Yesterday, couldn't resist, went up to Harvard and walked around. First thing we did was hit the bookstore. Hub and I had to use our cell phones to find each other....since we both wandered off into our own little niches and could have stayed there for days.
Harvard is beautiful but much smaller than I envisioned it. Walking through the center of campus.... I expected the students to look really smart....but they just looked like students on any other campus (I did notice a lot of Armani jeans on students though and BMW's parked on the side streets)
We did have some interactions with students in the art museums which we visited on campus . I don't know if they were representative of the student body.....but they could hardly stand being asked such mediocre questions as if there might be a book available on early Chinese bronzes or if their early Egyptian paintings were part of the exhibition now closed. Oh how could we be so pedestrian not to know these things and have to ask......lol.
Decided since my children didn't go to Harvard, I would have to buy my own Harvard t-shirt so hit the Insignia store....where they promptly rejected our credit card. It's always embarrassing to stand there while everyone is looking at you like you are a scum puppy.
The manager called our credit card company and then hub had to get on the phone. Seems like someone had hocked our credit card number and was trying to put big charges through in Amsterdam. Fortunately, the company cut off our account but did allow us this last purchase......so I could come home with my t-shirt. My sons report there's been two calls on our home phone caller ID since then labeled "United States Government." Great.....
The weather is gorgeous....absolute blue skies, cool, but warm in the sun. Often throughout the day.....I would plunk myself on a park bench and just pretend I was a cat....purring, eyes half open....enjoying the warmth.
Went to a wonderful Thai restaurant last night....a little place down in the basement of one of these old brick apartment buildings which form the neighborhoods around here...the food was fresh, hot and spicy....and such a treat after so much walking and subwaying around the city.
Also making regular trips to the interesting funky grocery store not far from the hotel. As I mentioned before, I just love seeing what locals eat and what food preferences they have in a grocery store. My current favorite find.....a strange local grapefruit soda called Polar Bear....which is tart and tastes like Squirt.
One strange event of the evening....we took a walk down the street and passed what looked like a small exclusive French restaurant with tall black iron gates at the entrance. Suspiciously, there were about 5 men ...all in black business suits, white shirts, silk ties ....carrying laptop briefcases. They were not congregated together like a clump of business men might be....but where spread out....as if forming a line.
Something felt very odd about the situation....and when a limousine pulled up and one of the "business guys" called out to the driver....in a Boston/Italian accent...."hey you wanna smoke some pot?".....hub and I decided to cross the street and vacate the neighborhood. I had a strange feeling.... I was in a scene from the Sopranos......and didn't want to find out if there were really laptops in those briefcases.
Here's some photos from the day:
Now this is what you call a proper entrance........this beautiful foyer is part of the Public Library..... you get the feel that people value education and books in this town....so it's fitting to have the central place of knowledge for the community so adorned.
Me.....at Harvard.......in one of the art museums....they had some wonderful Buddhas here... I sat and had some conversations with them....nice fellows......and as always.....very enlightening.
Oh I loved this ad on the subway....click on it to enlarge it. You'll notice t all the wiggly lines emanating from the dollar sign are sperm heads. Yep....if you're a Ivy League students.....the sperm bank can help you finance those Armani Jeans.``````````
