October 19
After a free boffo buffet breakfast at the hotel, we headed out early to spend the day in the historic portion of Philadelphia. Before there was a glimmer of a Washington D.C. there was Philadelphia, the first U.S. capital. The Declaration of Independence and Constitution both emanated from here. With apologies to Boston, this is the "Cradle of Liberty", right here. It was a time when giants strode the land.
This is the stairwell - yes, the stairwell - leading from the parking garage to the visitors' center.
Inside the visitors' center - huge and capable of handling many, many tourists from around the world at one time. Nicely, our road trip is NOT during peak people season. "come on in Norm and Pam - no line for you!"
On the way to tour Independence Hall we stopped to view the Liberty Bell.
Make no bones about it, but we visited bonafide shrines today. Approaching the Liberty Bell elicits sensations much as one might have approaching a Plexiglass case containing the ankle bone of St. Peter - okay, poor choice of example. But this as much a relic of faith as any found in a house of worship. Tonight is the third debate between Clinton and Trump, so a dose of faith was doubly welcome.
The back of the building.
The room in which the First and Second Continental Congresses were held and the Declaration of Independence was hammered out. All of the Movers and Shakers were here.
The grand ballroom in Independence Hall. Originally it doubled as the home of the governor of Pennsylvania. Fill it with mirrored walls, scads of gold leaf and over-the-top sculptures and this could be straight out of Versailles.
In Independence Square, behind Independence Hall, a statue of John Barry who is widely credited as "The Father of the American Navy". The pedestal has only one word on it - "Barry".
A block away from the Hall is Washington Square. Norm is already resting his footsies.
The Betsey Ross home - $3 each for seniors to walk through but the gift shop is free. Norm is deep in thought about whether his footsies are sufficiently rested yet. This is turning out to be a real walk-a-thon.
Finally, 2 pm and time for refreshment and sustenance found in a historic building turned into a swell eatery. The guy who looks like he is stepping out smartly is the waiter.
Cricket got a doggie bone already, so "the look" is just we forgot.
We found a Starbucks! Aw, that pizza was at LEAST an hour ago. The water is for Cricket. Lattes are already on the table. Norm's footsies are improving.
For purchase in the gift shop of the Philadelphia U.S. Mint. Who decides what goes up for sale in this shop, anyway?
A memorial to the 1 million Irish who immigrated to America in 1845-50 as the great potato famine was causing another 1 million to starve to death. By way of apology, at the time of their inane smiles Norm and Pam had not yet read the plaque on the other side of the monument.
This is the Independence Seaport Museum containing great exhibits of all things maritime with emphasis on maritime history.
The museum workshop.
The submarine "Bacuna" built in 1943 and the Cruiser "Olympia", built in 1893 are in original condition and open to view up close.
The Olympia is the oldest steel ship afloat. It served as Admiral Dewey's flagship during the Spanish American War.
Claustrophobes need not apply.
Aaaargh, those footsies again, this time in the torpedo room. It took a well trained team 20 minutes to load one torpedo.
MUCH more spacious than the sub.
Avast, matey...how be your footsies now?
The museum as viewed from the Olympia. This was at 5:30 pm with a record breaking temperature for this day of the year of 87 degrees F. Twenty degrees above average.
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