The organist librarian

25/9 Sunday early breakfast and left at 7.45 to Boston. 1 hour. Local guide Kikee in coat and hat. Toured centre and visited Old North St church and Copps. Hill burial ground. Clam chowder at Quincy market. 20 minute talk by ranger at Fanteuil hall. Urged all to vote.Cradle of liberty incl blacks and women. Busts of Douglass and Lilian Stone. Holocaust memorial simple and effective. To USS Constitution which has an exc museum. Great for kids. back by 5 and walked to Catholic cathedral of SS Peter and. Paul. Met Douglas the organist and the cantor both large men and he invited me to play so I played Toccata in D minor on the large Cassavant. The priest from New Orleans was too political. Urged all to vote but antiObama administration which has accused religious bodies of discrimination, sexism, homophobia. There is no question in my kind that the RC church discriminates against women and gays. At this. Mass there was one woman reader and one woman special minister but the priest went t...

To St Cecilia's for Mass -  a huge full church. The welcomer gave us leaflets with music sheets but no attempt to find us a seat! The small choir were impressive but a bit counterproductive in that people did not sing much. The priest was very dramatic and seemed happy to change texts at will. Glasses for Precious Blood! We got directions to the organ gallery and saw the magnificent Casavant console. The closing voluntary was Bach Fantasia in G minor, The seafood and chocolat ebrownie and locald raft ale. setting was by Haas and anthem by Rutter. We went to coffee and doughnut downstairs but nobody mad enay attempt to speak to us apart from 2 small children and a visiting family! So much for preaching about welcome! We went on the trolley tour of the city and eventually got off at the Tea party ship where we reenacted the Boston tea party (or part of it!) It was well done. The day ended with a river cruise which was enjoyable as the weather was perfect. Ended the day with a lovely...

10.10 A glorious  day. Queued up to go through US immigration and then tender to shore. Joined the Acadia national park tour with a very good guide and the views from Mount Cadillac were superb. We also visited the wild flowers garden and nature centre and the Thunderhole. It was a lovely drive. Spoke to Ciarán and Seán on Skype in a café. Back to the ship for afternoon tea and started packing cases. Hot tub and swam in pool. To Mass and Tom was there and chat to Louise from Louisiana. Nice dinner in dining room with Americans and Australians. Adagio and piano bar and then show Dancing with the stars won by lady originally from South Korea. 11.10 Docked in Boston and eventually said a fond farewell to stateroom 391. We are booked on an Adriatic cruise next April with a veranda stateroom on the port side. Luggage taken ashore and got a to 46 Williams Street – a lovely room with bathroom. Joyce gave us more breakfast and we met Snowy. Set off to get a transport weekly pass and a...