I didn't go to Philadelphia to see Philadelphia, really. I went because my friends Aimee and Will were running the marathon there, and Alicia was coming so we could all be together and hang out. I've been to Philadelphia in the past, so I've seen some of the sights already. But this time ...
I had such a good experience at the World War II Museum in New Orleans that I thought - I should hit this one, too!
I got to Philadelphia before my friends, so I got there right as it opened. There were some school groups and I followed them in to see a movie called 'Washington's War Tent.' I had done zero research ahead of time, so this was all a surprise to me. First, before it started the people told us that we were not allowed to take any pictures of the (yet unseen) tent, because they wanted our children and our grandchildren to see it, so the flash would damage it. We watched a 15-or-so minute movie about Washington's tent, where they told the entire history of it and how it was used as a command center during the American Revolution, then it was used in the Civil War, and then people realized it might be important and they might want to hang on to it. Reverend W. Herbert Burk raised funds from around the nation to purchase the original tent. I was getting more and more excited and then the movie ended, the screen came up, and there it was - George Washington's tent! It was in better shape than MY TENT IS NOW. I just kept thinking, our country is so, so young. I loved it!
I went all around the rest of the museum and a docent told me they started digging to build the museum and realized it used to be a tavern and so they unearthed 85,000 artifacts. How lucky are you to build where there are already ruins?
I went to the lower level and when I tried the door, it was locked. Two employees saw me and told me it was only open on the weekends in the fall. Then one said, "Would you like us to open it for you?" I said sure, and the one man said, "This guy is the writer and curator of the exhibit. I'm sure he'd love to give you a tour!"
What?! A tour from the creator? Yes, thanks. He was so proud of it - and rightly so. It was a hands-on exhibit for children, but it was really for everyone. One of the coolest parts of it had a table with things like a candlestick. You would place the candlestick on the table, and the table, which was a screen, would show you facts about it, like where it traveled from on the other side of the ocean. That was just a small part of the entire American village. It was all so well done. Thanks, Mark Turdo!
Liberty Bell
Alicia and I saw the Liberty Bell on a weekday afternoon - the line to get through security didn't take long, and there was no line to see the totally-recognizable symbol. On the weekend the line was super, super long, so try to time this visit. If you don't want to wait, they conveniently place it next to a huge glass wall and you can just see it from the outside! We also walked around Independence Village, which I experienced last time. If you haven't been before, it's very interesting.
Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps and Rocky Statue
I have never seen Rocky, nor any of the Rocky sequels. I am familiar with it as an American cultural touchpoint. So of course we ran up the steps and posed by the statue. Why wouldn't I? I'm sure I'll see the movie someday. Or maybe just that clip on YouTube, right now...
Oh, I see he's wearing a sweatsuit. He must be cutting weight. Do boxers do that or just wrestlers?
I know this song.
That looks industrial. We definitely saw some industrial parts of the city.
I wonder if this was the marathon route? Oh my. There is a lot of garbage on his street and a trashcan fire, which reminds me of our new favorite Christmas song around here, which includes the line, "A bottle of gin and a trashcan fire." I think it's called Homeless Wassail. Kris and the boys enjoy a good minor dirge.
44 seconds in. I'm fast forwarding. I see no steps.
He is running really fast. That's faster than I run, and I'm a RUNNER. He is an actor playing a boxer! Good job, you.
I see the steps! I see the park where the marathon ended! There it is! It's quite a view of the city.
Is ... his butt sweaty? Gray sweatsuits aren't doing anyone any favors.
Great, now I can say I've seen it. Moving on.
Ben Franklin's Grave
I also saw this last time I visited, and we just happened upon it. People had thrown pennies on top of it. Aimee remarked on it and a guide said, "You know he said a penny saved is a penny earned," and Aimee said, "Then why are they throwing them away?" We all agreed with her, but the guide seemed deflated.
Elfreth's Alley
This is a charming alley with pretty, colorful, neat, small row houses. It was settled in 1736, and is touted as our nation's oldest residential street. Will, Aimee, Justin, Jason and I went. For a picture, I suggested Aimee and I go to the door of homes and pretend we were neighbors waving at each other. Jason took the picture at the exact moment ... the person who ACTUALLY lived in the house opened Aimee's door! Can you see the look on her face, as I blithely look on, still happy in my pretend world before I knew what was happening? Yes, people still live there. I don't know how they stand all the tourists.
Love, Amor, I love Philly
I really, really wanted to see the LOVE statue, and these other ones were just a bonus. (Also, I was at a tailgate at MSU this fall. A guy said he was from Philly, and I said I was visiting in November, and what should I go see? He pulled up his shirt to show his stomach and reveal - three tattoos of Philly landmarks! The Liberty Bell, the Rocky Statue, and the LOVE statue. How could I not go?!)
I looked at the weather before I left for Philadelphia, and it said it was going to be in the 50s. As a result, I left my warm winter coat in my car at the airport and just took two fleeces. After I walked Aimee and Will to the start of the marathon I was so cold (it was 33) that I took one of the coats that a runner had draped over a trashcan, like you normally see at the start of marathons. Totally worth it. It was also snowing/raining at this point. There was no one else at these statues. I assume that when it's warm and sunny and you're not wearing a trash coat there are a lot of people there to see them.
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Alicia was by herself and just happened upon this, so I went to see it later. I didn't read about it before I went, and I was curious about it. It spans three city lots of mosaics, and you can go inside and tour it for $10. I wasn't curious enough to go in, but I did like the view from the outside!
Place to Stay
We rented a nice little Airbnb that said it was steps from the city center. It was about a mile from the start of the marathon, which worked out really nicely, since Aimee fractured her foot while running it and had just a short walk back to the house. She then walked about 10 miles more after that to go cheer on the runners and head out for dinner. Rocky's got nothing on her.
Any questions? Just email me.
