Tam’s Think Tank

Philadelphia City Hall, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The Philadelphia City Hall is a gorgeous building.

Pass and Stow, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The famous crack that ceased the bell from ringing. Not the larger one that’s very visible, the smaller one running up through the Pass and Stow.

Independence Hall, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The building where the decision for resistance and then war was made, the system of government was decided, and the constitution was drafted and signed.

Signatures, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The room where our system of government and the Constitution was debated and then signed.

Get Your Cheese Steak, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The little place where we bought our Cheese Steaks. Yum.

First Bank, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The First Bank in the United States.

Exchange, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

This is the first stock exchange building in the United States.

The Delaware, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

We walked down to the Delaware River. We’d actually crossed it our first night in town, accidentally, just like Washington (though not in a boat). In the distance, in this photo, is the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. At the time it was built, in the 20′s, it was the longest single span in the world. Even though it’s lost that title, it’s still impressive, and beautiful. From the spot we were standing when I took this, pivoting to the right just outside of the shot, is an open air ice rink. It had just opened when we showed up here and people were happily skating around to piped music. What a cool thing.

The Clothes Pin, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Philadelphia has some great sculptures and art around the city. We loved this one. It looked great at night as well.

The Bell, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Well… we had a really great time in Philadelphia. We walked… and walked… and walked… and yep, walked some more. It’s a great walking city. Pretty easy to navigate, decent signs and information, and it’s not hilly… always a plus.

We strolled from our hotel down to what’s called “Old City” and did all the touristy must dos. Karen took this great photo of the Liberty Bell. Let me say this… I got emotional in there, looking at it. This always seems to happen to me when I’m at historic places or looking at really meaningful historic symbols. I always get overwhelmed thinking of the history, feeling the depth of it… etc., etc. I won’t go on and on about my emotional instability (LOL), but will just say… wow. Very moving. There’s a whole building, fairly new, devoted to the bell and it’s history. Who knew? Some of what we read was surprising to us, some of it not as much. Seems we both remembered parts of our childhood history lessons. What really surprised me was that it’s not enclosed or encased behind glass. It’s just there right on the other side of small cords to hold back the crowds. You’re not supposed to touch it, and we didn’t see anyone try, as it’s fragile… but it’s close. Very close. Very cool.