Philadelphia - Lovely?

So after leaving New England we were city bound to Philadelphia.  There was one thing that Rob was really looking forward to doing there - recreating the run up the museum of art steps and just for a moment become Rocky Balboa!

The first day we spent around the Independence Hall end of the city where we got to see the Liberty Bell, some independence buildings, city hall and love park.  It was OK, but nothing special really.  We also took a tour of the US mint and saw the coins being manufactured - it was really quite interesting but sadly they weren't giving away free samples! 

Liberty Bell

Independence Hall

Guess which park!

We noticed that Philadelphia had a different feel to it than the other cities we had visited on our way across.  There weren't too many tourists or police around and with our back packs on we seemed to stick out like a sore thumb.  Just made you feel a bit more on your guard.

Day two was a bit more entertaining.  We wanted to pay a visit to a prison (yep sounds weird, but was quite cool) - Eastern State Penitentiary.  In order to get there we took a very uncomfortable subway journey (and I don't mean the seats) - it felt like the eyes of the other "passengers" were always on you and you daren't look at anyone in fear of some sort of comeback.  All a bit off putting really.

Anyway, the tour of Eastern State was really good - a bit creepy in places but interesting to see how they housed prisoners from the 1800's - very different to how they do it today (sadly)!  Al-Capone got special treatment though with the fancy furniture in his cell.

Penitentiary cell block 

Al Capone's cell

Then it was time for Rob's big moment to do his Rocky impression!  To be honest all the blokes were doing it - running up the steps and bouncing around like a loony at the top!  Personally I don't see the appeal - must be a man thing!  I have got it on video if anyone wishes to see it?  Rob just can't understand why Rocky was so shattered when he got to the top - apparently it was easy ;-)

Next came the posing with the Rocky statue and here are some snaps...

A Philly cheesesteak was also consumed as it must be when in town - very nice it was too.

After just a couple of days we did pretty much all that we came to do.  Next stop the capital, Washington DC...