Off to Jail

Heading to the Penitentiary

I wake feeling like I have rocks in my tummy…Philly Cheese Steak sandwich. Ugh.

The blisters on the soles of my feet hurt when I walk. Fortunately the pain is much alleviated when I put on my enclosed shoes with orthotics in them.

It is supposed to rain in the afternoon so I pack 2 rain jackets, an umbrella, 3 water bottles, tangerines and a few healthy snacks in John’s back pack. He mutters something like….” grumble, grumble, pack mule, grumble grumble…” as we leave.

Let it be noted that I offer to carry the back pack for awhile and he refuses. He says he knows it will be back on his back after 5 minutes.

Our first stop is a pharmacy for blister protectors.

Philadelphia is filled with all kinds of outdoor wall murals in the most unexpected places. It is quite delightful.

We pass a community-oriented garden project in front of a church. It makes a lovely picture.

Eastern State Penitentiary

Next stop is The Eastern State Penitentiary. No we didn’t do anything bad…at least not recently. This penitentiary has not been in use since 1970 but is a highly recommended site because at the time of its construction in the 1800s it was a new concept.

We get an audio guide with admission (which we booked in advance).

The tour is really interesting, going over the history of dealing with criminal offences from the 1700s to now. They talk about famous inmates from this jail, including Al Capone, women and children prisoners. We get to see Capone’s cell which has been restored to how it appeared in his time.

Another inmate was the prison dog named Pep who got life for killing the Warden’s wife’s cat.

The audio also discusses prison life and a few of the escapes.

When I was in a different area of the prison John went into cellblock 14. As he entered the long cellblock a guy in his early twenties came out with a startled look on his face. He said that a rock on the ground had risen up about one foot by itself and then dropped. This was in an area of the jail which was reported to be haunted. Near death row.

When John and I met back up, John took me to the cell. The young man came back for a second look. While the three of us were standing there, John and the guy said they heard a weird tapping noise. I was too busy listening to my audio guide so I missed it.

Both John and I really enjoyed our visit.

My feet seem to be holding out fine with the different shoes and blister bandages.

On our way to Love Square

John and I continue walking to our next tour through pretty neighbourhoods, squares and past the Free Library, Ben Franklin Science Museum and Logan Square.

City Hall Tour

We arrive at Love Park where our tour of the gorgeous City Hall starts.

The City Hall is completely made from masonry (except for the metal on top of the tower) and has a very large, super heavy statue of William Penn on the very top. When it opened around 1910, it was the tallest occupied building in the world.

Dilworth Park with its porch swings, kids waterpark and roller skating rink is directly in front of City Hall.

Across the street a skyscraper stands where the corporate headquarters for the Pennsylvania Railroad used to be. Yet another property in the Monopoly game.

Inside one of the entrances to City Hall, there are a number of cat sculptures around the ceiling. What I didn’t notice was that the cat was hunting a mouse and in the last sculpture the mouse is in the cat’s teeth. Our guide explains that it represents the cat as the tax collector and the mouse as the citizen. Hmmm.

The tour takes us through a number of the chambers inside City Hall.

Checking out the Ritz and Macy’s 

John and I decide to check out the lobby/lounge of the Ritz Carleton Hotel. It used to be a bank and the architecture in it is awesome. We also check out the centre area of Macy’s which has the largest organ in the world. They give short 20 minute performances every day at noon. Unfortunately we are there at 3pm.

Penn’s Landing

We walk all the way down to Penn’s Landing on the Delaware River stopping at a Chinese food place for a quick bite and then (I’m embarrassed to say) at a 7-11 for junk food.

By the time we get to Penn’s Landing it is overcast and threatening to rain.

We get a great view of the Ben Franklin Bridge which connects Pennsylvania to New Jersey.

Old Town Beer Garden

It starts to drizzle a bit and my blisters are starting to hurt. It is after five so most museums and attractions are closed. We find ourselves a beer garden in Old Town with internet, a bartender that looks like Matthew McConaughey and big umbrellas where we plant ourselves, people watch and chill for awhile.

The Five Squares of Philly

When William Penn designed the new city of Philadelphia, he included five squares as public parks. We visited four of the squares which are still here today as beautiful parks: Franklin, Washington, Logan and Rittenhouse. The fifth square known as Center Square was the site on which they built the City Hall and is the geographical center of the city. Beside City Hall is a lively public space called Dilworth Plaza so part of the old park lives on.

Heading back to our Airbnb we stop in at Franklin Square. They are setting up for the Chinese Lantern Festival. It looks like it is going to be gorgeous.

My feet are done for the day so we head home. I’m having an early night in order to get my beauty sleep for the Coldplay concert tomorrow.