Language
George Bernard Shaw once said that England and America were two countries separated by a common language. The language is English, but with a dialect of Eastern New England dubbed ‘Boston English.’ Boston has its own collection of buzz words known as Boston Slang. For instance, Irish Americans are a major influence on Boston's political and religious institutions, so you might hear the acronym, ABI: American-Born Irish.
Currency And Tipping
The American dollar or greenback, made up of 100 cents. And just in case you need to know, a nickel is 5 cents, a dime is 10 and a quarter 25. The customary tipping rate is 15-20% for taxi drivers and waiters; bellhops are usually given $2 a bag in luxury hotels and $1 elsewhere; hotel maids should be tipped $2 a day. A doorman who hails or helps you into a cab can be tipped $1 or $2. You should also tip your hotel concierge for services rendered.
Safety
Although not as intimidating as New York or Los Angeles, Boston is by no means a place where people leave their doors unlocked. It’s a major city and, as with other major cities, use common sense and there shouldn’t be any major problems. Violent crime is not prevalent in Boston, but murders and robberies happen every year as in every other city. The places that tourists visit are usually fairly safe, even after dark. But as always in any crowded areas, make sure your wallet, purse and valuables are not accessible. And it’s wise to ask around if you’re planning to explore off the beaten track.
Weather
Part of the magic of Boston is that it’s a land of seasons. The first snow may fall in November, and intermittent snow accompanied by cold weather will usually continue well into March. The Charles River generally freezes over. Spring, which can be temperamental, spans March through May. This is when magnolias and lilacs bloom. Summer can be very hot and humid, although most of the time the weather is pleasantly warm – 21-27C (70-80F). The autumn (fall) encroaches gradually, usually with one last splurge of glorious ‘Indian Summer’ days. Fall is a popular time to be in Boston – starting in September and peaking in mid-October, resplendent colours can be enjoyed in the outskirts and even more so in the mountains of northern New England.
Getting Around
Boston is known as a walker’s city and much can be seen on foot. For attractions a bit farther afield, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, MBTA, runs the subway (nowadays known as the Rapid Transit or simply ‘the T.’) Despite severe overcrowding during rush hours, the T is a fairly efficient, clean and user-friendly system. The five lines – Red, Green, Orange, Blue and Silver – that radiate from downtown Boston cling to the name ‘subway’ even though all run above ground for part of their route and the Silver Line is actually served by buses. The majority of MBTA’s 160-plus bus routes operate feeder services linking subway stations to neighbourhoods not directly served by the T.
Travel Tip # 1: There’s a variety of cheaper passes for daily, weekly or monthly travel, including the Charliecard. For full details go to the MBTA website (www.mbta.com).
