There is this popular opinion and I’ve been told before I went to New York that New York is a special place and cannot be taken as an example of what America is about. Naturally, I wanted to see for myself just how different NYC is from any other random city in America. I had just one day to spare for this research and hence not a large selection of places to go. Philadelphia seemed to be appropriate choice. So one day I’ve found myself on a merry-colored Peter Pan line bus en route to Pennsylvania. Two hours trip was fantastic. The roads of New Jersey framed into bright yellows and light browns of the autumn trees made me feel like Thumbelina wandering through the treasures of gigantic jewellery box, all surrounded with gold and amber…They say: Philadelphia is the second largest city on the East Coast and ranks fifth in the nation…So I expected it to be huge. Well, huge she was. And she was different from New York too. After 24/7 bustle of Big Apple Philly felt like a mellow aunty, that you can visit once in a while to have a cup of tea with the home-made pie and to talk about relatives you never knew of. Few of my personal observations about people and things in Philadelphia. (And I’m willing to stay corrected if these would appear not “typical”, but of course, one can never see typical things in one single day)
People in Philadelphia are fond of queues. There are generally two main queues that most of Phillymen participate in and both happened to be at… the Municipal Court. That’s what I came across at the early morning moment of my arrival to the city – I stumbled into the last person standing in a queue to Civil Division Family Court…and I must say – the length of this queue was impressive enough to remember it.
One other thing to say: people don’t speak English there. Well, they do, of course, only not the English I can understand nor they could understand mine. So I did have slight communication problems there. Admittedly, my English is not an "English" English really, but somehow in New York I did forget about this, as everyone seems perfectly understand my unidentified accent there. Well, in Philadelphia the understanding was a game of guessing…they did well though, I think because they have a lot of time to spare on trying and sincere wish to succeed.
In Philadelphia I’ve learned that you can buy an unassembled bagel. By that time I was already spoilt by New York’s famous bageltreats, imagine my surprise when I ordered “bagel&cheese” in Philadelphia, they served me a bagel and a cheese…as two separate entities. A warmed up and cut in halves bagel and a pack of soft cheese, the one that I often see in UK supermarkets – it says “Soft Cheese Philadelphia” on the lid. A Do-It-Yourself Bagel. Hmmm…it was also twice less in size compare to NYC Great Bagel.
Never mind all the funny bits, coz Philly is a fantastic city. Very relaxing and has a lot to offer for the challenging tourist’s eyes. Of course there is the Liberty Bell. The Bell has great historic significance, but I think everyone know this. It is associated with the American Revolution and has been used as an icon of liberty. It rung for the first reading of Declaration of Independence in 1776. Apart from that special thing about it, it is…just a bell. With a crack in it. (it was cracked the first time it was rung?!) Do you know that it was made first in London? (I didn’t). Inscription on it reads “PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF”
On the background you can spot a Georgian style building - Independence Hall – a place where they signed that Declaration of Independence. I admit, I’ve never read it before (and why would I indeed?) but on my return I’ve looked up the transcript. Hmm…it is an interesting reading and somehow reflects a modern history as well. If you’d replace some references, that is ;-) I do like the true poetry of these words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” it feels that some wordings have no longer the same meaning as they have then...
In Philly’s city centre I’ve discovered a lot of modern sculptures some of them did puzzle me a bit…but I guess I’m just not ready for a modern art in general. I mean – they do send a message, just I am not the recipient, it seems...
A totally unexpected treat that I’ve discovered was Masonic Temple of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. It’s a very beautiful building and the best of it – they do allow inside as well! I took a guided tour there and enjoyed the tour and the comments of our very intelligent mason guide. The Temple was like a palace – various rooms in different styles. They did let us take pictures, but to post them all here requires lots of space. If you’re interested, take a look here instead and imagine me saying “been there, seen that”
There is one more thing that I will remember about Philadelphia - the murals. Brick wall poetry that reflects every mood. It started as initiative to eradicate destructive graffiti, they now have well-organised educational program where professional artists teach local youth the mural-art. Murals tell stories not from the guided tours or history books. These are truly a real-time history in making, haunting and passionate. There are portraits of Frank Sinatra and other famous people. But of neighborhood children and people who live there, a beloved cop who died in Iraq. All very touching.
Trip to Philadelphia showed me something different about America. Although perhaps, not that world-famous, but nevertheless well-worth being known and certainly to be respected.
More to come...
People in Philadelphia are fond of queues. There are generally two main queues that most of Phillymen participate in and both happened to be at… the Municipal Court. That’s what I came across at the early morning moment of my arrival to the city – I stumbled into the last person standing in a queue to Civil Division Family Court…and I must say – the length of this queue was impressive enough to remember it.
One other thing to say: people don’t speak English there. Well, they do, of course, only not the English I can understand nor they could understand mine. So I did have slight communication problems there. Admittedly, my English is not an "English" English really, but somehow in New York I did forget about this, as everyone seems perfectly understand my unidentified accent there. Well, in Philadelphia the understanding was a game of guessing…they did well though, I think because they have a lot of time to spare on trying and sincere wish to succeed.
In Philadelphia I’ve learned that you can buy an unassembled bagel. By that time I was already spoilt by New York’s famous bageltreats, imagine my surprise when I ordered “bagel&cheese” in Philadelphia, they served me a bagel and a cheese…as two separate entities. A warmed up and cut in halves bagel and a pack of soft cheese, the one that I often see in UK supermarkets – it says “Soft Cheese Philadelphia” on the lid. A Do-It-Yourself Bagel. Hmmm…it was also twice less in size compare to NYC Great Bagel.
Never mind all the funny bits, coz Philly is a fantastic city. Very relaxing and has a lot to offer for the challenging tourist’s eyes. Of course there is the Liberty Bell. The Bell has great historic significance, but I think everyone know this. It is associated with the American Revolution and has been used as an icon of liberty. It rung for the first reading of Declaration of Independence in 1776. Apart from that special thing about it, it is…just a bell. With a crack in it. (it was cracked the first time it was rung?!) Do you know that it was made first in London? (I didn’t). Inscription on it reads “PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF”
On the background you can spot a Georgian style building - Independence Hall – a place where they signed that Declaration of Independence. I admit, I’ve never read it before (and why would I indeed?) but on my return I’ve looked up the transcript. Hmm…it is an interesting reading and somehow reflects a modern history as well. If you’d replace some references, that is ;-) I do like the true poetry of these words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” it feels that some wordings have no longer the same meaning as they have then...
In Philly’s city centre I’ve discovered a lot of modern sculptures some of them did puzzle me a bit…but I guess I’m just not ready for a modern art in general. I mean – they do send a message, just I am not the recipient, it seems...
A totally unexpected treat that I’ve discovered was Masonic Temple of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. It’s a very beautiful building and the best of it – they do allow inside as well! I took a guided tour there and enjoyed the tour and the comments of our very intelligent mason guide. The Temple was like a palace – various rooms in different styles. They did let us take pictures, but to post them all here requires lots of space. If you’re interested, take a look here instead and imagine me saying “been there, seen that”
There is one more thing that I will remember about Philadelphia - the murals. Brick wall poetry that reflects every mood. It started as initiative to eradicate destructive graffiti, they now have well-organised educational program where professional artists teach local youth the mural-art. Murals tell stories not from the guided tours or history books. These are truly a real-time history in making, haunting and passionate. There are portraits of Frank Sinatra and other famous people. But of neighborhood children and people who live there, a beloved cop who died in Iraq. All very touching.
Trip to Philadelphia showed me something different about America. Although perhaps, not that world-famous, but nevertheless well-worth being known and certainly to be respected.
More to come...