Hello hello! And extremely sorry for the long absence - have had a crazy week! Between going to the Social Security Card Centre on a holiday (Columbus Day, darn!) and trying to make it to SHS before they put me on hold for spring registration (how crowded is that place!!), its been a crazy week. Add to this classes, readings and two papers due on the same day and you have the recipe for the perfect week. Now, that I'm beginning to recover a little (my Social Security Card is on its way! Yay!), I have plenty to write about here!
First, I want to start with Philadelphia. My recent, reluctant trips to Centre City have sparked quite an interest for the city in me. I think Philadelphia is underrated. Almost no-one mentions it as the 'place to see' in tourist guides and travel books. And I totally get that. Philadelphia isn't a tourist-y sort of place. You'll be hard put to see people walking around with cameras and clicking photos in front of City Hall here. It hasn't got the New York busy-centre-of-the-world feel either. Philly is more of the place people come home to after a crazy weekend in NYC. Don't let this give you the impression that this city is some not-so-busy, in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind of place, though. Philly is a city alright! Tall buildings, honking cars and all included. Its just a home-y city. Its not a crazy-pace, loud-lights city, its a calmer (and cheaper!) NYC in many ways, without trying to copy it. (In fact, NYC and Philly have some sort of an enmity. Apparently, you aren't supposed to praise NYC in front of a Philadelphian.)
What is more fascinating about this city, is its history. Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin, first capital of the United States - a quick google search will tell you all about it. And you can feel the history too. In University City and Centre City. The old Penn buildings with the air of history around them, drive the point home. And if you get tired of all the history and old buildings, just look over to the high-rise buildings in centre city! For a 'taste' of the good life, take a walk in and around the Italian Market. Or China Town. The restaurants here are AMAZING and cheap. And remember, you cannot forget to try the Philly Cheesesteak and soft pretzels while you're here. Its blasphemy! When talking about food and Philly, its impossible to not mention Reading Terminal Market. The fresh produce at this place is just out of this world. Okay, so I'm going to stop talking about food now, because its making me hungry! But I will leave you with an image! :p
First, I want to start with Philadelphia. My recent, reluctant trips to Centre City have sparked quite an interest for the city in me. I think Philadelphia is underrated. Almost no-one mentions it as the 'place to see' in tourist guides and travel books. And I totally get that. Philadelphia isn't a tourist-y sort of place. You'll be hard put to see people walking around with cameras and clicking photos in front of City Hall here. It hasn't got the New York busy-centre-of-the-world feel either. Philly is more of the place people come home to after a crazy weekend in NYC. Don't let this give you the impression that this city is some not-so-busy, in-the-middle-of-nowhere kind of place, though. Philly is a city alright! Tall buildings, honking cars and all included. Its just a home-y city. Its not a crazy-pace, loud-lights city, its a calmer (and cheaper!) NYC in many ways, without trying to copy it. (In fact, NYC and Philly have some sort of an enmity. Apparently, you aren't supposed to praise NYC in front of a Philadelphian.)
What is more fascinating about this city, is its history. Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin, first capital of the United States - a quick google search will tell you all about it. And you can feel the history too. In University City and Centre City. The old Penn buildings with the air of history around them, drive the point home. And if you get tired of all the history and old buildings, just look over to the high-rise buildings in centre city! For a 'taste' of the good life, take a walk in and around the Italian Market. Or China Town. The restaurants here are AMAZING and cheap. And remember, you cannot forget to try the Philly Cheesesteak and soft pretzels while you're here. Its blasphemy! When talking about food and Philly, its impossible to not mention Reading Terminal Market. The fresh produce at this place is just out of this world. Okay, so I'm going to stop talking about food now, because its making me hungry! But I will leave you with an image! :p
No comments:
Post a Comment