Sunday dawned fine and bright again, and we were up and out at around noon. Donna, Lori, Kerry and I had decided to make use of the early afternoon with a drive into Boston to see the sights. Boy, did we see some sights! We intended going straight into the city, and getting on a Duck Boat tour, which is about an hour and a half long. Plenty of time to get back to the motel and change for Atty May's around 3pm. Or so we thought. Two hours later (not the usual 20 minutes - ohhhh, no) we made our destination - a car park in central Boston City. It was somewhat disturbing that the task of navigator fell to me - someone from another country, sitting in the back seat, on the wrong side of the car to be able to see street signs. Remind me never to go hiking with you people - we'd end up in Chile. We finally had the bright idea of asking for directions, and the very nice ex-cab-driver in the service station gave us faultless directions. Of course we went twice round the block before finding the car park entrance (another thing that the NZer was able to spot where the Americans failed) and we parked and went over to the tour kiosk. Oh dear. "Sold out for the day" generally means that you're not going to be riding around Boston looking at the sights, but there was obviously some weird kind of cosmic force working against us today. We then decide to look for somewhere to sit down for a meal. It's already 2.30pm so we figure we might as well get something out of the day. We finally end up in a little underground cafe-type place, that sells 457 types of tea. Seriously, I counted. OK, I didn't but I think my estimate is pretty damn close. We order food and drinks (two of us ordering Diet Coke instead of tea - ironic, really) and sit chatting, then once again, the NZer in the group embarasses the Americans by pointing out that we're in a place that specialises in tea, and we're in Boston. Honestly, what do they teach you in History class over there!? Finally we're headed back to Boston, and 20 minutes later we're at the motel. 20 minutes! Who'd have guessed Boston was so close! A few minutes later we're back on the road headed for Atty May's and a night of more performances, drinking and chatting. As soon as we arrive, I head down to the sea, to dip my toes in a different ocean to the one I see every day. Back to the bar, and a cold beer. I'm in heaven here. A cosy bar, great company, cold beer in my hand, and wonderful live music an arm-length away. I can see the attraction of this place. Unfortunately it seems the growth of our wee family is too much for the bar too hold, and regretfully, after hearing a great New Orleans band, we decide that due to lack of space (and breathable air) we'd be better off heading back into Topsfield. A sad end to a great night, but the night is not over. A quick note to Michael and Kakki - thank you for finding Atty May's, and introducing us to it (and her). It's a shame the night didn't work out better for all concerned - but for the record, I had a great time! So we're back to Ashara's by about 10.30pm (once again the NZer is able to navigate from the back-seat, and in the dark) otherwise Lori, Kerry and I would be somewhere in northern Maine, wondering where Ashara's house disappeared to. Another night of music and talking - this time not as cold as the previous night, so the smokers deck is a pleasant place to be. There is music going on in the other two main congregation areas, and the contrast in these two rooms has me in hysterics for quite some time. In the TV room, they're playing quiet, beautiful music, with the lights off, incense and candles burning. A really nice space to be a part of. In the music room? Complete heresy - The Ganja Line! In order to understand, take a Joni Mitchell song, and substitute the words ganja, reefer, smoke, grass etc. for every noun. Get the picture? I walked from the beautiful room, to the mad room and just burst out laughing - something that also happens a lot at Jonifest. Outside we were a lot more civilised. OK, the sheep jokes may not have been pretty, but we weren't taking the piss out of our musical icon. For the record, I think I know which room Joni would have been in, had she been there! Sunday wound up around 2.30am, with a lot of very emotional goodbyes. Luckily I knew I'd see some people the next day, so I could avoid doing it all at once, although some got a double-dose of hugs. Part 4 to follow...... ____________________________ "To have great poets, there must be great audiences too." - Walt Whitman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hell's Personal Photo Page: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hell/main/personal.htm Visit the NBLs (Natural Born Losers) at: http://www.nbls.co.nz
