Summer in the USA 2019: Week 6 of 7 Cambridge and Boston

After we wrapped up an interesting week in Miami Trevon and I flew back up to Boston so he could attend a coding camp at MIT for the week.  He was so excited about this.  This time instead of staying in Beacon Hill (my favourite neighbourhood in Boston) we stayed in Cambridge so we could be closer to MIT and also to experience a different part of the Boston area. 

Trevon at his dream destination, MIT!  He was in heaven just being there, but it was just incredible for him to get to attend a camp here.  He was on cloud 9 all week. 

Two thumbs up for coding camp at MIT!

It was really neat to spend the week in Cambridge, and get to experience a bit of MIT outside of Trevon's camp.  We loved the museums there.  So many interesting exhibits.  Also just really cool to feel like a temporary MIT local for a week staying just a 20-minute walk from the campus.

I couldn't resist, so I surprised Trevon with tickets to another Red Sox game.  Another magical night at Fenway.  We got back to our rental in Cambridge so late and so hot and sweaty, but it was worth it!

On Harvard Bridge

I had a lot of time on my own to explore Cambridge while Trevon was at camp.  It was awfully hot, but I tried to make the most of the time there.  Though I'll admit that I did spend one entire day entirely inside enjoying the A/C in our rental and catching up on life.  I spent a lot of time exploring Harvard as we stayed pretty much right in the middle between MIT and Harvard campuses.  There is just something about that place.  I often wonder what it would have been like if Scott had accepted his offer to go to Harvard Law School, and how neat it would have been to have spent his law school years there.  Stanford was the better choice, but still I sometimes wish we had gone to Boston.

One afternoon I took a guided tour (ended up being a private tour!) of the Longfellow House slash Washington Headquarters.  Interesting dual-historical house.  

Summer in the USA 2019: Week 5 of 7 Miami

After a wonderful week in Massachusetts it was time to move on, Scott back to London and Madeleine, Trevon and I onward to Miami.  We needed to get Madeleine to Miami to meet her departure for her south American summer expedition.  We got there a few days before her flight so we could enjoy some of Miami Beach together before she left.  I had never spent any time in Miami, only ever passed through, so wasn't sure what to expect.  Well soon after we arrived I was ready to break up with the place.  Miami Beach is a wild place.  It's like the Florida Vegas, spring break gone wild.  It's a loud and crazy place that pushes all the boundaries, a round the clock party.  Our hotel was plenty nice, but it's clear they pack people in here.  I was glad our hotel didn't have an extroverted party personality like I saw at other hotels with crowded, drunken pool parties.  But it was still a bit too much for my taste.  But as with any place that makes you uncomfortable, there's an opportunity to find something redeeming and make the best of it.  And that's what we did.  In the end we had a great week in Miami enjoying lots of sun, good food, fun shopping, going to the movies, a zippy boat tour and a day in Little Havana. 

Our Miami Beach hotel

Fun in the sun at the hotel

View out to the city from our hotel balcony.  I loved watching the almost daily thunderstorms roll in!

On the beach, honestly not the best beach I've been to so not sure what all the hype is.  (Hint: it's more about Vegas than about beaches.)

We walked nearly the entire length of the Miami Beach boardwalk.  It was interesting to see all the different hotels and their very different personalities. 

Miami Beach at night is quite a scene!

Around Miami Beach, seriously cool vibe with loads of art deco architecture from another era.  Just love it!  

Evenings out for dinner (and reading).

After we got Madeleine off at the airport, Trevon and I still had three days in Miami before moving onto week 6 of our summer travels.  We took a taxi to Little Havana to explore that area one day.  It was by far my favourite part of Miami.  So rich in history and Cuban culture.  Miami has more Spanish speakers than English speakers for sure, and the heart of it all is here.  I absolutely loved this part of Miami.  And I think Americans need to embrace Spanish as a language that is a part of the fabric of our nation.  

On another day we took a speedboat tour around Miami, which was a blast.  Trevon loved the high speed boat action and it was cool to see the glitzy side of Miami.