Once, one of my closest friends spent 3 months in the historical city of Philadelphia. Some time later I called her, to tell I was going to visit the town. She was delighted with the news. 'You're going to my American hometown!' she said, and I automatically was sent plenty of information about museums, must-sees, sightseeing, restaurants, food and people. There was only a little small tiny insignificant problem. I did only had 48 hours. To visit the city. All the city. Wish me luck. Anyway, I made a commitment to explore how much as I could. Forty-eight hours on the run.
Be welcomed to the philadelphia Countdown.
Be welcomed to the philadelphia Countdown.
Hour 1. 12:00 pm. Once arrived, settle down.
After a three-hours ride, we finally approached the city skyline. Yes, we made it! It was raining cats and dogs, it was a horrible cloudy and windy day and highroads were crowded. But yes, we made it.
Now it was time to put things in order and have a little rest (also known as: try to connect on the wifi, catch internet and lay on the couch).
After a three-hours ride, we finally approached the city skyline. Yes, we made it! It was raining cats and dogs, it was a horrible cloudy and windy day and highroads were crowded. But yes, we made it.
Now it was time to put things in order and have a little rest (also known as: try to connect on the wifi, catch internet and lay on the couch).
Hour 2.5. 1:30 pm. Let's find a solution for starvation.
Time ran away while we took a short nap and we had to find some food. Soon. Sneakers on and we went outside to look for some tasty meal. Target! East Market. We could smell the mixed scent of cheesesteak, bread and fresh fruit coming from the inside. And we went straight there. We went around and around and around like spinning tops until we tracked down a local that would approach all the family's standings. Olympic Gyro. We sat down to have some nice traditional greek food: salad, gyros and souvlakis. While eating, we took a map and started to discuss what was our next step and we had some nice little conversation all together. Once we were back loaded with energy, we toured around the market. There was a large amount of little spots, filled with tasty-looking food. Everybody was walking around and savoring all the flavors. It was an explosion of lights and colors twisting and blending all over the place.
Time ran away while we took a short nap and we had to find some food. Soon. Sneakers on and we went outside to look for some tasty meal. Target! East Market. We could smell the mixed scent of cheesesteak, bread and fresh fruit coming from the inside. And we went straight there. We went around and around and around like spinning tops until we tracked down a local that would approach all the family's standings. Olympic Gyro. We sat down to have some nice traditional greek food: salad, gyros and souvlakis. While eating, we took a map and started to discuss what was our next step and we had some nice little conversation all together. Once we were back loaded with energy, we toured around the market. There was a large amount of little spots, filled with tasty-looking food. Everybody was walking around and savoring all the flavors. It was an explosion of lights and colors twisting and blending all over the place.
Hour 4. 3:00 pm. Please, don't rain.
We got outside but, damn! It was raining heavily. I slowly saw how all our afternoon plans were broken into fragments and gently disintegrated. Bye-bye afternoon. That was a hard blow. We were running out of time and it happens to be raining? We had to come up with a plan. We couldn't go to a museum because at the time we would get there, it will about to close. We couldn't walk outside. We couldn't go anywhere. Solution? We will just relax and chill at the hotel's inside pool and read a book. Sometime it's just great to do nothing.
We got outside but, damn! It was raining heavily. I slowly saw how all our afternoon plans were broken into fragments and gently disintegrated. Bye-bye afternoon. That was a hard blow. We were running out of time and it happens to be raining? We had to come up with a plan. We couldn't go to a museum because at the time we would get there, it will about to close. We couldn't walk outside. We couldn't go anywhere. Solution? We will just relax and chill at the hotel's inside pool and read a book. Sometime it's just great to do nothing.
Hour 9. 8:00 pm. Let's go to a nice restaurant!
Now, relaxed, clean and bored we were ready to have some nice dinner all together. We went to this restaurant named as McCormick and Schmick, seafood and steaks. Good food and good service made it a good night.
