‘Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.’
So here we are another day another place, Philadelphia or Philly as it’s affectionately known almost didn’t make it into the trip. I was going to head directly to DC as I stayed an extra day in New York, but at the last moment I changed my mind and I’m so glad I did.
As you walk up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway bordered by the flags of multiple nations fluttering in the breeze and the Rodin museum, full of sculptures dedicated to the man himself, you can spy the Philadelphia museum of art standing at the top of 72 steps, as immortalised in the Rocky film. At the bottom of the steps and to the right is the actual statue of Rocky.
Yes, of course, I did the run up the steps and jumped around at the top!
This actually is the gateway to Fairmount park, which at around 10 times the size of Central Park is the largest urban park in the US. It is packed full of really interesting statues and monuments. 
The river runs down one side where there is the water works, a historical landmark opened in 1815. There is also a row of boathouses from the 1800’s all different. There are so many statues it’s difficult to choose one. I’m hopeful of creating some photo pages, where I can upload a lot more than the few in each blog. 
There is a lot of wildlife in the park too and I snapped some pictures of a beautiful bird of prey as it sat on the top of a lantern. On the way back into town you pass a huge building that is apparently one of, if not the largest Masonic lodge in the world.
I wandered around for several hours there is so much to see here, but lunch is coming up so I am going to try something else that Philly is famous for, the Cheesesteak and where better than Gino’s set in the Italian quarter and a Philly landmark since 1966. 
It’s basically thin slices of griddled beef in a long, soft roll with a choice of cheese and with or without onions. I ordered a prov with. In other words Provolone cheese with onions. There is a plaque listing all the police officers lost in the line of duty and a wall with police badges from all over the US. I will talk more about this when I write up my days in Washington DC.
Next up was a some refreshment at the nearby Happy Birthday bar. An unusual place, but good beer. They ask for a Covid pass here, just as they do in New York.
I walked through the Italian market district again famous for it’s scenes in the Rocky film and someone called George who sells bizarre foods. Then it was into the old city, home to the Liberty Bell. There was a short queue to get in which I was grateful for as, although it is a beautiful sunny day, it’s pretty cold.
The bell itself dates back to 1751 and tolled at the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. At some point in the 19th century it developed a crack and was retired in 1846. Just across from there is the cemetery and final resting place of Benjamin Franklin.
Dinner was at an excellent French style bistro. I had steak tartare to start followed by an excellent roasted carrot and beet salad with a goat cheese mousse.
Just a shade under 25000 steps today 🙂
Great pics 🙂
Thanks 😀