Braintree, MA-Boston, MA 9/17 20 commuter train/subway miles; 16.7 walking miles

Today, a day of extremes, found us walking from Johnny's to the train platform in Braintree. Then the commuter train whisked us into South Station where we disembarked with the throngs who dispersed like dandelion seeds on the wind. For our part, we caught the redline toward Alewife, exited at the Harvard station and walked the streets of Cambridge, some of Harvard's campus, and back to Boston past Boston U through the Back Bay to the Commons up to the North End, and finally back to the South Station. While in Cambridge part of the extremes took place. We met my cousin, Joan, at the famous burger place, Mr. Bartley's, and enjoyed highly caloric fare. Ed and Joan both had the "Gronk" a massive burger named after the famous New England Patriot tight end, Rob Gronkowski. As for me, I indulged in an equally deliciously decadent burger called the "Fiscal Cliff", which oozed blue cheese and was speckled with bacon bits. I also slurped down a banana split frape. Our lunch was so extreme, Ed's daughter, Erica, is suggesting a name change to our tour (Perhaps Flabby Butt instead of Gasbbt, which would change the acronym to GASBFBT). After lunch, we began an extreme march back into Boston where we met Johnny, Francois, and a gentleman (Co-worker of Johnny) named Tim Fidler for pizza at Regina's, a beyond extreme eating experience. Our waitress, Cydia, a neighborhood girl tied Bert Hogan, and my cousin, Joan, for best humans of the day. Cydia wins because she was a hoot. Joan wins because she is a blood relation as well as a good person, and Bert wins because he went four blocks  out of his way to guide Ed and I in the right direction toward the Boston Commons.  We finished the night with a visit to Mike's Pastry where we bought a box of almond pistacio cookies just to top the day extremely well. In all, our last day in Boston proved once again that life is good (Extremely good), especially today.

Life on the commuter train, a daily experience for many.

Google Boy on his coffee break in Harvard Square.

Joan, Ed, and I at Mr. Bartley's.

The "Fiscal Cliff" burger.

What's a burger without strawberry banana split frape?

Bert Hogan, tied for best human of the day.

Reading room in the Boston Public Library.

Mounted Cavalier.

Coolest sailboat, ever.

Rowe wharf on a perfect day.

They made the Tim's sit together.

Cydia, a local girl, tied for best human of the day.

Pizza 1: Margarite

Pizza 2:Mediterranean

 Pistacio almond cookies; one jumped out of the box. I suppose in extreme panic.