Now, relaxed, clean and bored we were ready to have some nice dinner all together. We went to this restaurant named as McCormick and Schmick, seafood and steaks. Good food and good service made it a good night.
Hour 13. 12:00 pm. Sweet dreams. It was late, and we were tired. After having had a memorable evening, we directly went to bed. It had been a long day, and we had to be filled with enthusiasm for the next day. Good night everybody. | Zzzzzz Night! |
Hour 22. 9:00 am. MORNING!
Let's goooooo! A long day was coming around and we had no time to be lazy. Once we grabbed some coffee/milk/bread at Starbucks and we were al clean and shiny (all that took like one and a half hours, which was pretty fast), we were ready to go visit Philadelphia. Camera is ready and mind is open, so let's start moving (yeay!).
Let's goooooo! A long day was coming around and we had no time to be lazy. Once we grabbed some coffee/milk/bread at Starbucks and we were al clean and shiny (all that took like one and a half hours, which was pretty fast), we were ready to go visit Philadelphia. Camera is ready and mind is open, so let's start moving (yeay!).
Hour 24. 11:00 am. The Barnes Foundation.
We calmly went down the Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, enjoying the views, observing all we could see. Then, we arrived at the first big spot: The Barnes Foundation. I couldn't have more praises for it. As we entered the museum, we walked around a various rooms provided with stunning paintings. The very best of Renoir, Van Gogh, Matisse, Cézanne and many more. I was overwhelmed. Impressionism has always been one of my favorites and that, left me without words. Moreover, we were given a free audio which is always pleasantly useful to understant a little more of art.
We calmly went down the Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, enjoying the views, observing all we could see. Then, we arrived at the first big spot: The Barnes Foundation. I couldn't have more praises for it. As we entered the museum, we walked around a various rooms provided with stunning paintings. The very best of Renoir, Van Gogh, Matisse, Cézanne and many more. I was overwhelmed. Impressionism has always been one of my favorites and that, left me without words. Moreover, we were given a free audio which is always pleasantly useful to understant a little more of art.
Hour 27. 2:00 pm. Food and Rodin.
Having left the museum, we went to grab some lunch at Whole Food. Fresh and organic! It was nice to sit down and just feel the city life: families eating together, businesspeople walking in the streets, friends hanging out... I observed at the faces and the scenes. Everybody in a rush thinking about their world. Later, we walked down the avenue and we ran into the Rodin Museum! Some of his most memorable sculptures were there. It was a small park decorated with beautiful replicas (and some reals) of Rodin's masterworks. That kind of places were trees flourish and birds sing charmingly.
Having left the museum, we went to grab some lunch at Whole Food. Fresh and organic! It was nice to sit down and just feel the city life: families eating together, businesspeople walking in the streets, friends hanging out... I observed at the faces and the scenes. Everybody in a rush thinking about their world. Later, we walked down the avenue and we ran into the Rodin Museum! Some of his most memorable sculptures were there. It was a small park decorated with beautiful replicas (and some reals) of Rodin's masterworks. That kind of places were trees flourish and birds sing charmingly.
Hour 28. 3:00 pm. Rocky's rules.
We kept waking quietly until arriving to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We didn't went inside, but a running upstairs with a pure Rocky style couldn't be missed. Arrive at the top and put your hands up in victory.
We kept waking quietly until arriving to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We didn't went inside, but a running upstairs with a pure Rocky style couldn't be missed. Arrive at the top and put your hands up in victory.
Hour 28.5. 3:30 pm. We are scientists!
The Franklin Institute. Benjamin Franklin, who drafted the American Constitution and one of the Founding Fathers, was also a great inventor and scientist. In his honor this organism was created. A museum devoted to science. It was interesting and interactive, but a little too childish. We had a great time, though.
