Back from Bean-Town!

There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…We got home last night after being in Boston since Wednesday. I want to thank everyone who sent good wishes to me and my family  this month, my husband had surgery in Boston and it went well, I am so relived. I got a chance to explore a bit of the city while I was there. It was a last-minute trip (we only had a couple of days to plan) and most hotels were booked or crazy expensive so I tried something new, I stayed in a couple of hostels.  I stayed at 40 Berkley the first 2 nights, they have private rooms but you share a bathroom, it was a fun friendly hip place in the artsy district of Boston. I think it would be a good place for families to stay.  They have a huge free buffet breakfast too. They also offer discounted tickets to the aquarium, and other Boston attractions. It would save a family a lot of money. They were booked the next 2 nights so I got a bed at Boston Hostel which happened to be right across the street from the hospital and $50 a night! This is better for people traveling alone or with a group of friends because they have a lot of activities and guided tours, classes and outings free of charge! I was a bit unnerved by the “dorm style” rooms but everyone was very friendly and there weren’t any weirdos.  I think whoever coined the phrase “Strangers are friends you haven’t met yet” did so while staying in a hostel. Unfortunately I did not take any photos of 40 Berkeley but I did at Boston Hostel:

I spent most of my time at the hospital but I think the nurses and my husband needed a break from my “helpfulness” so he encouraged me to safely explore the city. I have always wanted to visit a Chinatown and that neighborhood was right there.

The food was amazing! and cheap! I found a vegan Thai restaurant which is now my favorite, I could get anything off the menu, what a concept! You had to climb 2 flights of stairs in a very sketchy looking building to get to this place but it was worth it!

The smells of Chinatown are interesting, exotic spices, fish, moth balls, it is an experience! Sunday morning there was a street fair. I picked up souvenirs: Parasols for my daughters, a Red Sox cap for my sun (And Pat’s cap for hubby) and some sundresses for me. I also bought 2 kosheki dolls for my mom who collects dolls and who also watched my kids during this trip.

I found a fabric store tucked away in Chinatown too:

The next day however I found an even better one in the theater district, cotton was $3.50-$3.89 a yard and amazing! Hotels are pricey in Boston but fabric and food are cheap! I’ll show you what I bought an a day or two. I picked up a small packet of origami paper in one of the Chinatown shops and passed the time in the hospital room making various remedial origami projects. I had my Kindle fire which has a Pinterest app so finding patterns was a breeze, good thing because the directions on the paper pack were rubbish LOL!

I am so glad to be home with my family safe and sound. Its funny, I faced a lot of my fears in this trip (traveling, cites, strangers, crowds) and I didn’t even realize it because when you are faced with the illness of someone you love nothing else seems important or at the least worth worrying about. Thanks for all of your love and support and til next time happy crafting!