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| Monument, on a summer day. |
We came to Boston to visit King Bhumibol Adulyadej Square.
After several snow storms in Boston, the snow was piled high on the streets. The King's birthplace monument would be hard to find. Cars on the street were completely buried.
At breakfast people gave us directions. We were determined to find the monument, even if we had to dig for it in the deep snow.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the longest reigning monarch in the world, and the only monarch born in the U.S. His father studied medicine at Harvard University, and his mother studied home economics and nursing at Simmons College. Together they revolutionized health care in Thailand.
We followed the directions to Eliot and Bennett, across from JFK School of Government, next to The Charles Hotel. As we expected, the four foot monument was buried!Mali climbed up the snowbank and began to dig with her hands. Success! There it was.
It's a tribute to Thai people's pride and honor for their King. Mali was cold and snow was over her boots, and above her knees. She didn't know if she would sink in and get stuck, or buried. (Lea meanwhile is safe and warm on the sidewalk, taking pictures, saying, "You can do it, Mali! Keep digging!")
When we were in the area later that night, we saw that the snow had melted off the face of the monument. Until the next snowstorm, it will be easy to find! It is located at the large plaza of The Charles Hotel, visible across the plaza from one of the most popular restaurants in Boston, Legal Seafood. From our table at dinner, I could see the bronze monument face highlighted by snow sparkling in the city lights.
