More Philly Pictures

Tara and I did not spend much time in Philly on Thursday away from the Magic Garden, but I did snap a few other pictures.
I love doors, and there are some great doors on the row homes in the city.

One day I am going to take a mural tour in the city. These works of art are amazing and all over Philadelphia.

This guy was dancing like no one was watching, even though there were people all around.. but I guess no one, but ME was watching! Not the best, I shot it through the windshield from a distance away!

Fire trucks and the city, they seem to go hand in hand. The guys on this truck were in Superfresh buying lunch.

We stopped in Whole Foods - something about that store wants me to eat healthier!
Beautiful red snapper

but we had flounder for dinner. (This one to be exact!)

Pretty flowers

Billy Penn on the top of City Hall... the back side

A hazy view of the skyline (shot at 55 mph on I-95)

I shared this on my other blog, as my favorite shot of the week... I just love it.

Philadelphia - A city walk

After we had enough of the FI for the day, we decided to head outside. There are so many beautiful things to see in the city. There was a monument and a fountain I could see from the FI that I had in my sights.




This is Swann Fountain, and if you look close "Billy Penn" on the top of City Hall is in the background.


Thaddeus Kosciuszko can be found guarding the entrance to the Four Seasons

Across the street is the Bascillica of St Peter and St Paul

I zoomed in a bit on Billy, one of the visits we will get closer.

Tall buildings

and glass buildings

Old buildings

A monument for the Holocaust

This one, next to TGIFriday's I'm not so sure!

on the way home I had Tara snap a couple of pictures of Boat House Row.. she did pretty well considering we were moving, although not fast

Philadelphia - Franklin Institute

Tara and I took a trip to Philadelphia and the Franklin Institute on Friday 8/14. Rather than take the train, and then the little "Phlash" bus, I decided to drive since the FI as it's own parking garage.


Once we arrived and purchased our tickets, I decided that I would "splurge" and get an annual family pass. For $99, each time we go we can have 2 adults and 4 children, and not have to pay anything additional. I think it is someplace my great nephews might like to visit!

If you live in the Philly area, you have probably been to the FI. If you ever visit, it's a great place to spend a day if you like science and such. They have a planetarium and and IMAX theater too.
I remember visiting the Franklin Institute when I was young with my family, on a class trip in elementary school, with my now adult nephew and my dad, and then again when Tara was four!

Some things don't change:

There is the giant statue of Benjamin Franklin

The Foucault Pendulum that swings in the central staircase

The Giant walk thru heart (I remember being six or so and being really afraid of this!)

The train

I am pretty sure this guy is new, but I think he's been on the elliptical too long!

A Day in Philly

Today, Tara and I boarded the R5 and headed to Center City, Philadelphia. It had been quite some time since I was last in the City of Brotherly Love. I believe Tara was five when we last took this adventure, and we didn't much make it out of the Gallery (shopping mall that connects to the train station) when she was ready to go home!

We rushed to catch the 10:02 train, and I had to scrape together the $12 fare (I read the rate schedule wrong) because I didn't have time to stop at the ATM! With .22 cents to spare, we settled into our ride to the city. I have always loved watching the world go by from the train. I made the commute to the city for a short while during my Bell of PA career, and later would go about once a month!

Within an hour we had arrived at our destination - Market St East. I had forgotten how overwhelming the city can be. It took me a couple minutes to get my bearings and find an ATM. With that out of the way, and cash in my pocket, we headed out to the street. First we saw this awesome mural.


Once on the street, I immediately saw the "purple wings" I was looking for that designated the stop for the "PLASH" bus. This bus makes a loop around the city to the most visited tourist stops; the Liberty Bell area, the zoo, art museum, train station/shopping area, etc. You can pay $2/adult for each destination, or $5/day. I chose the $5/day per person since I didn't know how much we would be up for. My one "mistake" was not crossing the street to get the bus that was headed for the Liberty Bell, instead we got on the one just coming from there. It was a nice ride, and in my mind not really a mistake. I got to see where the bus stops for the next time, and I also got to see many things I have not seen in a very long time. I always seemed to be the one driving, so it was nice to sit back and enjoy the scenic tour. We never stopped long enough for photos, and I did not have a good seat for snapping out the window, so I have nothing to share from that journey!

We got off the bus less than a block for the Liberty Bell building, quickly moved through the line and bag check. We scanned the displays and then went to see the bell. There was a rather annoying school group there...they were "hogging" the bell, laying on the floor trying to take pics under the bell, and just plain annoying me. I just wanted 30 seconds of and unobstructed view of the bell for a photo! This was NOT the place to try and take a group picture of all the kids!




We then headed back outside and decided to take a carriage ride. This is something I have always wanted to do and Tara like the idea. Our horses name was DaVinci, and I think our tour guide/drivers name might have been Kim. We went through the historic area, Society Hill & Old City. It was an hour tour, and we learned some interesting facts. I thought it would be a great way to take pictures, and in some cases it was, but because it was "spitting" rain, she had put the top up which sometimes impeded my shot!
I personally could spend hours walking around ALONE with my camera, so many windows, doors, statues, sculptures, textures, etc to photograph. Here is just a couple!




Philadelphia has hundreds of murals on buildings, through the Phila Mural Arts Program
The ones I saw from a distance were pretty amazing. I think they need a mural tour!

Once our tour was over, we hopped on the "Phlash" bus and headed back toward 12th & Market. I was wanting some lunch, and wanted to take a swing through the Reading Terminal Market.... WRONG thing to to on a Friday afternoon! It was packed, and something made Tara sneeze. She sneezed from the time we walked in until a couple minutes after we left! I'm hopping the train early some Sunday morning and hitting it when it opens!


We both had decided we had enough of the big city for the day, it takes some adjusting to the ENERGY.
Before we left, I did catch a glimpse of Billy Penn a top of City Hall.


So that's it for our day, we caught the train and headed back home! Have to run to a much needed hair appointment!