The purpose of my pilgrimage: The 'free speech zone'.

Boston Common. 2004-07-27. Put it this way: Chicago 1968 this ain't.

A cutting, biting, insightful political comment. Ah, art.

Mere mortals not suffered to pass beyond this point..

Checking credentials at the entrance.

The guards seemed bored to death, too.

The city fathers did not bother to paint the walls of this Potemkin Village - the better to act as a backdrop for the inevitable

Note sign behind cap.

I've never felt so free.

A few disconsolate newsbabes and anarchists were hoisting brews

The height of idiocy. No one sees these billboards since the highway is (a) UNDERGROUND!!! and (b) CLOSED ANYWAY FOR SECURITY!!!

This is the first time I've been downtown since they tore down the old Central Artery. The Fleet Center (where the convention is

Likewise for Fanueil Hall

Essentially empty at about 4:30 on Tuesday.

The normally crowded City Hall Plaza.