Philadelphia

Monday, April 07, 2014
Langhorne, Pennsylvania, United States
This morning we had breakfast at our hotel. It was much better than the breakfast in DC and it got us all they way to lunch in Philadelphia.

We set off for Philadelphia and made good time through Wilmington but then hit morning traffic as we neared Philly . Along the way both in Wilmington and Philadelphia we were amazed at the rows and rows of dilapidated row houses. Some were immediately adjacent to the freeway and their front doors looked right into traffic.

We arrived into the city of brotherly love and headed straight for Independence Hall. We parked the van and collected our free tickets to tour independence hall. The skies are clouded over this morning and now the clouds are beginning to shower us. A quick pass through security and we joined a group of local 5th graders who were on the same tour.

Inside the National Park Service guide shares some of the history of the building, originally the Pennsylvania State House. In one room several significant historical signings and events happened. The initial meetings of the colonies to ask the King to ease off the taxes and restrictions, the meetings to draft and then sign the Declaration of Independence, the selection of George Washington to lead the revolutionary army, the drafting and signing of the US Constitution and also the Bill of Rights . The chair is the original "rising sun" chair that George Washington sat in. In the nearby representatives chamber is where John Adams was sworn in as the 2nd President of the US, and the first transfer of power from one President to the next.

Across the cobble stone street and into the Liberty Bell center. Many exhibits tell of the bells origins and it's cracking. There were a couple attempts to fix the bell but they failed. The bell traveled the country on display for several purposes, including raising money through the sale of war bonds. The bell is now housed in a glass walled display room that views Independence Hall behind the bell. It creates a great photo opportunity. The Liberty Bell viewing is also free but can sometimes have quite a line up. Due to the rain today there was no line. The silver lining of the rain!

Time for lunch and we wanted to show the kids the Reading Market Terminal. A huge indoor food market featuring local farms and vendors serving everything from A to Z . Chinese, Mexican, cheese steaks, subs, hoagies, pub food, seafood, Amish breakfasts and dinners, goat cheese grilled cheese, ice cream, chocolate, bakeries filled with sweets, coffee, and I am certain I missed at least another dozen. It is quite an experience and one we certainly recommend if you visit Philadelphia. We settled on grilled cheese, followed by ice cream and coffee. Lauralee also visited a french linens shop that she is fond of in the market.

The rain is getting heavier and that limits our desire to walk around the city. We load back into the van and head towards the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the Rocky statue and steps. Along the way we stopped at the Rodin Museum to snap a couple quick pictures of the Thinker. The rain is still pouring and by the time we walk from the car to Rocky and back we are all a little soaked.

Next stop is Betsy Ross's little house. Traffic is heavy and during the slow drive the rain lightens up and by the time we park it has nearly stopped . Just our luck there is a Starbucks right across the street from Betsy Ross's house. That is probably why she bought the place way back when. After a warm cup of coffee we took the self guided tour of the little house. Halfway through the tour Jack and Grace were a room ahead of us when they were startled when a character actor playing Betsy Ross began speaking in a room they thought was empty. We joined them in the room and continued listening as she shared some history of Betsy Ross. She was proud to be a Patriot and help the revolution cause. She made suggestions to the original design that George Washington had sketched and brought to her. She suggested a five point star rather than the six point, and also to put the 13 stars in circle.

We set off for our hotel on the border of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Along the way we see more rows and rows of row houses boarding both sides of the interstate. We checkin and search out someplace for dinner. Well, Grace found a mall nearby so we made a quick stop there to shop and walk. Uh oh, the rain is back, and pouring hard again. We found a great local Italian restaurant called Mama Mia's with outstanding service and tasty food. After dinner we retired to our hotel for the night. Tomorrow we have our longest driving day.

Next stop - Albany, New York.

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