Philadelphia & NYC

Date: Wednesday July 6 – Sunday July 10

We were in the Philadelphia area for several days. Actually, it’s New Jersey, but Philadelphia sounds much better. A not particularly interesting campground in Clarksboro, NJ was the closest place we could find to Philadelphia. Turned out it was a pretty easy commute.

We spent a day and an evening in the historic district seeing the sites.  Despite having lived in Baltimore most of my life, I had never seen Independence Hall. We enjoyed seeing the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Congress Hall where the first Congress met. For lunch, we split a delicious philly cheese steak and we ate a delicious dinner at City Tavern where George Washington, Jefferson, and Adams used to dine. We saw several properties that Benjamin Franklin owned and sent a postcard from his post office.

Interior of Independence Hall

Congress Hall whereCongress met before moving to DC

Liberty Bell

One of the highlights of our day was a very good museum about the constitution. It was new, interactive, and high tech. It did a good job of presenting the original debates and process, showing the tensions and conflicts between the states and the compromises that were ultimately reached. While we found this museum to be both interesting and educational, we have been forever spoiled by the amazing Lincoln museum that we saw in Springfield. There was just no comparison.

Really, it WAS good!

Valley Forge

We spent a day at the Valley Forge encampment site and visitor’s center.  We took a trolley tour that included Washington’s headquarters. No battle was ever fought at Valley Forge. It is the site of where Washington and the Continental Army spent the winter and spring of 1777 and 1778 while the British army occupied Philadelphia. Rick read Newt Gingrich’s book on Valley Forge last winter, so he was particularly interested in the topic.

Huts where the soldiers spent the winter

Washington's Headquarters

Baron Von Steuben

Parade Grounds

NYC

On Saturday we left the RV in New Jersey and drove the Saturn the 90 miles into New York City. We met my step-sister Emma and her husband Henry for dinner in Chinatown.  Henry is Chinese, and he orders things that aren’t even on the menu.  It’s always an experience and this was no exception.

After dinner the four of us went to my daughter Emmy’s new off off Broadway play. She is directing a modern adaptation of Ibsen’s “Ghosts”, and I’ve got to say it was wonderful.  Her friend Andrew Janet did the adaptation, and the play is being staged at a haunted house.  The acting was top notch and, naturally, the directing was superb.  Equity rules prohibited me from taking any pictures during the show, but Emmy provided me with these cast pictures.  Can you tell how proud I am?