Youhou is left for the trip to the Secrets of History!
- The Faneuil Hall is a gift from the wealthy French immigrant Peter Faneuil (his name was unpronounceable to English speakers so that on his tomb is inscrint P. FUNAL). The principle: a walk on the ground floor and a room for the political stage. The city was reluctant reluctantly accepts this gift, but will catch up later much later (circa 1960) by adding long extensions to the building to form one of the most profitable U.S. market. The building has seen him pass a lot of goods but also the most diverse meetings, the first reactions against English taxes, then the defense of slavery (even those who built the building ...), women up at JFK's last speech before his election. We knew that history had finally turned a page, when the site has hosted the award ceremony was the tax official who had collected the most taxes ... - Then we enter the city's most interesting to Boston: North End . It formed originally a peninsula, inhabited by merchants. Then the sailors have made the area a reputation as a place of debauchery, or the police dared not venture. Between 1845 and 1855, immigration strengthens the Irish side slums'. Then the Jews will replace the Irish, Italians and Jews. The cycle of success continues with a constant peoples: North End remain notorious. Today, the neighborhood is clearly Italian, more and more Italian tourist. Not for long, since the yuppies took over the neighborhood, and at once destroy its soul.
- But North End is also the headquarters of Paul Revere (the photo is his home, as he has never known since was renovated as it was in 1680, it achieved only 90 years later). Well, the AC is 15 times that I bowl with that man, I feel that I'll have to tell her story. Paul Revere was the son of a French Huguenot. Goldsmith more or less acknowledged, he gathers all trades with implementation and success (including reproduction, with 16 offspring ...), and after the Revolution was the prototype of industrial America. But his role in the largest and most well-known was on during the troubled times of anti-British. Great actor and all the propaganda rallies, despite its relatively poor background, he went all services could, and in particular those of Messenger Express. For example, after balancing tea outside of a ship, he raced to Philadelphia that night to warn the revolutionaries. 
But his most famous race, at least across the Atlantic, took place April 18, 1775: the glorious Midnight Ride . After having a few days the movements of British troops, we deduce that they march to Lexington arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams in Lexington, is 13 miles away. Neither one nor two, Revere mounted his horse and crossed the enemy lines without detection to prevent thieves. Then he goes to Concord, 7 miles, or ammunition are found (this was in fact the objective of the English). Stopped on the way, then miraculously liberated, he retraces his steps on foot (his horse was captured) to inform Hancock and Adams. The latter, the strength of this information will take the necessary decisions, and it will the Battle of Lexington and Concord first battle of the revolutionary struggle, defeat and great English. And that's all. Not enough to become all-crazy, and Revere did not gain any merit (or reward) of his lifetime. It was not until 1860 that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow , passionate poet, wrote a poem that made him famous. 
- Old North Church has also had its role in the famous Midnight Ride : Revere had to ask friends to make a signal lantern from the top of this church, Bostonians to prevent movement of British troops: One if By Land, Two If by Sea and . It is the oldest church still standing in Boston, and has all the bells first imported from Europe. The adjacent cemetery contains the remains including Prince Hall, the black leader, a former slave, creator of the first black school, and founder of the first African Masonic Lodge in the world! The photo shows a kind of parade: an Italian brass band accompanied a virgin Mary kitchounette well, I do not know on what occasion. The area is culturally Italian, yes!
- The next step brings us two decades later. The fledgling nation decides to build an army capable of competing with the Europeans and especially on the seas. 6 ships in 6 different ports will be commissioned by President Washington, and Boston built the USS Constitution , which will be launched October 21, 1797. And this ship will never be defeated, despite memorable fights, including one against the British ship Guerriere . Supremacy Englishmen on the seas is immediately challenged, and it hurt enough to the Crown. She tried in vain to avenge the affront, and USS Constitution always emerge victorious (especially because it is built with a rare wood, very resistant, as found in the corner), and his enemies called him the "hull of steel ", as the bullets bounced off its hull. Of course, Americans revere the ship as a national pride. Just next door, USS Cassin Young , survived WWII and was a kamikaze attack. Undefeated .
- Last Judgement Bunker Hill Or held the first major and decisive battle of the Revolution. Defeat of the patriots, but the British troops lost over 1000 men. Here and nowhere else that was pronounced one of the most famous command "Do not fire 'til you see The Whites of Their Eyes", by William Prescott . In order not to waste ammunition, obviously. This works perfectly, as the English, who have always been a bit stupid, have lead to the Patriots without pulling either, wondering if their enemies were going to get frightened. They are well-taken on a big burst devastating. Of course, the Americans could not but raise a monument. So they erected a obelisk as Washington Monument in DC, Egyptian Revival style in a very ridiculous.
That concludes the tour. I had not lied, the history of this city is not trivial ... But that still does all of this in 2008?
Arriving in Boston, we're not too homesick. We find good markers of cities on the East Coast, and condition of the peninsula makes perfectly comparable to NYC (especially as half the current area has been gained gradually over the sea). Smaller, of course ... It was the right has a small Chinatown , small Downtown , small Central Park, a small Met , small Grand Central Terminal, and even a small Capitol and Washington Monument small ! There is much that the historic district that is not a small replica of qqchose existing elsewhere. Yet the mood in Boston is unique, far more an American English (it's not me who says it is the guides). The atmosphere could not be more relaxed. Do not be shaking a Chinatown on a Saturday afternoon, there's Boston ... The inhabitants cultivate a spirit of holiday village, sometimes touching ridiculous. The quiet atmosphere can sometimes be scary, like the atmosphere " ghost town " the magnificent Beacon Hill (to be honest, I must say that I'm going on a Sunday was 8am). To a surreal atmosphere, as this monument forgotten men, but not animals. The fact that I was going in, so with most students left, is surely something to do with what I felt.
Then, the city has been completely preserved, at the time of destruction, and even time of massive constructions. No boom, no bust. The city has always developed gradually, has its own rhythm. The city therefore offers beautiful architectural surprises and that enough of old stones. But the best buildings are the age and architecture is completely different succeed, face each , interact.
Finally, Boston is, and has long been a university town. MIT, Harvard is here. Harvard University is the oldest of America (founded in 1636). That in 1638 she takes his name in his honor a major donor who bequeathed half of his fortune on his deathbed: he did not really link with the University! Promotions are passes of 9 students has more than 18000, but the spirit ultra selective, elitist, haughty and a bit, did not change (for example, it was not until 1999 that women graduating with brand 'Harvard' on it). Even more so than Boston, the campus looks nice and has a superb holiday village, or students, has been free from difficulty, can play in peace and enjoy the pleasures of life. And why should they interfere?  |
| For those who want more, photos of Boston and card. |
Click to enlarge map
That which closes the top of Boston, and with it the entire East Coast. I'm leaving shortly to lands o how hard and wild, the MidWest . I hope to pry deeper into the culture of the indigenous and come out alive (I'll remove my badge TFW 'I Got a Crush on Obama'...) Not knowing if they have new technology, I do not know when I'm able to repost here ...
0 comments:
Post a Comment