Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States, dating back to the first Puritan settlers in 1630. It is nestled in the beautiful New England area which (unlike Australia’s New South Wales) is actually reminiscent of some of England’s beauty spots. With its warm summers and snowy winters coupled with heavy forest and picturesque villages, it is almost like a Romanticised, Wordsworthian rendering of Britain. The city itself is manageable with a smallish population of 617,954, though those hoping for the definitive skyscraper filled skyline of the American city won’t be disappointed - as the limited space for building caused planners to look towards the sky.
Boston is very much a University town with a huge amount of colleges and research institutions. The city’s economy is based around high technology and medical advancement; so travellers shouldn’t be stuck for a bit of intelligent conversation. This booming industry has led to the city becoming wealthier and wealthier, it now possesses one of the world’s most powerful economies and it is said to be heading towards gentrification; though the city certainly hasn’t forgotten its more humble roots.
The city played a pivotal role in the American revolution with such famous events as The Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre taking place in its centre. Though it was the Irish who helped build up Boston at the end of the last century; when the masses fled from the ports of Dublin and Connemara they arrived in Boston harbour and struggled and fought to survive. Today the city is overrun with tributes to its Irish heritage in the form of Pubs, Gaelic Football teams (The Boston Shamrocks), entire areas of South Boston, and of course the ceremonial dying the river green for St. Patricks day. It could be said that in some ways Boston is more Irish than Ireland.
St. Patrick’s day is a fine time to visit Boston but the entire of New England is very beautiful in the Autumn, the season is famous for its amazing browns and yellows taking over the entire countryside of a scale unmatched anywhere else. Boston truly is an amazing place to visit, from its culture, to its architectural beauty, to its great nightlife – full of University students looking for a good time. So go check it out, you will not be disappointed.
