Philly!...wh...wh...where ya at?!?

I've moved on to the part of my journey where I don't know the places and people (or at least most of them) and...yeah...my anxiety received a bit of a poke with the thought of that but I am having a blast (do the kids still say that?)  I've always wanted to go to Philly because of the incredible hip hop/neo soul music scene which emerged from there.  But then again East coast cities can be a bit intimidating...nah...it was cool.  I checked in to my hotel at about 10pm so I chilled out happy that the cab ride was so easy to navigate and had a real nice political conversation with the cabby who was from...from...I didn't ask and my amazing ability to guess where one is from was on the fritz.  It must have been the altitude and lack of moisture in the airplane...yeah that's it.  So I got a good night's rest and ate a nice bowl of continental Raisin Bran with a continental Bagel with continental cream cheese with you guessed it...continental coffee and OJ.  This powered me up for one of my famous "the only way to get to know a place is to walk it" walks.  So I strolled over to the Historic district by way of the Reading market which was full of so many dope (hip hop for nice or great) smell it made me wish that I hadn't gone so continental for breakfast.  Alas the sight of it was good enough.  Kind of like the Pike Place in Seattle on international steroids.  I made it over to the historical part of the city not too excited about it but quickly realized I was at where i had read about in his-story books in grade school and such.  I took the tour of Independence Hall and loved it.  I like being in the same room where huge decisions went down...

I wouldn't have wanted to make these decisions but after the fact is all right.  Strolled by the breakfast/cheese steak carts (man those things smell good!!!) and checked out the mandatory Liberty Bell and a few others.  Walked ov

er to the water front on Penn's Landing and then up South Street as instructed by my sisters in Seattle. Dope! (in this case...exciting!)  Great shopping.  Sneaker shops, a

 crazy number of spots to eat, and that oh so good city feel.  My type of street.  Had a slice of pizza.  they only come one way...cheese.  The sign said "No additional toppings on slices, so don't ask!"  I love it.  I'm not one of those people who care how food is prepared...if it is the way the people in the city eat it...that's how I want it.  of course there is people in Philly who like peperoni and such...I just love the balls (excuse t

he expression but it is the east coast) of some one who says this is how I serve it and that's it...buy it or don't.  So I bought it.  Good too...real gooooooood.

Made my back up through down town and rested for a bit before hitting up the Westside (always the best side) for a Hallal Cheese steak (Muslim version of Kosher for simplicity purposes.)  

The Place is Saad's on 45th and Walnut.  It's middle eastern fast food with American staples like fried chicken and cheese steaks for the Muslims who can't get that type of food anywhere else.  If you're in Philly....go.  Everyone eats there...Muslims, kids from U Penn, everyone.  Not intimidating although there is a certain way to order...but darn it go!!!  After fulfilling my lifelong dream of eating a cheese steak and having fit in to my dietary needs to boot, I jumped on the subway back into Center City and slept like a baby.

My sister Therese's partner's mother (that's a mouth full)  Picked me up the next day for a tour of the Philly Art Museum.  Awesome place.  

Saw the Rocky steps and all the great art inside.  Another must see for those of you who might visit Philly.  After that we road out into 

Amish country and bought fresh veggies form a roadside stand and took in the Amish culture.  Very cool.  I've always wanted to see that as well believe it or not.  So I've settled into her house for the next few days and am waiting on my sister Therese and her partner Jen to get in from the Democratic convention in Denver.  Gobama!  It will be nice to see them before I blast off over seas.  I'll check in after NYC.