Saturday in Worcester

[fbhjr]

This morning we went in to the Worcester train station.


They’ve been making all sorts of changes and construction to the whole train yard area. But, you can tell they still don’t get many passenger trains by the grass growing in the tracks. Not much on the freight lines...


As with other trips to a train station this year where the train actually stops has been moved.
Unlike Framingham, where it moved from the old station to a new, in Worcester it moved from the newer station to the old.
In both cases it meant a walk from the parking lot.


I like the way the city of Worcester looks.


It’s probably a strange city to like that way. But, I do. I know a lot of it is from 25+ years ago doing the comic book set in Worcester. So, I picture it with people flying around.
But, still, I like it.

Soon a train showed up.


This is where it would have stopped 15 years ago when I used to take it to work.


Now it gets to the old station.


ravena_kade got off and we drove over to the Worcester Art Museum.
Sadly, they hadn’t opened yet.

So, we walked about and saw some nice flowers.


Then, we went over to the park.


Given that it was in the 80’s and the coldest day all week, I don’t think this sign was really needed.

But, better safe than sorry.

We did see some birds.



I’m not sure if this is a monster eating a tree, or a tree eating a monster.


For some reason today really reminded me how much more isolated Worcester seemed to be 30 years ago when I first moved to the area. Back then the trains did not run out this far and no one flew into the airport.
Now, it has planes and trains.

(It did always have automobiles. It is a complete lie that Robert Goddard launched the first liquid fueled rocket as an attempt to get through a Worcester traffic jam, but I’m telling it that way anyhow...)

While walking through the park we did see something that looked almost like some strange circle or things sticking up.


It turned out to be a dead tree. The way it sat on the hill made it look that way.


Just up hill from there is a very special spot for me. I haven’t been there in 15 years, but it was nice to stop by.


We past a nice monument to the first Armenian church going back to the museum.


By then the museum was (almost) open.


It’s an art museum, so:


I know I’ve written before about how I seem to get something different out of art than a lot of people.
What I got out of this one was “these guys are bad chess players”.


I feel bad for this guy. I picture him saying “I’ll get a statue made so people will remember me”, but it didn’t work.


Soon, it was time to go off to the other museum in the area:

Otherwise known as Higgins Armory where we met chris_warrior.

It was the first time I’ve been there since they opened the new Quest Gallery. It’s very nice and much better than the old one. But, I don’t think we could do sword classes in there the way we used to.

It was a nice visit. I haven’t been there in a while and it is always interesting to get the opinion of folks who haven’t been there before.

Soon it was time to head back out across the city.


We went up to O’Connor’s for lunch, which was very nice. Then chris_warrior had to go off to be a zombie. (Better her than me....)

The rest of us stopped by at That’s Entertainment so I could pick up my comics.
Then, it was out to the Wachusett Reservoir .



I think this pigeon thought it was a hawk as it kept peering down then leaping off and swooping down at the ground.


My wife and I really like this spot.


Sadly, so does the poison ivy.


So, I walked along the shore. Lots of rocks, not much ivy.


The water was very clear.


There is also a stream of very clear water that runs down into the reservoir there.


There is even a rock you can use as a chair, and I did.

(Sadly, nice scenery or not, I coughed my way down the shore and back and was glad I filled my pockets with tissues before we set off.)

It is a very nice spot. Even when very hot.


Sadly, there were human signs.

And, I have no idea what this is:


But, then it was back to the train station.


There was a squirrel there that clearly did not expect us to be on the path and resented it. It climbed into the leaves and hissed at me when we refused to get off its path.


This time we went into the station, which is very nice.


This guy gets a statue in the station, but no sign saying who he is.


Then the train arrived and ravena_kade set off for Boston again.


It was a nice day, nice museums, and nice to see friends.
I only wish I didn’t cough the whole time and could have spoken above a whisper without setting off more.
But, despite being sick, it was a good time.

Comments

[ravena-kade.livejournal.com]

I had a great Day too. =)

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

you take so.many.pictures. *lol* i had no idea you were even taking them. :D

and hey... members of your sword troupe were zombies, too. you're surrounded. you just don't know it... ;)

thanks for the tour!