We started off by visiting the famous Liberty Bell. This one bell had a whole museum dedicated to it and with just-worthy cause. It is this bell that was sounded to summons the people of Philadelphia to Independence Hall where they were read the Declaration of Independence. Subsequently it is recognised as the single most important symbol of America’s liberty and freedom after seeing off us Brits in the 1700s. I was quite amused to read in the museum that the invading British planned to nick the bell and have it melted down to make a cannon. Would have been a shame that, it was quite an impressive sight.
We then took a sneak peak around Independence Hall before going on one of them city bus tours. It took us past the aforementioned landmarks before taking in the sights piece by piece. This city really is one of ‘firsts’. We were shown America’s first zoo, hospital, university, residential street, post office, first everything really. The bus ran us past the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where the famous ‘Rocky Steps’ could be found and a statue of Sly himself. I will definitely be having a few typically touristic photos taken running up the stairs (or walking as I’m completely unfit) and pulling the famous poses Sly did at the top, because I am sad like that.
We jumped off the bus at the intimidating site of Eastern State Penitentiary – America’s first prison. This place was on the national news just days before due to numerous ghost sightings and was somewhere we knew we wanted to go to after seeing the report. The place is an eerie shell. It was shut down in 1971 and was opened over 100 years before that, housing some of the country’s worst criminals. Before we went in, we took some pictures of that house from ‘The Sixth Sense’, which was filmed around the corner. Oh yeah, the prison! Inside the prison the cells were just bizarre, depressing to see even. Al Capone’s wasn’t however. His was lined with artwork, expensive rugs, a comfortable bed, a beautifully carved desk and other furnishings. No surprise really. Excellent visit anyhow, if you end up here, definitely go.
Got back on the bus and couldn’t get a seat up the top so had to take what we could downstairs and saw nowt as we got back into the city. Went for dinner near the Independence Hall and had one of Philly’s signature eats – the cheesesteak sandwich. Dunno what the fuss is about; bit of steak and melted cheese in a roll. Dull. Managed to offend a family of 10 wholesome all-American folks. This annoyingly nice family were taking ages ordering ice cream and adding to their order (this took almost 10 minutes) and just as I thought our turn was coming, they ordered more stuff. I turned to Small Irish and moaned “for fuck’s sake” from what I thought was under my breath. They turned round and shot me a stare and then apologised for taking so long. Felt a bit ashamed, especially as most American’s are very, very nice people (sometimes too nice as I said).
Got some tickets then for one of them duck tours (a bus which tours the city and then goes on the water) after taking in the National Constitution Centre. A bit too heavy on the patriotic stuff that place. I know American’s are proud folks, but a place like this would be shut within a week in the UK. We were in and out in 10 minutes. The only interesting things in there were the recreation of the Declaration of Independence using life-size bronze statues and an exhibit where you can be ‘sworn in as President’ and have your picture taken behind the U.S President podium thing they do their addresses from. Small Irish was about to get a pic of myself being sworn in when some war veteran bloke who works there said sternly “strictly no photography in here.” I should imagine the reason for that being they were charging people $10 to have their picture done by one of their ‘guys’. No ta. Across the street was the Christ Church Burial Ground. Five of the chaps who signed the Declaration of Independence are buried here, but most notably, so is Benjamin Franklin.
Next up was this duck tour thing. Pretty good it was too. It took in most of the sights we’d already seen before splashing down into the Delaware River which separates New Jersey from Pennsylvania. A nice way to take in the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the skyline as the sun started to set. The thing was full of children, who like us, were given these plastic ‘quackers’ which are blown into creating a rather annoying duck noise. 90 minutes could have been a long time, but it turned out to be quite entertaining when the driver encouraged us all to blow them at residents, police, or anyone who walked past. I didn’t join in though (too much English reserve you see?)
After leaving us back at Independence Hall, the night was calling and the sun was dipping majestically over Philly’s impressive skyline. Walked through the immense City Hall building before getting some pictures of Robert Indiana’s famous ‘Love’ sculpture as night finally descended over the city.
There’s so much more to do and see tomorrow in this truly fantastic city. I now know that the city has much more depth to it than a Tom Hanks film, crime and spreadable cheese. Nice one.
