Leg 1 -- Lowell

We hit the highway on Tuesday after Dan graciously agreed to watch the pets and hold down the homefront. We had taken Sunday through Tuesday to recover from the wedding and get things in order for our trip. It was nice to spend time with family and friends after the wedding and soak it all in. People asked if things are different after you are married; gladly we can share in this special covenant, because marriage changes everything for the good. Thank you to everyone that shared themselves with us and helped us in our wedding.

Onto the road! We returned one of the kegs on our way out of Maine, plugged in the AC inverter and hit the great trail like a trucker at 7PM. It was, with good fortune, a quiet ride to Lowell. Swan talked us into the city from 495, because we had been to her flat only once prior -- after a Blues Traveler show. The only complaint lodged against her neighborhood is a common one in the land of the Boston driver, they park on (literally ON) the curb facing against traffic. This led to a brief moment of panic as we concluded that we'd been travelling the wrong way on a one-way street. Swan assuaged our fears and we parked in front of the great apartment building.

Our host was truly exceptional. Swan entertained us at the local Greek restaurant, where we discovered that although Amey claims to love Greek food, she actually does not. (Amey likes Feta and grape leaves, but not Greek food.) Mike got some help covering himself in food by the waitress, when she dumped a glass-worth of water straight onto his lap from the drink pitcher. Maybe she was hitting the house wine? Swan reminisced about travels of days past over kalamari, dolmas, gyro, and a dish I cannot spell. Some day we shall travel together again!

One highlight of the evening was a tour of Lowell after dark. Swan commandeered the auto as we traveled from the Sun newspaper to America's Beirut by way of Lowell's bridges, boarding house park, the asian district, the highlands, and Jack Kerouac's grave. It was an unforgettable evening capped off with good wine and great conversation (and custard.)

Thanks again Swan! We can't wait to get back to Lowell. 


(Pictures: #3, #4 at the Greek restaurant, #5  world's biggest gyro, with homemade pita, #6 custard at midnight.)