Day 5 Philly and Washington, D.C.

We're still motoring along on the East Coast! Running on four or five hours of sleep a night we are charging hard and taking everything in. This morning found us yet in another hotel. By the evening, we would be in a different one. But that is okay, we are seeing and learning so much in between all the city and hotel transfers.

So day five welcomes us to the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We started off meeting our tour guide in Philly, Murray. Murray was a terrific ambassador of Philadelphia. He dressed in colonial gear and shared a wealth of knowledge with us.

We started off at the Pennsylvania State House, more commonly known as Independence Hall. We were the first tour of the day. Found out that in the afternoon, the King and Queen of Finland would be going there. We started off in an introductory room where the Park Ranger called up Tekoa and asked him some questions about the Declaration of Independence. Tekoa did a great job and answered with thoughtful answers. We then went to the two rooms, the courtroom, and the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Constitution was signed.

Our guide Murray

Independence Hall

No, he wasn't in trouble. Just talking about the Declaration of Independence.

Kekumu, Tekoa, Kaua, and Gavin in the room where the Declaration was debated and signed

Kualapu'u in the room where the Declaration of Independence was debated and signed

Zahya in the Senate Secretary's Office

After Independence Hall, we traveled over to see the Liberty Bell. Pretty neat seeing it n real life when we see it in so many other things. After the Liberty Bell it was off to see Benjamin Franklin's grave and  the Betsy Ross House. We even got to meet Betsy and she showed us a trick to cut a five point star with just a couple of folds and one little snip of the scissors.

Aukai and Makani with the Liberty Bell

Keahe with the Liberty Bell

Kualapu'u with the Liberty Bell

Kualapu'u with Independence Hall 

Looking at Benjamin Franklin's grave

Aukai and Zahya with Ben's grave
Notice all the pennies even the Ben said, "A penny saved is a penny earned"

Betsy showing Aukai and Kaluhea her flag

13 stars and 13 stripes

Betsy just showed us how to make a five pointed star 

To wrap up our morning in Philadelphia we were going to go run the Rocky Steps. But we were Rocky Blocked! A few colleges were having their graduates get big group pictures taken on the steps and the steps were closed to running. But we were able to get pictures with the Rocky statue and tears were averted.

Rocky!

Mother vs. Daughter. Who wins??????!!!!!!

Rocky resembling Zahya

Love Park in Philadelphia

Love Park

Finishing our time in Philly, we went to Ralph and Rickey's for our cheesesteaks. Our driver George was recommending this place real hard so we went with the local to try out these cheesesteaks. They did not disappoint. Huge sandwiches filled with meat, cheese, and onions. It was also Ralph's birthday and we knew this ahead of time. We all sang him happy birthday and as a gift, the ladies in Immersion shared their hula from May Day. Then, the girls that participated in the sixth grade hula shared theirs. The ladies did an amazing job and all their practice showed. Ralph was extremely happy. Pretty good day in Philly.

Happy Birthday Hula

Immersion girls sharing their hula for a birthday gift

Great job ladies!

Thanks Ralph and Rickey

Off to Washington, D.C. we went. The drive took longer than expected due to some terrific Friday traffic. We got in a little later than we would've liked so we didn't get much time at the Natural History Museum. But, bones, stones, and gems were all seen.

Hope Diamond

Triceritops

Courtney needs more bling she says

Mrs. Trinidad with Alia Marie, Crystal, and Courtney with her new favorite pose

Dinner time was at Boston Market where cheeseburgers were not on the menu. Kids didn't seem to mind. Big portions of chicken, turkey, or meatloaf with sides were available. Food was pretty good.

Boston Market 

Chicken, Turkey, or Meatloaf

After dinner we went and saw a few memorials. We walked by the Lincoln, came back to it later, saw the Vietnam Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial. Kids were doing a great job of answering questions about the different memorials and the people involved. We have a smart bunch of kids.

Lincoln Memorial

Kualapu'u women at the Vietnam Women's Memorial

Vietnam Memorial with the Washington Monument peaking up behind 

Kaluhea reading some names on the wall

Vietnam War Memorial

Courtney, Crystal, Alia Marie, and Kaulu thanking a Vietnam Vet at the memorial

Courtney, Makani, Reaiah, Shayland, Zahya, and Violet at the Three Soldiers Statue at the Vietnam Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Kekumu and Lindy with Lincoln

Kaluhea, Keahe, and Shayland with Honest Abe

Alia Marie, Kaulu, and Crystal with Lincoln

Says it all

Korean War Memorial

Courtney at the Korean War Memorial

We wrap up this evening in College Park, Maryland. As we get ready for bed, there is lightning in the windows so we'll see what awaits us in the morning! Hope it isn't too bad of weather as we start our morning at Arlington National Cemetery. If the weather is yuck, good thing we have our umbrellas and ponchos that we had to get when we were in New York! See ya next time!