[Leica] Alternate route to Boston

["Peter A. Klein" <pklein@2alpha.net>]

Here's a little advice from a former Bostonian:

For those of you who have been nearly terrified out of going to the
Great Boston Event, take heart.  There is another, nearly painless way
to get to the Boston area which avoids the city, the Big Dig, and the
homicidal driving entirely.  I have used it to visit my old home town,
Lexington, which is adjacent to Burlington.

Here's how:  Forget Boston's Logan Airport.  Fly to Manchester, New
Hampshire instead.  Rent a car at the airport.  Get on the Everett
Turnpike going south (get good directions, it's a little tricky to
find).  Eventually it becomes U.S. Route 3. There are two tollbooths (75
cents each, I think), but it's highway driving all the way.  In about 50
miles, you will find yourself in Burlington--just before Rt. 3
intersects I-95, aka Rt. 128.  Ask one of the Boston LUGgers for the
exact exit and directions to the Marriot from there.

Don't use I-93 from Manchester, as it is longer, and forces you to use
I-95/128 to get to Burlington.
 
I'm writing this from memory, 3000 miles away, so ask Boston people for
more specifics.

Advantages:

- - 50 miles of highway driving takes about the same time (often less) as
the 20 hard-core urban miles from Logan, through Boston, to Burlington. 
It is definitely *much* less stress.

- -  You'll have a car (pronounced "caaah") to go to New England Photo in
Arlington (pronounced "Aaahlington").

- - If the foliage season is a little early, you might see the beginnings
of some colored leaves up north.

- - You'll see some rural New England scenery you wouldn't see going
through Logan.  You might even get the urge to quote Robert Frost.

Disadvantages:

- - You will not be able to regale your friends with tales of terror and
derring-do about driving in Boston.

- - You'll have to make a special trip into the city to see the historic
sites, do street photography, and go to any Photographic Toy Stores in
Boston or Cambridge.  If you do, drive to an MBTA station and take the
bus/train into the city--don't drive.

- - There are not as many direct flights to Manchester as there are to
Logan.  But if you have to make two hops anyway, it's a nice
alternative.

- - You will have to set foot in Manchester, home of the notorious
Manchester Union Leader, a newspaper that makes the Orange County
Register look liberal and The Wall Street Journal look pink by
comparison.  If you like that sort of thing, put it in the plus column. 

Hope this is helpful!
- --Peter Klein
Seattle, WA