak the following week, everything was a little later this year; we had an unbearably long winter!