A Visit to Philadelphia |
Lila and I just returned from attending an Elderhostel in Philadelphia. For those of you who do not know what an Elderhostel is…. Well, if you are old enough (and some of you are), then you should know. It is a program where elders (that are older people like me) can attend a learning experience without having to take a test. In other words, we can fall asleep in class and it just does not matter. The program for this learning experience (and I love to use that term since it would be an eating experience, normally) was the history of Philadelphia and visiting some of the historic sights in this city. We planned to attend this session with three other couples that we met on an earlier Elderhostel and with whom we have been getting together on a regular basis. Unfortunately, one of the couples was ill and could not make it and we sorely missed them as we have a great deal of fun when we get together …sort of like a bunch of kids just kidding around and laughing. Now this Elderhostel was at the Best Western Center City…it really should have been called the Worst Western, because it was certainly not the Best Western. The food was extremely poor and forced us to go visit some really neat restaurants in the city (was that ever a hardship. The location of the hotel was very good…but that was its claim to fame. The lectures provided a great deal of history concerning the city, but I either forgot what I learned or I was sleeping during the briefings or both.
Philadelphia lives on with much tradition and it shows in the people when they talk of their time of growing up there. On the other hand, it is also a city that had two million people some years ago, but recent surveys indicate a total of only 1.4 million people. They have lost many people to the suburbs and other cities, as this rust belt city has not been able to attract the new industries, such as information technology companies. They work hard to attract the convention crowd, but there is stiff competition in that arena. The have some wonderful museums and while we were there attending the Franklin Institute, found many school groups visiting from New York area schools. Their art museum is quite extensive and has some great exhibits. The Rodin Museum just in front of our hotel is quite special, but was closed for alterations. The city is getting all gussied up for the National Republican Convention coming up this summer. In Old City, the houses have been restored and now demand significant dollars to purchase (even with the small and narrow streets) because they have the atmosphere and location to Center City. Other redeveloped and desirable locations are Society Hill and around Rittenhouse Square.
Did you know that the Declaration of Independence was signed
on July 2nd …not on July 4th.
It was approved on July 4th, but not celebrated until July 8th.
Anyway, it was a fun trip. We had some great fun with our friends and learned a little history as we went along. I know that this is probably more information than you thought you needed about Philadelphia, but you got more than you wanted.
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