Boston, New England. It’s two birds with one stone. The best of both worlds: the old and the new. Founded in 1630 – and thus historic by American standards – the city is widely regarded as one of the most cultured in the USA.
Mounted police patrol regularly on Boston Common, providing not just security but a welcome attraction, too
The South Boston Waterfront is the realm of the hipsters: cool, modern and not quite finished yet.
Boston’s Chinatown is a place of narrow lanes, Chinese shops and restaurants, men playing mah-jongg and women walking their cats.
If Zurich has its bratwurst, Boston has its lobster roll – a quick lunch option that’s sold from food trucks, too.
Optical illusion on Copley Square. The city’s Trinity Church is reflected in the modern glass-and-steel façade of the John Hancock Tower.
Large swathes of it look as neat and smart as the backdrop to a Ralph Lauren commercial. Charming Beacon Hill boasts blood-red brick houses lining cobbled lanes with flickering street lamps; elegant Newbury Street wins visitors over with its broad side-walks and luxury boutiques; and lush green Boston Common is a perfect venue for jogging, games, picnics and simple relaxation.
The skyline with Rowes Wharf, Eaton Vance and One International Place. Some of the buildings were built in unpolished pink granite.
Stephen Silver is the founder of the SoWa Artists Guild, under which over 80 artists have got together to present their creations (and studios) to the public at Harrison Avenue. Boldly coloured abstract landscapes are Stephen’s own speciality. silverwoodsstudio.com
The food trucks outside South Station are a popular lunch break destination.
Other quarters are a little less tranquil. The South End and the Seaport District in particular have evolved into hipster hot spots over the past decade with their cool bars and galleries. So if you want to discover “New Boston”, that’s the place to head to.