My Impressions of Boston

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I spent a long weekend in Boston; it was our first visit to that historic city.  We stayed at the Omni Parker House, the home of the Parker House roll and Boston cream pie.  Interestingly, JFK proposed to Jackie in the hotel restaurant, and Ho Chi Mihn was once a pastry chef in its kitchen.

I traveled to Boston with the preconceived notion that the city was filled with gentleman's shops.  I was hoping to find shops filled with leather and wood, wool and cigar smoke.  I was sorely disappointed.  The hottest shopping spot is Newbury Street where one finds Burberry, Armani, and other similar high-end, high-priced fashion shops.  The most interesting store I found was J. Press in Cambridge, but I even left there empty-handed.

Between trips to the local taverns for beer and the World Cup, I did a lot of people watching.  I was surprised to discover that the population is largely composed of young, fit individuals; maybe I've grown too used to Southern obesity. 

The standard male uniform appeared to be dark, flat-front trousers, a black belt with modern silver buckle, black shoes and a blue striped or checked button-down shirt (sans jacket or tie).  Even in the downtown area I rarely saw a man wearing a tie. 

I was more perplexed by the attire of the young women in Boston.  I saw countless attractive women wearing blouses with a low scallop in the back that completely revealed the back of their bra, including the straps and the fastener.  It reminded me of the thugs that wander around with sagging pants and exposed boxers.  I'm no expert on women's clothing so I'm not sure what advice I would give those young women.  Is it too risqué to wear those blouses without a bra?  Maybe.  But in my mind underwear should go under ones' clothing.

Notwithstanding its lack of sartorial splendor, I found Boston to be safe, interesting and historical.