Today was the day I discovered the term “Massholes.” I’ve heard it through peers, but I always thought they were overexaggerating. They definitely were not.
I’ve never heard so many horns in my life, nor seen as many law-breaking citizens driving. I was absolutely stunned. I was used to the “weird” roads of roundabouts, sharp turns, etc. That never stunned me, having lived in upstate New York. The number of people who cut others off, showed respect by giving the middle finger, ran red lights, and more was mind-blowing.
It was fine, though. I just had to get back into the habit of driving in a busy northeast city. I mean….I drove in NYC once before…I figured this was a piece of cake. I will say driving in Austin is not the same as driving in Boston. After a few near-death experiences (okay, that may be an exaggeration), I was able to figure out driving again in the city and quickly adjusted to become my own version of a Masshole – or Texasshole. Either one is a proper fit for the drive.
I made it to Salem, once again. This time, I was on my History and Haunting tour with Witch City Walking Tours (the company that rescheduled me because of the late flight). I was in the same location as the night before, which worked out great!
We met at Old Town Hall for the walking tour. Seeing it in the daytime had a different vibe. This tour was even better! We saw the Witch House, Ropes Mansion (Hocus Pocus), Hamilton Hall, Bewitched Statue, Salem Witch Memorial (in daylight), Old Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery, and a few lesser-known places.
I decided to take the rest of the day to explore some of the other places on my own, such as Salem Witch Museum. I wasn’t impressed with the Salem Witch Museum presentation, but the gift shop was amazing! The presentation provided by the SWM was insanely boring and bland. It was like listening to an old history teacher in a lecture-style class. Luckily, the gift shop saved it. It’s about the only thing that was good about it.
I also ended up visiting Proctor’s Ledge, where most of the “witch” hangings actually occurred. It was a beautiful memorial to those who lost their life innocently over hysteria. Little did I know, it was in someone’s backyard. I want to approach their door and ask whether any hauntings have occurred, but that would be intrusive and rude.
I saw the House of Seven Gables, which, as an English teacher, was amazing. I fell in love with its beauty, especially the courtyard. The ironic thing is: I’ve never read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book. I just heard about it!
I was hoping to visit Pioneer Village, but they closed on the exact day I went. Fortunately, I was able to take some photos of it from outside. Maybe on my next visit, it’ll be open. I’m sure it’s moving as well. Along with that came an amazing view of the waterfront next to Pioneer Village.
Today was a moment for me. Despite the crazy world we live in, I discovered that not everyone is bad. I met some amazing people who had open conversations about their journeys to Salem. I had several experiences I could only dream of. It all finally came true. I learned of burning churches, the power of money (much like today), and how an insane belief in religion likely killed several.
I was sad knowing it was my last day in Salem, but I also knew I’d likely come back to explore more. On my travels, I learned much of the history that happened outside of actual Salem, MA. It gives me another reason to visit and see the stunning views.