Day 3 on Anthem of the Seas, and our first port of call in Boston. However, we have decided not to stay in Boston and instead are getting the short ferry to Salem the Witch City.
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a series of trials of local residents accused of witchcraft. They are reported to be the deadliest witch hunt in North American history. More than 200 people were accused of witchcraft, and 19 were found guilty of witchcraft. Fourteen women and five men were executed by hanging. Several more people died in jail while Giles Corey was pressed to death for refusing to plead.
In recent years Salem has become a hotspot for witch based tourism, although this isn’t without some degree of controversy. However, today, around 5% of the town’s population identify themselves as being witches. Even the police wear witches on their uniforms.
October is the peak season for tourism at Salem. Salem does Halloween big! There are street performers, decorations, markets, unique entertainment, tours, films, and a whole host of other activities.
The entertainment peaks on 31st October with fireworks over the North River. Also, there will be a main stage with live music on Salem Common, plus bands and DJs providing entertainment around downtown.
There is, of course, crowds. Crowds are enormous, and it is easy to get lost in the crowd. However, the fun is good-natured, and many guests are in fancy dress. However, the costumes on many of the street performers are sensational.
After we arrived in Salem, we caught the Salem Trolley for a guided tour around the town. Usually, the trolley offers a hop-on-hop-off experience, but today was operating a non-stop circuit ride due to crowds. Also, there were enormous crowds for many of the museums, shops, and exhibitions.
Our guide on the trolley explained that today, the Saturday before Halloween, was second only to Halloween for crowds. Despite the crowds, we had a fantastic time in what was a unique festival. If you can cope with the masses, Salem is bonkers and rather enjoyable fun.
Tomorrow we will be stopping at Portland, Maine.
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