Beginnings in Boston

Boston has been pretty good to me so far. I've been able to relax more and get out of the extreme city mode that is NYC. I still live in a rather city-esque part of Boston called the North End:

It's a cute little Italian area that is sometimes overrun by annoying tourists (says the girl who moved here a month ago). I love all the cafes, pizza places, and delicious delis around me (note to self: do not get fat).

By far, my favorite thing about my new place is the best rooftop view in the city:

I'll sit up here, sometimes for hours, and take in this scene. I have to before winter kicks in! (gulp).

Boston is the 3rd new city I've moved to, so I feel like I've done this before. I understand my emotions a lot more this time around. At the month mark, I always get a tad mopey. It's always the mark where there is a realization of "oh! I'm living here. It's not a vacation, it's life." Then, I always get over it and carry on.

We're now at the happy carrying on phase, and I think I'm doing more than carrying on--I'm creating a pretty great life here.

This is my beginning in Boston.

Boston: Where Revolutions Come to Fruition, Including My Own

In 11 days, I'll be hauling all my stuff out of my Brooklyn apartment and heading north to Boston. Like so many adventure seekers and settlers before me, I see Boston as a symbol of freedom and coming into my own. Boston is a land where revolutions come to fruition, and I see that happening within myself.

I've been envisioning and writing down the good things I expect to happen in Boston. They include:

• Letting romantic love come into my life after running away from it for so long. 
• Learning to trust people again after a harsh year with an aggressive roommate.
• Regaining confidence after experiencing a long bout of unrequited love, which no doubt magnified my insecurities.
• Loving life once more.

I do not expect this move to be a fantasy land, but a space where I can start over with the best mindset I've had in years. I have survived the jungle of New York and come out incredibly strong. I know what I want, and I know the steps I am going to take to get it.

NYC, you fine-tuned me in a way that no other city could. I am better for it, but I am exhausted.

Boston, I am so ready to take refuge in you, like so many settlers before me, with all the same dreams of true independence, with all the same dreams of a revolution.

I'm Shipping Up to Boston!

If you are friends with me on social media, then you know I have announced I am moving...

TO BOSTON! 

I first fell in love with Boston about 2 years ago. It was a lovely June trip with perfect weather and a spontaneous Red Sox game thrown in the mix--I was sold.

When I first moved east for my job (also about 2 years ago) I was allowed to pick what city I wanted to live in; however, Boston already had two advisors residing in it, so I knew I'd have to choose a different city to call my own. Having visited New York before, I went full force NYC.

It's been a crazy challenging two years in the biggest American city. I've been torn to pieces, a typical story for all that have come to live here. Tired, torn, challenged to the max, and ready to relax, I had a talk with my boss about moving to another city. I had Boston on the mind, but knew I needed to visit for a longer stay. I chose March for my visit, knowing the weather wouldn't be INSANELY cold, but also wouldn't be terribly comfortable. The week I stayed, I got hit with freezing temps, a blizzard, and crazy winds...

AND I STILL LOVED IT. 

I got in on a Friday, and announced I was moving to Boston by Tuesday. Not even a full week had passed and I knew it was my home.

I'll have a lot to write about Boston in coming months, but until then, I'll enjoy my time left in NYC. Actually, I don't have a lot of time left, as my travel schedule goes as follows:

April 1-4: Miami for a Bachelorette
April 4-13: NYC
April 13-16: New Orleans for a Wedding
April 16-26: San Diego to visit home :)
April 26-May 2: NYC
May 2-June 6: London, Northern England, Wales, Amsterdam, France (ooohhhhhh yeahhhhh)
June 6-August 15th: NYC

NYC, you and I have less than 3 months left. We'll make the most of it, you crazy sonofabitch! (I can never say that you're not fun).

Mostly, I'm looking forward to changes. I'm looking forward to a healthier lifestyle. I'm looking forward to a life unfolding the way I choose.

I wrote this blog post after I first visited 2 years ago: 

Boston,

You have joined the ranks of Cities I Adore, Cities I Would Live In, and any other love list I can make for cities. You've got beauty, you've got style, you've got history, and you've got that sexy attitude. Clearly the full package, I can't help but wonder if I will indeed live in you one day. Like Rome, London, New York, and other cities I keep close to my heart, you are a new favorite I will dream of on the rough days, my beautiful muse...

Until We Meet Again,
Ashley xoxo

...

Looks like I'm shipping up to Boston.

2015: A Great Traveling Year

A very happy Ashley in Prague, March 2015

I didn't really realize how great of a travel year I had in 2015 until I started to pen this post. I conquered 9 new cities and one new country that I had never visited before! I'd say that's a major win; and this is what I love about blogging: in documenting, I realize how stupendous my year actually was.

Let's break down where my travel disease led me by month: 

JANUARY 

My first trip of the year brought me to artsy, weird, beautiful Portland, Oregon. I'd categorize Portland as a sleepy, yet odd city/town with a great music and food scene. 

 Also, the trees in Oregon are just loooooovely. 

FEBRUARY - APRIL

Once February rolled around, I worked quite diligently on my evil master plan: I scoured the interwebs for a way to have an extended stay in my beloved London. My job allowed for me to work from home, so first thing I did was ask the boss if she didn't mind of I, ya know, worked from halfway around the world. She said "As long as you get your work done, that's fine with me!"

Moral: If you don't ask, you shall never receive!

