Lieutenant Colonel George Washington was known to frequent many taverns that sprung up on School Street; two colonial-era buildings still stand—King's Chapel, a rough-hewn granite church completed in 1754, and Old Corner Bookstore building, constructed in 1718 as an apothecary. The concept of a "hotel" is a fairly recent one. In colonial Boston, travelers found rest and refreshment not in hotels or motels, but at local taverns and inns. Women were rarely on road, so colonial males usually frequented roadside taverns. They often even shared beds after quaffing pints of colonial beer. I guess after too many pints they began foment for freedom and rise of a radical cause—Independence.

The earlier hotels were known as "houses." As more travelers arrived in Boston by coach or ship, lodging and dining houses bore patriotic names like American House, The Shawmut, Adams, and The Revere House. The resident houses were genteel and sometimes luxurious, and some began to even accommodated ladies!

In midst of this period of expansion and change, a 20-year-old farm boy named Harvey D. Parker arrived in Boston Harbor on a packet from Maine. The year was 1825, and with less than one dollar in his satchel, he was in immediate need of employment. His first job was as a caretaker for a horse and cow, which gave him eight dollars a month. Then as a coachman for a wealthy Watertown woman, he was set up on his career path.

Whenever Parker trotted horse-drawn coach into Boston, his noon meal was at a dark, cellar café on Court Square, owned by John E. Hunt. By 1832, ambitious Parker bough Hunt's café for $432, and renamed it Parker's Restaurant. A combination of excellent food and service won over a regular clientele of businessmen, lawyers, and newspapermen. By 1854 he embarked on a grander enterprise.

His plan was to build a new, first class hotel and restaurant at School Street base of Beacon Hill, just down road from domed Massachusetts State House. Parker purchased former Mico Mansion and razed decrepit boarding house. In its place, Parker built an ornate, five story, Italianate-style stone and brick hotel, faced with gleaming white marble. The first and second floors featured arched windows, while marble steps led from sidewalk to marble foyer within. Once inside, thick carpets and fashionable horsehair divans completed an air of elegance. Above front door, an engraved sign read simply, "Parker's." Even visiting British author Charles Dickens marveled at splendor of Boston's finest new hotel. To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/omni/parker/house.html

Jetsetters Magazine Editor – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

While Juan was around we do our best to maintain dignity befitting writers of our stature; however, minute he leaves we become giddy with rapture. Our room is huge. The bed is king size and comfortable. Behind bed is a half wall supporting white columns dividing our bed from a sitting area; behind wall is a large couch-cum-daybed facing arched doors leading to balcony. We look over railing into a lovely manicured garden and we could see sea waiting for us beyond. Both my friend and I are writers and we could already feel inspiration. The flavor of room is English Colonial, and I feel that we have entered a "Twilight Zone" between Mexico and Africa, a sort of coming together of two places I dearly love.

Needing a nap, I slide between cool sheets. Somehow, listening to silence I feel myself becoming serene. I yearn to be elegant and enchanting as befitting such a setting. Dozing off, I dream of high tea served in an English garden in a far-off colony of Empire. Alas, there is not an elegant bone in this body and eventually I had to wake up and face that fact. Fortunately, waking up to reality is not too much of a hardship in Cozumel. The dying sun slipping into ocean is elegant enough for all of us. Huge and golden it looks as solid as an ingo; as we watch, bottom orb melts into water, putting out fire out while spreading golden bullion across sea. Watching sunset is a requirement here and there are several places on property you can enjoy this time.

Next to pool is a snack bar, “Las Adas” where you meet other sun worshippers. Above is a pavilion waiting for your viewing pleasure. Alternatively, you can put forth a small amount of effort and stroll across street to get up close and personal with sea. Just across road is Temptations restaurant with a patio where you can relax with your favorite beverage. You might sit on a lounge chair on beach or sit on seawal. You can walk out onto pier but returning divers have much equipment to take care of so please be civil as you worship in this most ancient of rituals. Despite trip being too short for all we are planning, we slow down each night for this cosmic treat.

The sea is main event for most visitors to Cozumel, and Villa Blanca is perfect site for one of most important sea events. The hotel is located on Villa Blanca Reef and Wall, and How To See A Kiwi

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/mexico/cozumel/villa/blanca.html

Bobbi Buchanan, Jetsetters Magazine Editor – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com