Arriving at Pinecliffe
Posted by Jackie , 17 June 2010 9:41 PM
Approximately 40 hours ago I started the adventure that is Camp Pinecliffe, and it’s been almost constant activity so far. Yesterday, I arrived in Boston at 9:30 am after an ungodly-early flight from O’Hare and set out into the city to do some exploring. I had prepared myself the previous night, with everything from a place to store my carry-on baggage for the day to what subway lines and stops were required for each of my desired activities. First, I stopped at the Boston Commons. I planned on walking the Freedom Trail, but without a working knowledge of Boston’s streets I wanted to buy a guide map. Of course, one must pay for a map of the Freedom Trail, and the cheapest cost me $3 (collector’s editions on fun paper and children’s versions were upwards of $15 or $20!). Despite how much it killed me to pay for something that should have been free, I do applaud the city for its clever marketing technique.
Finally setting off, I took my time to wander the streets and enjoy each of the historical sights along the way. Particularly humorous was the bar behind the Granary Burying Ground that unloaded a truck of Samuel Adam’s beer while I was looking at the patriot’s grave.
Further along, I entered the Old State House and toured the museum inside. They had a nice exhibit about the history of the Revolutionary War in Boston, but the best treasures were in a collection of the curators’ favorite pieces. There, I saw a lock of Daniel Webster’s hair, the scaffolding hook that hung John Brown following his raid on Harper’s Ferry, and – my favorite – the cane that Preston Brooks is believed to have used when he beat Charles Sumner in the Senate in 1856.
A cool street performer outside Franeuil Market:
After reaching the Old North Church, I ate at a fabulous lunch at Al Dente in Boston’s Little Italy (thanks for the recommendation Kristen!!). Afterward, I took the T to the Museum of Fine Arts and spent two hours examining the Renaissance and Impressionist works, Greek pottery, and a visiting exhibit of prints created by Albrecht Durer. Around 4 pm, I left the museum and made my way back to the airport.
Crazy Trojan Horse mock-up that was hiding at South Station:
Meeting up with the Pinecliffe group in the terminal was actually fun, despite having to wait in the airport for four hours for a delayed flight to land. I met people from New Zealand, Australia, and Great Britain who were all coming to work at camp for the summer. At first, I was surprised to see so many international counselors at camp (the ratio of international to Americans is about 50-50), but I’ve been told that America is actually one of a handful of countries to offer summer camps. After the delayed girls cleared customs and we got on the road, the Pinecliffe van finally rolled into a dismally rainy camp at 1:30 am. After we got up in the morning, camp business began with meetings, both general and department specific, and the removal of some camp gear from storage.
Since I am technically in the Cliffe department, that dealing with the 7-9 year old girls, I’ve had a rather easy day. I was given a tour, made some welcome posters for the girls who will be new to camp, and met briefly with the head of the swim department (that’s where I’ll be spending about half my time once the Cliffes settle in a bit, and I don’t have to be with them 24-7). I went for a run with the girls of the swim department just before dinner, and have been catching up on my emails and the like since then.
Whew – sorry to write such a long post! I feel like I’ve been around the world and back again in the last two days though, and I wanted to get it all down. The girls arrive on the 22nd, I believe, so life should get really interesting after that.
Till next time!
