Magical Places
Celebrating places of beauty & magic
View of Hamilton Bay looking south
Massachusetts was my home for over 20 years (was it really that long?)
You can never be bored in Massachusetts - every one of its many quaint town tells a fascinating story. Massachusetts is ever old with its history, ever new with its style and culture, and ever changing with every season.
Of the literally countless magical places in this great state, I've covered 2 of my favorite below: the city of Boston and the town of Salem.
Salem
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Once a place of horrendous persecution, Salem is now a brick-lined town crammed with new age bookstores, crystal shops and witch museums. Despite its horrible past, the energy here is uniquely mystical.
This is Derby Square - the town center dating back to the 1600's.
Another shot of Derby Square
Halloween in Salem - packed with monsters, ghouls and everything that goes bump in the night
Pumpkins pumpkins everywhere...
Salem Common
My favorite place in Salem - walkways criss-cross expansive manicured lawns; a stately gazebo stands near center. The walkways seem to follow ley lines, though I don't know for sure
A look inside...
Crow Haven Corner
The occult store formerly owned by Salem's Official Witch, Laurie Cabot.
Salem Witch Museum
A fascinating museum - eerie lighting on wax figures illustrates the witch
trials of 1692. Unforgettable...
Salem Witch Museum
This a postcard of one of the trial scenes
Salem Witch Museum
Lit up on the floor is this haunting spiral displaying the names of those persecuted (postcard)
The Witch House
Another fascinating museum which re-enacts the trials. Underground
are the actual prison cells of the accused. Many have reported ghost
sightings; a figure in a cloak is commonly seen. I never spotted any
ghosts, but the place definitely gives you the chills...
Boston
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Boston Skyline
It's amazing to think that back in the 1700's most of this land was
underwater. Ground was somehow stacked upon ground to bring the area above sea level.
View of Boston from the John Hancock Tower in Copley Square. You can see the Mass Ave Bridge crossing the Charles River
..and looking to the right. You can see the Longfellow Bridge and MIT across the River. The Charles River Park extends along the lower left, and in the lower right is the hatch shell where the Boston Pops performs for the 4th of July.
View of the Boston Common
Crossing the Mass Ave Bridge
View of the Charles River from the Longfellow Bridge
MIT's entrance to Killian Court.
One of my favorite places to relax - this manicured courtyard is beautiful and peaceful
Charles River Park in early autumn.
On any sunny day you'll see cyclists, runners, rollerbladers, walkers, etc enjoying this stretch of land.
Foot Bridge leading to the Charles River.
One of my favorite aspects of Boston is it's walkable - footbridges and walkways make the city a pedestrian's heaven.
Christian Science Center
A must-see for any visitor to Boston. Smooth planes and repeating architecural patterns stand aside a long reflecting pool. Very peaceful and mystical - truly a haven in the center of the city.
Christian Science Center
View from the other side of the reflecting pool. The site is so large, it's hard to capture all of it in one camera shot.
Christian Science Center
Looking in the other direction
A view of the church
Such beautiful architectural detail...
Looking through to the publishing house
Boston Public Gardens
One of the most beautiful places in downtown Boston, especially in the Spring when the manicured lawns are decorated with every fragrant flower imaginable. The statue is of George Washington.
Boston Public Gardens
View of the pond framed by weeping willows.
Boston Public Gardens
The pond from another angle. The colors of the surrounding shrubbery are beautiful.
Boston Skyline in autumn's vibrant splendor
Western Massachusetts from the air
Boston's lovely skyline
Boston's lovely skyline at sunset...
..and even better after a light shower
Walking across the Mass Ave Bridge on a summer day...
