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  2. Boston dispatch #3.

Boston dispatch #3.

By jstemwedel on June 12, 2009.

After a good long while hanging out and sucking wifi from MIT, I decided it was time to walk along Mass Ave to Harvard Square. The walk seemed significantly shorter than when I was a college student twenty (plus) years ago.

Possible explanations:

1. When I was a college student, I was working with tighter time constraints. (Maybe, but not always.)

2. At least a few of the instances in which I was making that walk (though in the opposite direction) were very late at night (like after 2 AM); maybe fatigue made the walk seem longer.

3. At least a few of the instances in which I was making that walk were during the dead of winter; maybe cold and wind chill made the walk seem longer.

4. Possibly the shoes I wore while making this walk as a college student were less "sensible" than the Tevas I was wearing today.

Bless me Isis, for I have sinned against fabulous shoes.

In my walking today, there were a few businesses that I remember fondly from when I was a student in the area (India Quality in Kenmore Square, Revolution Books and Oona's in Harvard Square), but many more that seem to have gone.

And what the heck happened to the Necco Candy factory? That was a major landmark as far as I was concerned.

Two happy discoveries: Plenty of free wifi on the Wellesley campus (including in the dorm where I am staying), and wifi on the commuter rail train from Boston to the western suburbs.

If it weren't for the humidity (and the mysterious disappearance of the Necco Candy factory), I'd have no complaints.

Tags
Passing thoughts
personal

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The walk seemed significantly shorter than when I was a college student twenty (plus) years ago.

It seems shorter because it's no longer uphill both ways. And it's not snowing.

The free WiFi on MBTA commuters is fantastic. It isn't the fastest but it's saved my bacon a few times. It's all 3G wireless to 802.11G wireless.

I found that my trusty Tevas did not give me the arch support required to walk around Boston. I have shifted to the fashionable sneaker.

And what the heck happened to the Necco Candy factory? That was a major landmark as far as I was concerned.

I vivdly remember the delicious smell that emanated from it.

Necco has consolidated their manufacturing in Revere, which means they also closed the old Borden/Haviland plant down by Lechemere (where you could get "cosmetically defective" chocolates for a dollar a pound), as well as the Mass. Ave plant. The Borden plant is condos now. Just about the only place left in Cambridge you can stop and smell the chocolate is at the Cambridge Brands/Tootsie factory on Main St near the UHaul.