Next thing was accommodation. How was I going to afford a 4-6 week stay in the most expensive city in the world?? Enter trustedhousesitters.com, which provides free housing in return for petsitting.  I watched Oscar the dog for over 3 weeks. This coupled with a few nights here and there at my friends' places (and a mini Euro trip) allowed me to have a FULL 6 WEEK STAY in LONDON TOWN. 

Oscar the dog.

For my mini Euro trip, I went to Florence and Prague.

 The magnificent Il Duomo. 

 It's impossible not to fall in love with Prague. 

When I returned to England, I took one more mini trip to Birmingham and Stratford-Upon-Avon.

I then returned to London for a couple more days before I bid adieu.

MAY 

I finally took it easy on travel (my pocket book was happy about this).

JUNE
Back at it again, this time in Boston.

Going to a Red Sox game is an absolute must! 

(THEN CAME) JULY

This was a big month for me--the month I got a promotion at my job and opportunity to move to the East Coast. I chose New York City as my new home, and this month I was off to Waterloo, Canada for training (my company has a branch in Canada). 

AUGUST

I spent two whirlwind weeks saying goodbye to loved ones in San Diego, and then, August 15, 2015 is when I moved to NYC in the sweltering, crazy summer heat. 

SEPTEMBER

No travel this month, as I started to ease into my new city and build a community around me (whilst also appreciating every rooftop/skyscraper view).

OCTOBER

Took a very quick work trip to DC, went out at night and snapped a blurry photo of the white house while some guy yelled at us to "not get too close!" Okay, guy. 

NOVEMBER 

Stayed in New York, had a fun Friendsgiving.

DECEMBER

Went to Miami, which was warm and relaxing, but not terribly interesting in the winter so I never posted on it.

And finally, I took a trip back to San Diego for Christmas. I stayed for a New Year's Eve Wedding, which was magical and beautiful (and a reunion for old college roommates/sorority sisters).

What a year! Internally, 2015 was a year I was going through some struggle, knowing I had to branch out of San Diego, but was still figuring out the how/when/where. I think this was evident in my random travel to a few US cities ("should I live here?"), as well as returning to London for a long stay because I missed it so.

The move to New York was decided in a matter of days, and east just felt like the right direction. It is a city where I believe I get my "travel" in everyday--there's no shortage of things to do and interesting people to see.

I still battle my grass-is-greener syndrome, I still miss London, and I wonder if I will ever live in Europe again; however, this is home, now. In creating a post like this, I realize I don't have to envy another place, another life. My own life is pretty sweet, and I'm curious to see where 2016 will bring me, or rather, where I choose to go, because life is all about choosing and creating. 2015 is a testament to that. 

I Have a Crush on the Boston Public Library

If you're gonna visit Boston, I IMPLORE you to not skip this little gem. It's free, it gorgeous, and it was one of the highlights of my trip (although, admittedly I always fall in love with public libraries). This place most definitely rivals the New York Public Library, although I'm pretty sure it's a bit smaller.

 But really...can I live here? I truly do have a "crush" on this place, if it were possible to have feelings for inanimate objects (it is). That's because this place feels very much alive, a breathing piece of architecture with a vast collection of knowledge at its fingertips...er, bookshelves. I've always been attracted to the smart guys. Boston Public Library, can I have yo numba?

I really don't know WHY we have steered so far away from such gorgeous architecture in 'Merica. I think EVERY building should look like this, starting with my future home! That's totally reasonable, right?  

My 5 Favorite Boston Sites

1. The Freedom Trail 

I'm totally cheating by putting down the Freedom Trail as #1, cause the Freedom Trail actually covers NUMEROUS sites. The trail takes you on a "follow this brick road" tour through the major historical sites of Boston. It's a GENIUS idea and there's even an app for it!! Expect to see old churches and graveyards, state buildings, and the site for the Boston Massacre. The trail is something like 2 miles in length--totally walkable and completely worth it.

2. Fenway Park/Red Sox Game

At the Green Monster! Go Red Sox! #boston #travel

A photo posted by Ashley (@ashleyjay33) on Jun 7, 2015 at 12:02pm PDT

After going to a Red Sox game, I think I'm a fan now. It's hard to not be sucked into the Red Sox cult when witnessing the die-hard fans in person. All I could think while I was there was "Now this is a baseball game!!" Oh, and I got to sing "Sweet Caroline." Yep, I'm in the cult now.

3. Boston Harbor

Beautiful and historic Boston Harbor. And if you're anything like Ilse and me, you'll want to reenact throwing tea into the harbor. (Yes, Ilse and I are actually holding tea bags--English Breakfast, in case you're wondering). Of course I put this photo on Facebook, tagged all my British friends and captioned it "NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION, BITCHES!" Our founding fathers would be proud. (We didn't actually throw the tea into the harbor, by the way).


4. Famous TV Sites--Cheers and Ally McBeal

Do I need to explain? If you're a fan of either of these shows, you just gotta go!


5. The Boston Public Library 

I'm pretty sure I'll be dedicating a whole post to this gorgeous library, but I had to also add it to this list. DO NOT MISS THIS GEM. I was flabbergasted by its beauty, and there's just something about lion statues.

What are some of your favorite Boston sites? 

Boston: the Old, the New, and the Pretty

Boston is this really cool mix of historical and modern buildings, and they all seem to work like an intricate puzzle. In my mind, it reminded me of both London and San Diego--sooooo, Ashley in city form, basically? Yes. I would definitely call this place a soul city of mine. I'll get into more stories in later posts, but I simply wanted to show you all the pretty I saw...

 The above picture is actually at Harvard, but I had to sneak it in, because Harvard!!

Boston, you so pretty!