Kotharis in the White City: September 2011

We spent a beautiful weekend in Boston seeing the sights and attending our friend John Carione's rooftop party, which doubled as a Michigan v. Notre Dame game viewing party. Truth be told, we were a little sad that we couldn't attend the game in person (it was the first "under the lights" game at the Big House), so we figured a fun fall trip to Boston was in order. John, a huge Notre Dame fan, had somehow dragged a giant TV up the narrow spiral staircase that leads to his rooftop deck, so the game was playing both on the roof and on the TV in John's family room. At some point the crowd separated into Notre Dame fans upstairs and Michigan fans downstairs. It was such a close game with numerous last minute twists and turns ("we won! No, we lost! Wait, we won! Oh no ... we lost?") so the two parts of the house kept alternating cheering and groaning. Michigan ultimately prevailed, so Pranav and I were happy campers. Our friends who were lucky enough to be in the stadium that night were even happier campers.

Before the game, Pranav and I walked the Freedom Trail which winds through Boston and passes some of Boston's most famous historical sights. Our friends Nihal and Ken joined us for a clam chowder lunch break, and then we all met up with Ken's girlfriend (now wife) Katie, who accompanied us on our tour of the USS Constitution.

Making a new friend in Boston Common:

The Massachusetts State House:

I always forget what this building is, but I love that it is in the midst of modern office buildings:

Modern bridge designed to evoke the the obelisk at Bunker Hill:

USS Constitution. I highly recommend taking the tour. The boat is beautiful, and active naval officers serve as the guides -- our guide was particularly engaging and hilarious.

Nihal and PK waiting for the subway:

The following day was 9/11. Pranav left town for a work trip, and I started the day with a morning stroll through Boston Common:

The pomp and pageantry outside Faneuil Hall:

Paul Revere:

Boston's Holocaust Memorial. There are six of these glass towers, representing the 6 main death camps, the 6 million Jews that were killed, and the six years ('39-'45) of the "Final Solution."

Each glass tower is inscribed with a million numbers, representing the victims of the Holocaust:

Sam Adams. Not just a beer.

I met up with Nihal for a seafood lunch. We stumbled across this intriguing yet random memorial after we crossed the river. It is called the Partisans Horsemen statue and is a tribute to guerrilla freedom fighters around the world.

Another gorgeous day in Boston! I have only ever visited Boston during the spring or summer, so my perspective on the city is a little skewed.

Nihal and I both love cannolis, so obviously we had to grab a treat from the North End before I headed to the airport.

Cincy mom and dad came to visit us for the first time since we've been married. They got in late Friday night, and then we woke up early Saturday morning, ate lemon blueberry pancakes, and headed to the river for our architectural boat tour. It was a sunny and sweltering day, which was good for photo opportunities but tough on everyone's skin. Most of our fellow boaters were inside the boat hiding from the sun by the end of the tour. Chicago was followed by a short trip to Milwaukee to see the Sanghas. Here are a few shots from the boat:

The Trump building: