The fun started yesterday, leaving sunny Atlanta mid-afternoon. Hartsfield felt very at home since we'd just been there Sunday (I actually identified with George Clooney's character in Up in the Air....) and the flight up to Boston was pleasant and quick. Our bags arrived (yay) and we were ready to navigate Boston's rapid transit system, the T. Google said all the surface streets were "red," so it seemed the optimal and cost-effective strategy to employ. Two transit passes later, he hopped on the airport shuttle to the blue line and were on our way. Very impressive and navigable system, although the cars on the green line appear fairly aged. Made our way to the Marriot Copley and checked into a nice room overlooking the Charles River.
Since we got to the hotel about 6:30 and the game was at 7pm, there wasn't anything else to do but don jerseys and head back to the green line. Quick trip to the North Station where all we had to do was follow the streaming Bruins fans. Our seats were great -- same corner as Atlanta but in row 4 (their zamboni entrance is in the opposite corner) so we got to see the Bruins attacking first period. Unfortunately, we got to see them a lot as they quickly scored.
It was a rather sad game to watch as a Thrashers' fan. We were close enough to the ice to see facial expressions and it was clear no one was having any fun out there. Ilya looked despondent as did Antropov. The veterans tried to keep it together but only Evander Kane had any real energy. Pavelec clearly couldn't see the puck and was pulled after three goals. Moose did his usual show of flash and style to keep it 4-0 but that's all he could do. I have two words for the Thrashers: fore-check.
The stadium was older but you could tell the franchise had more money -- the jumbotron was enormous and HD. And the advertising much greater. Two thumbs down for the bathrooms which were not sized for a sell-out crowd. Food was 50-50. We split a great roast beef sandwich from the Carvery which was excellent, but the sausages were only so-so. More variety of food, though. Very different crowd, obviously. A sellout and much more colorful commentary and advice to the refs. The mood reminded me a lot of high school...and not in a good way. Makes me realize how much I've changed, living for twenty years in Atlanta.
There was one noticeable difference from Phillips Arena -- the guys cleaning the ice wore all their clothes!
We got back to the hotel room and watched An Education, which we both thought was excellent.
Alan's birthday has dawned (at least for me -- he's still asleep) gray but no rain. We will meet up with cousin Bill today and then tonight we are venturing to the North End for dinner at an Italian-Peruvian restaurant called Taranta.
Forecast looks like tomorrow's game will go! I think our seats are kind of behind home plate up at the top on the third base side.
