2001/07/05 (Monday)
Today was the last day of the three consecutive holidays, and last night I was invited by a friend living in Boston to enjoy the Boston Fireworks Festival on Independence Day on the banks of the Charles River near MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
By the time we arrived on the banks of the vast Charles River, it was already occupied by many spectators and there were no gaps, some of whom were having a feast with beer or cola in their hands.
However, thanks to a friend who lives in Boston, we managed to secure a good place, but in my case, I always looked up at the fireworks, and after the fireworks, my neck hurt and it was hard.
By the way, when the melody of the American nation "The Stars and Stripes Forever" was played, I was deeply moved when I saw the spectators shaking their bodies from side to side all at once.
By the way, at that time, SNS, which is considered to be the medium of division in the United States, did not exist. However, at this very moment, facebook was born in a corner of Kirkland House.
The fireworks were big and colorful, but they were all controlled by a computer and proceeded mechanically, so I couldn't get rid of the artificial feeling, but I was still satisfied.
By the way, the return trip after enjoying the fireworks is difficult. There was a long line in front of the token vending machine at the nearest station, Kendall, so I took the bus that arrived 15 minutes later and arrived at Harvard Square at 12:30 midnight.
The photo is KENDALL station platform
アメリカ独立記念日ボストン花火大会
2001/07/05（月）
今日は三連休の最終日、昨夜はボストン在住の友人に誘われてＭＩＴ（マサチューセッツ工科大学）に近いチャールスリバー河畔でアメリカ独立記念日ボストン花火大会を楽しんだ。
私達が広大なチャールスリバー河畔に到着したときは、既に多くの見物人に占められて隙間もなく、中にはビールやコーラを片手にお祭り騒ぎをしている人もいた。
しかし、ボストン在住の友人のお陰で何とか私達は良い場所を確保できたのだが、私の場合は常に花火を仰ぎ見る体型になり、花火が終わった後は首が痛くなって大変だった。
ところで、アメリカ国家「星条旗よ、永遠なれ」のメロディーが流れたとき、見物人が一斉に身体を左右に振るのを眺めて、私は感慨を覚えた。
そういえば、あの頃は、アメリカの分断の媒体とされるＳＮＳは存在していなかった。が、しかし、まさにこの時、face bookは、カークランドハウスの片隅で産声をあげていたのだ。
花火は大仕掛けでカラフルであったが、全てコンピューターで制御されて機械的に進行するので、私としては人工的な感覚は拭えなかったが、それでも満足だった。
さて、花火を楽しんだ後の帰路が大変。最寄り駅Kendallのトークン販売機の前は長蛇の列だったので、私は１５分後に到着したバスに乗ってハーバードスクエアに到着したのは真夜中の１２時半だった。
写真はKENDALL駅ホーム
