Boston or Bust: Jaspers Support Crew Team
Tina DeAngelis
Issue date: 11/1/06 Section: Features
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Under the blue skies hundreds of boats rowed along the Charles River. Teams from all over the world came to compete along with over 250,000 spectators who came to witness world's largest two-day rowing event. Joggers and people casually strolling and watching the race mingled on the tree-lined asphalt path along the river to find the best view of the boats. As the boats raced by people shouted and snapped pictures.
The crew team had support from fellow Jaspers due to the efforts of Emily Ellett, a fan of the Manhattan crew team who planned the trip to Boston so that students could cheer their team on. The Lady Jaspers participated in the Colligates Eights Women's race and rowed three miles. They crossed the finish line in 21 minutes and 27 seconds.
The excitement surrounding the Charles River floated into the city of Boston where several Manhattan students chose to spend the day walking around and taking in the historic atmosphere.
Boston incorporates old and new-historic brick buildings often sit next new steel and glass skyscrapers. Despite the contrast, they blend in such a way that when the sun shines down at a certain angle, the older buildings are reflected in the glass skyscrapers. The old fashioned street lamps contribute to the old-fashioned feel of the city and compliment the many historic brick buildings.
The tree-lined streets and the brick sidewalks in the Downtown Crossing section of Boston are filled with everything from historical attractions, to delicious restaurants, to a variety of stores. One place that is visitors must stop is Filene's Basement. Founded in 1908 it sells name-brand clothing for men and women at incredible prices. There are also other clothing shops in the area such as Macy's, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and H&M.
From the Downtown Crossing section, it is a short walk to the historic attractions, which consist of some of the nation's oldest institutions including the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, the Freedom Trail, and the Massachusetts State House. Boston Commons, the start of the Freedom Trail, is located right across from the Massachusetts State House. The Boston Commons is one of the oldest public parks in the country and is almost fifty acres in size. Another interesting historic site is the Granary Burying Ground. This burying ground contains the graves of John Hancock, Paul Revere, Ben Franklin's parents, and Samuel Adams.
In addition to the historical attractions, Boston is also home to several world class museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Science. A popular tourist destination is Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.
With all of the many activities available-everything from historical attractions, to museums, to great shopping venues-it is surprising that visitors only need a few days to take advantage of the different sides of Boston. The compact layout of the city makes getting around easy.
Boston is filled with vibrant energy, whether from the crowds of people cheering on the crew teams at the Charles River or from within city walls that ignited the American Revolution.