stephanieNY

Along some of the smaller streets in the North End, there are all these little alleys, courts, and side-ways in between the buildings. The front stoops of some apartment buildings are situated down these courtyard-like alleys. They're so pretty and charming and comforting.

They are not for cars, but only for walking and sometimes for old ladies to sit in lawn chairs. They feel like an urban neighborhood equivalent to a driveway or maybe a cul-de-sac. Like a tier down from the street you live on, an intermediate semi-private stretch before your full-out private home. I live/stay down this way to Adam's apartment now:

I'd like to live up this one some day:

It's not an alley, but a set of stairs running up the side of Copp's Hill Terrace:

and looks out on this:

mmmmmm.