measi's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It isn't all that bad... no really, it's not Despite being up half the night with cramps (ah, female-hood), I'm surprisingly awake today. I'm wondering if it's the company coffee, as opposed to the Dunkin' Donuts stuff. Maybe DD has less caffeine in it, under the theory that if the first cup is weak, then you'll have to buy another, making them more money. Who knows. In any case, a 6 oz. cup of coffee woke me right up this morning. And no, I didn't just yawn. It was an illusion. [erich] had an interview this morning, and sounded pretty positive when he called me shortly after it finished. Hopefully it will work out for him. The people in the cubicles next to me were amused as they overheard me giving him walking directions through downtown Boston to get to the T. Both told me that they couldn't figure out how I could give him walking directions through that mess, especially when I'm sitting about 20 miles away. But honestly, downtown Boston isn't THAT bad once you get learn three key streets, all of which change to different names at Washington Street: State/Court, Summer/Winter, and Franklin/Bromfield, and to get an idea where five key locations are (direction-wise) Fanuiel Hall, South Station, Post Office Square, and the intersection of Downtown Crossing is (where Filene's and Macy's stand). If you have that down, getting around downtown is quite easy in Boston. Walking, anyway. Driving downtown is a different story. You REALLY need to know how to navigate to manage downtown Boston in a car. There is absolutely no logic to the one-way streets. At all. And with the Big Dig in full swing (still), it's even more confusing, because some streets are literally impossible see, let alone get to, from one side of the highway to the other. But in an effort to add my own opinions of Boston driving to the mix, I thought I'd add the views of the non-native Bostonian transplant to the mix. Anyone else want to add?
1) Everything in eastern Massachusetts is based off of a semi-circle. If you look on a map, you'll find two large rings of highway around Boston (route 128/I-95...and I-93, and I-495). Within those rings, everything else somehow semi-circles, too. Eventually, you'll always hit a highway. 2) No road that you're looking for has a street sign. This usually means it's a major road, and is probably the one you're looking for, so just take it. Because after all, eventually you'll hit a highway and be able to find your way anyway. 3) Speed limit signs do not exist in Boston city limits, other than on I-90. Even if they did, they wouldn't matter anyway. Speed is relative to the amount of straight roadway there is, and the type of car one is driving. 4) Likewise, lane markers... on the rare occasion that they actually exist... do not actually mean that there are lanes there. As Erich's roommate says, "they're a suggestion, not a rule." Cars go where they fit, even if it takes off a side mirror TO fit. 5) The only straight major road in Boston is Beacon Street. Comm. Ave is for a while, but then starts getting very winding, so it doesn't count. 6) The Big Dig will never EVER be completed. Bear in mind that I moved to Boston in 1993. I have yet to see Boston's downtown without cranes and roadblocks on this same project. By the time it's "finished" the entire thing will have to be repaired. 7) Slalom is part of Boston driving. Become adept at it, due to the numerous double-parked cars on the streets caused by the complete lack of affordable parking and the amazing amount of potholes, which grow in number each year thanks to the funnelling of money, supplies, and personnel toward the Big Dig. 8) Back Bay is the only place where road directions make sense. Celebrate it. Roads running north-south are in alphabetical order, starting from the east (Arlington, Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth, Exeter, Fairfield, Gloucester and Hereford). A, C, E, and G go southbound (away from the Charles River). B, D, F, and H go northbound. Streets running East to West do a similar pattern. From north to south, they run: west (Beacon), east (Marlborough) , both directions (Comm), east (Boylston), west (St. James), both directions (Huntington). 9) Never count on the "district" name to get a reference for where you are. The geographical center of Boston is in Roxbury. Due north of the center is the South End. This is not to be confused with South Boston, which lies directly east from the South End. North of the South End is East Boston and southwest of East Boston is the North End. Back Bay was filled in years ago. The West End no longer exists, but the North End is east of what was the West End. 10) It is important to clarify which version of a building you're going to. There are two State Houses, two City Halls, two courthouses, two Hancock buildings (one old, one new). 11) Turn signals don't exist on most cars around here. It's apparently not required to pass the state (*cough* sorry... commonwealth) inspection test. Yes, it is as bad as you think it is. Walking is much easier, and will take you half the time. 3:57 p.m. - 30 July 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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