The Franklin Institute. Benjamin Franklin, who drafted the American Constitution and one of the Founding Fathers, was also a great inventor and scientist. In his honor this organism was created. A museum devoted to science. It was interesting and interactive, but a little too childish. We had a great time, though.
Hour 30.5. 5:30 pm. Love, walk, hall.
When we got out of the Institution we had a debate going on. Should we keep visiting or just go to the hotel? Finally, we decided that the opportunity to visit Philadelphia may not come around any time soon, so we had to see it all. In our way, we crossed up with a great fountain and Robert Indiana's famous LOVE sculpture. The electric blue water and the bright colors of the artwork harmonized creating a magical scene in the park.
--- CHECK OUT ROBERT INDIANA'S WEBPAGE ---
Later, we toured around the city's Town Hall. Amazing building, by the way.
When we got out of the Institution we had a debate going on. Should we keep visiting or just go to the hotel? Finally, we decided that the opportunity to visit Philadelphia may not come around any time soon, so we had to see it all. In our way, we crossed up with a great fountain and Robert Indiana's famous LOVE sculpture. The electric blue water and the bright colors of the artwork harmonized creating a magical scene in the park.
--- CHECK OUT ROBERT INDIANA'S WEBPAGE ---
Later, we toured around the city's Town Hall. Amazing building, by the way.
Hour 31. 6:00 pm. A long time ago.. the historical district.
The time had come, we were in the famous iconic Philadelphia. Where the American independence was signed, where once the now most powerful country was only a newborn. We saw the Liberty Bell with the crack and the Independence Hall (Pennsylvania State House), getting a chance to go inside where the Constitution was created. So many historical moments that would unexpectedly change all our futures.
The time had come, we were in the famous iconic Philadelphia. Where the American independence was signed, where once the now most powerful country was only a newborn. We saw the Liberty Bell with the crack and the Independence Hall (Pennsylvania State House), getting a chance to go inside where the Constitution was created. So many historical moments that would unexpectedly change all our futures.
Hour 33. 8:00 pm. Night getaway for food.
We were terribly exhausted. We did really need to sit down. After sightseeing the old city, we went around to look for some restaurant. And we luckily find a good one. Italian pasta for everybody! It didn't took us along to finish everything, as we were pretty hungry and we could go back to the hotel to finally sleep and sum up the day.
We were terribly exhausted. We did really need to sit down. After sightseeing the old city, we went around to look for some restaurant. And we luckily find a good one. Italian pasta for everybody! It didn't took us along to finish everything, as we were pretty hungry and we could go back to the hotel to finally sleep and sum up the day.
Hour 46. 9:00 pm. Packing back.
That morning wasn't exciting, or animated at all. We packed up all our stuff, had breakfast and said goodbye. I kept all the brochures and leaflets I had collected from museums and streets. For my memory book. Now I could add one more city! I smiled.
That morning wasn't exciting, or animated at all. We packed up all our stuff, had breakfast and said goodbye. I kept all the brochures and leaflets I had collected from museums and streets. For my memory book. Now I could add one more city! I smiled.
Hour 48. 11:00 pm. Ciao bella!
We were leaving the city that morning. Bye-bye Philadelphia. My feelings of nostalgia and excitement had been mixed up. As we closed an episode, a new one was coming up. I closed my eyes and remembered all we had done: running (and dancing) under the rain, observed antique paintings, seen were the USA was originated, laughed together, and even walked inside a gigantic heart. We had had a great time, and that's what matters.
Once again, we went into the car to hit the road. Let's go adventure.
We were leaving the city that morning. Bye-bye Philadelphia. My feelings of nostalgia and excitement had been mixed up. As we closed an episode, a new one was coming up. I closed my eyes and remembered all we had done: running (and dancing) under the rain, observed antique paintings, seen were the USA was originated, laughed together, and even walked inside a gigantic heart. We had had a great time, and that's what matters.
Once again, we went into the car to hit the road. Let's go adventure.
Sincerely,
Vera
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