Learning Journeys in US for Curriculum Design

Harvard still drew the crowd who would not miss the opportunity to touch his shoes.

Isabella Stewart Gardner first welcomed visitors to her museum on New Year's Day, 1903. On that evening guests listened to the music of Bach, Mozart, and Schumann, gazed in wonder at the courtyard full of flowers, and viewed one of the nation's finest collections of art. Today, visitors experience much the same thing. The Gardner Museum has remained essentially unchanged since its founder's death in 1924. Unchanged but certainly not stagnant. Three floors of galleries surround a garden courtyard blooming with life in all seasons. The galleries are filled with paintings, sculpture, tapestries, furniture, and decorative arts from cultures spanning thirty centuries. Below are pictures (downloaded from its website as no photography was allowed anywhere inside the museum) of its courtyard and two of its paintings. In recent years, some of its paintings had been stolen. As a grim reminder of the sad crime of theft, the curator has left the frames of these stolen paintings hanging on the wall, hoping that the paintings will eventually return to the museum for all to enjoy. For an educational and fruitful tour of the journey, one is strongly advised to rent the audio aids which run self-help guide of all the rooms and some of the paintings in the museum. Or one can pick up a chart at each of the gallery which gives a descriptions of some sort. As an added attraction, once a month, from now until Dec 2010, there is Gardner After Hours, which has live music, art, conversation, cocktails as one lingers around the enchanting courtyard, revel in live jazz, or dine in the artful Gardner Cafe.

Lunch at Gardner Museum

The Boston public library is a majestic-looking building with a picturesque courtyard surrounded by huge rooms of books and exhibitions. The building itself has its own architectural appeal of the medieval era.

First time visitor to Boston should take one of the Boston's all-sightseeing experience as it gave a good sense of orientation of the place and the historical background of the sites and buildings. Among many, the 2-day Old Trolley ticket also included a cruise round the harbour which provided rich information about Boston's coastal buildings. This included the drop off point at the USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" which is a museum today.

As part of its outreach to teach, especially the young about the oceans in relation to the evolution of the earth, there were attractive and informative 3D IMAX shows that ran frequently each day in the Aquarium near the harbour cruise boarding pier. Nearby, one could also hop onto one of the tours to watch flipping whales and the sighting was guaranteed, if not, one would be get a refund. In the picture was a seal who waved and responded to humans. This adorable seal dozed off the next moment after it waved, on more than once, to its human visitors.

This huge kettle at Starbucks let out real steam.

Our accommodation in Boston was the Omni Parker Hotel which has a history as far back as the 17th century. Charles Dickens and Ho Chih Min were said to have stayed in this hotel. The hotel is centrally located and easily accessble to many historical and tourist attractions. It also boasts to serve the best cream pies in Boston. Borders bookshop is just next to it. So one can wake up early in the morning, drink coffee at one of the many coffee joints around and buy a book as early as 7 am.

Historical buildings built as far back as the 17th century stood strong and majestic on clobberstone ground which are visible at almost every turn of the eye.

There were lots of beautiful flowers bursting in vibrant summer hues in parks, along the walkway and private residences. Some shopping malls also featured pond garden outdoor and displayed greenhouse within the building itself.

Quincy Market was a vibrant place. There were street performers and lots of people. The food court had plenty of original local eateries and stalls. Shopping was great there too.