Dorchester makes you feel more alive

Candelaria Silva describes how she got in better shape, physically and mentally, simply by walking up the hills of Dorchester every weekday on her way to Ashmont station:

... Turning right, I walk a few blocks down to the Pope's Hill neighborhood to S. Monroe Terrace, which has a monster hill that starts immediately from Neponset and gives no grace until you’ve reached its top and magnificent views. Walking that hill is always a bear for me: will I make it? Turn back you fool! Nah, I can do this!. I keep my head down, focusing on each block of pavement until I make it.

Another challenge is to walk over Adams Street to the playing field and up the sixty plus steps to Train Street (I think that’s the name of it). I pretend to be Rocky Balboa. ...