Philly : Day 3

My last full day in Philadelphia was the day I had saved for the historic "stuff".

Last night we went to the casino night put on by Mr. Wiedz' convention. It was really fun. The convention gave us each "$2000" to play with. After an evening of playing black jack, poker or other casino games you used the money to buy raffle tickets and put them into bowls for the different prizes the sponsors had supplied. There was a lot of prizes, I put in for gas cards and Macy's gift cards. I didn't win but we were there until 11:30pm so it was a late night.

So after sleeping in for my last morning I got down to the Phlash trolley and rode to the Independence Visitors Center area. My first stop was the National Constitution Center.

I had gotten a brochure about the center one of my first days here and thought it looked like the one thing I'd like to spend money doing. If you're ever in the Philadelphia area I totally recommend the Constitution Center. Part of the $12 admission was the "Liberty Ring" show. The show was wonderful! I was teary by the end just from the power of it all.

Part of The National Constitution Center is the Signers Hall, life-size bronze statues of the Constitution signers.

One of my favorite groupings was the dissenters. There is a note on their table that says "dissent is an honorable American tradition". I really liked that part.
The hall of flags was also really great.
After The National Constitution Center I met Mr. Wiedz and we went on to see the Liberty Bell. The whole Liberty Bell Center is really well put together and it really leads up to seeing the bell nicely. We both enjoyed the Liberty Bell.
We walked around a bit, seeing old buildings, the new Quaker meeting house, the burial spot of Benjamin Franklin and such.

We went on the free tour of the US Mint which was neat. They weren't actually working the machines which would have been better and there is only one path to take through the building so that once you start you just keep walking and walking until you're done. It got a little long and a little stuffy but it was free and a fun thing to see.
Another tall building because every time we see them we think the kids would think it is cool.
I disappear again tomorrow. Back home again with no Internet access.

we are really missing the kids and can't wait to get home. It will be a long trip back. We have to leave the hotel at 3:45am and fly most of the day but we are really to be home!

Philly : Day 2

Today I had a relaxing day. After sleeping in I went for a walk to the Rittenhouse District, which I thought would be a cool boutique-y district but it wasn't. It had a nice park but not very many shops that I was interested in. I had seen an ad for a needlepoint store which I was hoping to go to but, of course, it was closed. My luck!

I had lunch at the same place as yesterday. Another delicious slice of pizza!

After lunch I walked down to Antiques Row but was again a little disappointing. Another GREAT park which I sat and had a chat with a great friend and made some lists and jotted down some thoughts. But no antique shops that I was interested in.

A long walk back to find protesters outside the convention center near our hotel. President Obama was on his way today to an event in the convention center and my guess is that protesters show up every place he does.

We even watched the motorcade arrive from our hotel window.

We walked the LONG walk to "Jim Steaks" for Philly Cheesesteaks on the recommendation of a friend. I wasn't interested in the cheesesteak but Mr. Wiedz enjoyed his. Another LONG walk back to the hotel then we changed and went to the casino night that his convention put on It was really fun although we didn't win any of the raffle prizes.

Tomorrow is the Liberty Bell and all the other historic tour stuff. I'm really looking forward to it and starting to really miss my kids. The pictures below I took mostly for their benefit. We don't see big buildings, police just standing waiting to be helpful, motorcades or cheesesteaks where we're from.

::big buildings

:: our hotel

:: ornate Chinatown arch

:: police waiting and watching the area

:: President motorcade, the closest to any President Mr. Wiedz and I have ever been

:: cool police motorcycles that were part of the motorcade

:: protesters

:: protesters

:: Mr. Wiedz' dinner, Philly cheesesteak and St. Pauli Girl beer

:: worth the walk

:: on the way back we stumbled onto Washington Square and found the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I was hoping to see this and was glad that we stumbled upon it as I wouldn't have found it otherwise.

Philly : Day 1

Did you miss me?

We're still without internet at home. But, I'm not at home so I told #1 I would post on my blog and while she's at Grammie's she could check it and see what I'm up to.

Mr. Wiedz came to Philadelphia for a conference and we used his frequent flyer miles from his old job to get me a "free" ticket to join him.

He's busy in classes and seminars all day but today (after sleeping in) I went and met him for lunch at Reading Terminal Market where we had delicious Italian food for really cheap! I/We'll be back everyday!

After lunch he went back to the conference and I took a walk down Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art which was closed (because it was Monday) but there are so many great things to see on the walk. On the way I stopped at the Logan Square, Philadelphia Free Library, and Elkins Oval.

By the time I was done I was TIRED and would have had a LONG walk to the hotel had I not found the Phash trolley. Only $2 and it took me everywhere I wanted to see and got me back to a closer walk to the hotel. Tomorrow I'll be riding it again!

Mr. Wiedz and I went to dinner at "hole in the wall" famous 5 Guys Burgers. It was as awesome as the recommendations said it would be.

#1 asked for pictures of the tall buildings, flowers and our hotel room. Tomorrow I'll take better pictures of the actual tall buildings found in this big city and of the outside of our hotel.

Tomorrow I plan on going to Rittenhouse Square and Antiques Row.