Boston my love

Day 1 of the solo adventures are off to an intense start. Walking 15 miles from end to end of Boston, Massachusetts has taught me many things. Eating at sit down restaurants alone is actually kind of nice. It's like a "treat yo self" thing and it pushes you out of your comfort zone. I think the waitstaff care more about you too. Also the Union Oyster House has the best clam chowder and corn bread; nothing beats the oldest restaurant in America. It's good to retry things you dislike, because maybe you've had all those bad experiences before due to the incompetence of others. Example: cannolis. I try them every time I go to a little Italy and each time I am reminded that they suck... or so I thought. Mike's Pastry had the most bomb a** limoncello cannolis you could ever have the pleasure of eating. The cream is not to sweet, but the lemon taste is perfection, and the crust (not really sure what to call it) has the perfect crunch that keeps it together without breaking your jaw or getting soggy. They deserve the lines outside their doors. So far, and not to be dramatic, I absolutely LOVE Boston and I want to live here someday. Nonetheless, it's not perfect. As I walked to Harvard, the scene changed. The lively crowd began to die out and the streets got a little more run down. A young girl passed me on her bike with a gallon of milk in one hand and two bags of groceries in the other, as she swerved to keep her balanced. It kind of reminded me of Milwaukee, where the Third Ward ends and it starts to fall apart. Harvard wasn't even that impressive though. UW's beauty has yet to be beat in my eyes. I sat on the steps of the library in attempt to dry my shirt soaked in my own sweat. Black is my new favorite color; it matches with everything, always looks nice, and hides sweat stains. My shoulders are in pain from my bag, but this place is to exciting to care. I took a much needed nap in the Cambridge Public Library too. Public libraries are a backpacker's safe haven: free wifi, clean bathrooms, comfortable/cozy ambiance, and everyone is too busy to notice you. The vibe here is so good. Boston is the love child of Vancouver and Milwaukee. I can picture myself living in a tiny townhouse with my little family, conveniently located by a nice running trail, a bike in our kitchen that I ride to work, and our favorite Asian restaurant down the block. I'm obviously very tired and a bit jet lagged because as I read this, there is no flow. Thoughts on solo traveling so far... Positives: I can go at my own pace, I get to just think to myself more, and I feel like a boss. Negatives: I often find myself thinking of people who would enjoy these experiences if they were here with me.

Things I'm grateful for today: God helping me not miss my flight, being able to sleep the entire flight, Wi-Fi, my phone miraculously reviving my used up data, free & convenient public transit, good quality food that doesn't leave you feeling like sh*t, changes of clothes, clean bathrooms, lack of judgement, crowds of people doing wholesome things like buying fresh produce, urban green spaces, free water, buskers, being 19 and having the ability to see new places. There's so much I love about life right now. Feeling mega blessed.