Our day in Philadelphia was an interesting one. We were playing a game of Don't get Drenched. Usually in Philadelphia this time of year it is the upper 70s and 80s. Today we maxed out at about 58. Along with that, there were periods of barely raining, raining, really raining, and holy cow it's raining hard!
Oh well, we are prepared. For the most part.....
We started the day at Reading Terminal. It is a big market that has lots of fresh fish, produce, farmed goods, stuff like that. Amish people work there and sell their goods. There are also a ton of choices for food so we had breakfast there. Seemed like everybody got something they like, including gator sausage breakfast sandwich!
This group of kids got crepes.
Quick walkthrough of Reading Terminal.
Our first tour was at Independence Hall. It really is called the Pennsylvania State House but we all know it as Independence Hall. This is where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed off on. Pretty cool to be in the same room as those famous signings and where people like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and others gave their voices and signatures to such important documents.
Inside the Signing Room.
Then it was time to play another fun game we like to play on the trip, Beat the Other Group to the Entrance. They dawdled, we charged. #winning. I always like how you can see the Independence Hall behind the Liberty Bell. Cool feature.
As I mentioned earlier, the warm weather has disappeared and it looks as if it may be in and out rest of the trip. Well, we took a trip to historic Target to remedy any needs we may have had. This is not the Target Thomas Jefferson purchased his pens to write the Declaration of Independence.
Kinda funny, lot's of firsts on every trip but spending a solid 45 minutes in a Target is definitely a one of them!
On with the trip .We did another first in Philadelphia, we got to go to the Museum of the American Revolution. It was a great museum with lots of original weapons, drums, and artifacts from the war. Including George Washington's field tent.
The Liberty Tree in Boston.
A powder horn.
After the museum it was off to go run in the rain. Yes, we went for a quick run. When if Philadelphia rain nor sleet nor hail will stop us from running up the Rocky Steps! What's the worst that could happen running up steps in the rain? From what we learned today, fun!
We had one more exciting thing to do before we left the City of Brotherly Love, cheesesteaks. Again, usually the weather is nice, we partner up and one goes to Pat's and one goes to Geno's and we split half and decide who has the better cheesesteak. We eat at a nearby park and when we are done we swing and run around.
Well, the weather sorta dictated what we did this time and the bus parked next to Pat's so we all had Pat's. I personally like Pat's better so it was great. Some of the kids were really nervous about ordering because they've read the sign that say to practice what you are going to say and to say it right or go to the back of the line and keep practicing. Everybody did fine and Jamal, our awesome bus driver, allowed us to eat on the bus on the way to New York City. Amazingly, nobody spilt any cheese whiz or soda! I'm shocked!
We then did the relatively quick drive from Philly to New York City. Pretty neat when you start getting near Newark, New Jersey, you can see the skyline of New York City. Then, you take a quick tunnel under the Hudson River, come out, and you're in New York City!
We are staying at a hotel right near Times Square. Tonight, we unloaded, then went downstairs, and walked over to check out Times Square and eat some dinner. The sounds, lights, sights, really make Times Square such a neat experience for everybody. Kid's job was to remind the adults that our hotel is on 40th and 8th. They did a great job of leading us back to the room.
Looking up at the New Years Eve ball.
M & M Store fun
A quick walk
Getting a New York slice.
Tomorrow is going to be a crazy busy day. We are leaving our hotel at 7:30 to head to the southern tip of Manhattan to board a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Glad it won't be freezing on the top of the ship........................
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