Taking our time in Massachussetts

Massachusetts is very special (if only I had a dollar for every time that's been said on this trip!). It may be because it has such a long coastline with many bays and long, flat white-sand beaches. It may be because of the cute, square, white clapboard, window-shuttered, front-porched houses. It may be because of all the history surrounding the first settlers and the war of independence.

Whatever it is, we've spent almost six days here. We're lucky that we had some time left to linger, as it really is worth it.

We were given some very good advice by a friendly Kiwi-English-American restaurant owner to follow the coast from New Hampshire down to Boston. We passed through little seaside towns and ports that hark back to the early days with names like Portsmouth, Gloucester (the state is full of 'English' towns like Kingston, Chatham, Worcester, Truro).

The town of Rockport was too good to pass through so we booked into the Seven South Street Inn (enthusiastic host and homemade breakfasts to die for) and spent three nights. It was the perfect place to discover Boston from (by train).

We had to move on so reluctantly on Saturday morning we headed south again, visited the JFK Presidential Library and Museum (left inspired to be courageous...) and landed in Hyannis, Cape Cod for the night. We are now in Provincetown, almost at the tip of Cape Cod, staying right on one of the long beaches bordered by creamy grass that we've seen in movies and magazines - wow! Just watched a brilliant orange sunset (Tim with a beer) on the beach.

Photos:

- Pigeon Cove on the way to Rockport

- Boston from across the Charles River

- Entrance to 'our' beach on Cape Cod (sign says 'Welcome to the beach')