Historically yours!

Welcome aboard the History Train! This has truly been an historic day!

1. Philly Cheese Steak at Sonny's

2. Independence Hall

3. Independence Hall where the Founding Fathers met

4. The Gotta Go Girls with the Liberty Bell

5. George Washington and his friend, GGGGerry

6. Ben and some more of the guys

Today was a history buffs dream and a podiatric nightmare. Let me explain. We were up and out early to get in line for our free timed tickets to Independence Hall. When the doors opened at 8:30 we were the second ones in line. A tour operator getting 90 tickets was ahead of us! So we got tickets for the 9:15 tour. Oh well. While standing in line we met a delightful young fellow named Ben visiting here from the Netherlands. We hung out together through lunch and enjoyed his company very much. Ben, if you are reading this we are so sorry we didn't get your picture. We spoke of it during lunch and then we parted ways. Hope the rest of your trip was enjoyable and be sure to be in touch if you ever get back to the U.S. and the west coast.

We actually were able to join the 9:00 tour of Independence Hall and our guide, though fast talking, was interesting, funny, and inspiring. We keep running into National Park Service people who obviously know what they are talking about and love their job! Gus led us through the building and recited a speech given by Abraham Lincoln when he visited Philadelphia just before his inauguration. Those wonderful words spoken by a black man 142 years later were very moving. Standing in that room realizing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written in that very spot gives you shivers! Gus encouraged us to wrap ourselves in the history of the beginnings of our country and that is what we did for the next 7 hours! (This is the podiatric nightmare part!)

After Constitution Hall it was on to Carpenters' Hall, Franklin Court Post Office/museum/printingshop/archaeologic site , Second Bank of the U.S. Portrait Gallery, and the Liberty Bell. Phew! After that little marathon we were tired, thirsty and hungry. Had a very nice lunch at the huge visitor's center and then went on to the National Constitution Center. This is a relatively new museum and very interactive. From the little girl who was taking the oath of office to become president to walking around amid lifesize bronze figures of the Founders to a multimedia presentation of the meaning of the Constitution, the sights and sounds never let up! It could be one of those overload situations, but it is all very fascinating! There was also a special exhibit about First Ladies with many artifacts and especially some of the clothes they wore. This center is quite an addition to the historic district.

The last stop for me was Betsy's Ross's House which is very small but very popular and then I headed back to the hotel and put my feet up. Lee and Judi continued on to Christ Church and Elfreth's Alley with some of the oldest continuously occupied houses in the nation. This they enjoyed but were glad to get back to the hotel and put their feet up also. Dinner was a short walk down the street to Sonny's where we had the obligatory Philly Cheese Steak. Sonny is famous for his and it is thin slices of steak on a roll with grilled onions and Cheese Whiz! Add some fries or fried onion rings and a coke and you are in heaven. Sorry the picture is a bit blurred. Probably my stomach was pressing against the camera!!! It is 9:15 and Lee is asleep, Judi is reading and I am not far behind. What a day! Good night from the Gotta Go Girls.