Overnight in the City of Brotherly Love

Dinner of Champions - Philly Cheese Steaks all around!

We were only in Philadelphia overnight really, so this will be a very short blog post.

From what we saw of the city (driving around and snapping photos from the car), it seems like a very nice place. Not really a great deal different than the places we’ve seen so far, but it does have some redeeming features.

First and foremost, Philadelphia is the home of the Philly Cheese Steak!  This is an absolute delicacy – finely shredded steak served on a bread roll with American cheese (or cheese whiz!  We decided against this option) and onions.  Yes, I know it sounds simple, but when you get something this right, you don’t want to screw it up!

If you’re ever in Philadelphia and would like the best Philly Cheese Steak in town, I’d suggest Jim’s Grill on South Street.  Amazing.  South Street by itself is well worth checking out – like Cuba Street in Wellington on crack – I’d more compare it to Newton in Sydney.

Then, after that we did a whistle-stop tour of Philly, taking photos and ooh-ing and aah-ing at: 

• The Town Hall:  Biggest municipal building in the States 
• The Philadelphia Art Museum:  Beautiful building, featuring the stairs from Rocky (also a statue dedicated to the character)
• ‘Love’ Park (Officially the JFK Plaza) featuring the work of Robert Indiana 
• Ben Franklin Bridge

Before heading down to the Waterfront for a quiet walk along the river – very nice on a summer’s eve.

The next day, we went and looked around Philadelphia’s old town, including the Liberty Bell Centre.  It’s quite a humbling feeling to be standing next to such an important piece of the Nation’s history.  What I think makes the bell unique is not necessarily it ever being in the right place at the right time, but instead the meaning that its citizens bestow upon it – from the battles for independence against the British, to the Civil War and the fight to end slavery, to the establishment of Civil Rights, the Bell has been a part of all of it as a symbol for liberty.  A truly unique representation of one of the founding principles for the Nation, it means what it needs to at any given point in history.

Or maybe I’m just reading too much into an old cracked bell...

Next stop, New York baby!