When the ABQ drops in on the PHL

Day Three: Philly. In the Snow.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Expecting light flurries of snow this morning, we found ourselves walking all around the city, through 2 foot drifts.

No matter, we had plans and if Washington marched through a Winter storm and the postal service can adhere to “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”. Then, we can brave it too! Indy Mall was only open till 11…so, we did a mad dash at 10:15 to cover the entire area.

First mad dash stop: Independence Hall

It was within its walls that the Declaration of Independence was adopted. It was here that the Constitution of the United States was debated, drafted and signed.

Fun Facts:

The basement once served as the city’s dog pound
The second floor was once home to Charles Willson Peale’s museum of natural history.
Some historians note that Ben Franklin would occasionally trip other delegates from his aisle seat.
George Washington, knowing that his opinion would carry undue weight, contributed little to the debate over the Constitution.
Even though the days were very hot in the summer of 1787, windows were kept closed so others could not overhear their discussions

Second Mad Dash stop: The Liberty Bell:

“Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof Lev. XXV X”

The bell cracked the first time it was rung.
The bell weighed 2080 pounds when it was cast.
The strike note of the Bell is E-flat
[Listen to the Normandy Liberty Bell]
On June 6, 1944, when Allied forces landed in France, the sound of the bell was broadcast to all parts of the country
There are three known recordings of the Bell. Two were made in the 1940s for radio stations to play; the third is currently owned by Columbia Records.
About 1,500,000 people annually make a pilgrimage to the Bell.
On the bell, “Pennsylvania” is spelled “Pensylvania”

Warm up time! Most of Philly was open, specifically Old City. We headed to Plough and the Stars for some hearty, hot, tomato/veggie soup.

Lea, what did you think about your mad dash tour of Indy Hal?

Lea: “Um, the liberty bell was pretty cool and the soup was good.”

We walked to South Street for a meet up with the Frenchies and Lynsey for some delish Jim’s Steaks. This dive always has a line for their cheesesteaks. With only 5 people in the who place and the staff who were obviously a little moody, I dreaded ordering a sandwich. I have never ordered one, but intended to have Lea go before me. That failed. I ordered first. Super simple, easily readable menu.

Me: Regular with onions, mushrooms, and provolone and Dr. Pepper

Lea: Regular with tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and Mt. Dew.

The cheesesteak was better then I remembered! I can see why people love eating these….but couldn’t image eating them everyday! I was stuffed at the end! The Frenchies, Yael and Seb along with Lea and I took the streets, causing trouble! Roaming the streets like rowdy runaways!

Our first stop? The T-Shirt shop.

Next stop: The Magic Garden

Visited earlier this year from the Obama’s, this building and adjoining garden are completely covered in mosaic tiles depicting the obvious (man/woman forms) to the abstract (bottles poking out of the wall, plaster dolls standing 3 feet tall). We enjoyed looking around and then enjoyed, what the French call, “C’est le temps des re’jouissances”, basically, ” A time to celebrate” with some hot chocolate and good conversation with the other people who were at the garden.