Week 14 - Philadelphia, PA (The City of Brotherly Love)

Hello Family and Friends,

The first thing I noticed about Philadelphians is that they park weird. They park in the median often with bumpers touching the card in front or behind. Brett and I have never seen anything like it. We don't know if it is a solution to not enough parking or if it is a type of protest to not enough parking.

Cars parked in the median of Broad Street (the main thoroughfare in Philadelphia city center)

We started out our first full day in in Philadelphia taking a train to New York. Ya'll, everytime I visit this city I just fall more in love. New York doesn't just have a vibe, it is the vibe. I very may well have to get one of those "I (heart) New York" shirts, because it is becoming true. We had some good friends from Destin, Kirk and Mary Brandon, spending a few days in the city on a work vacation. Their daughter, Sammy Jo, was one of Nathaniel's best friends. They rode on the bus together and were in the same class. One time, when Brett and I went out of town for a work event, Kirk and Mary Brandon were gracious enough to watch Nathaniel for us. Nathaniel was so excited to spend the night with Sammy Jo that he didn't even mind that we were leaving him behind. There are so many Nathaniel and Sammy Jo stories that I could write a book.

Nathaniel with his second family at thanksgiving meal at school. (November 2023- Kirk. Cooper, Sammy Jo, Mary Brandon)

So when I realized that Philadelphia and New York were less than 2 hours apart we had to take advantage. It was a great opportunity to test out the northeast corridor train system. By train that time was cut even further to less than 1.5 hours and no traffic or tolls! Definitely the way to go.

Carved marble in the Philadelphia train station.

The moment we arrive in New York we are greeted on the Subway with a live performance. Only in New York.

Spontaneous live music in spanish on the Subway

Then we met Kirk and Mary Brandon at Ellen's Stardust Diner. It is a diner where your server is a broadway hopeful (or possibly a performer). The servers sing broadway musical numbers in between serving tables. All I have to say is broadway's caliber is skyhigh, because these guys can sing and they aren't even on broadway...yet. Our server sang Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked. Both Mary Brandon and I were both crying by the end of the song just like we did the first time we saw Wicked.

Our server at Ellen's Stardust Diner singing "Defying Gravity" from Wicked

Then we took a walk along Times Square. The moment Atlas saw Godzilla, he jumped out of his stroller, ran over to him and just stared. Of course we had to get a photo.

Godzilla and Family

Mary Brandon and I getting a girls photo in times square

Then we found a rooftop bar and enjoyed some sunshine and adult beverages as Atlas took a little nap.

Kirk, Mary Brandon, Danielle and Brett

Afterwards Mary Brandon and I had to get our adrenaline fix. We decided to climb to the 120th floor and hang off the side of a building. The boys were having none of it and we were so very glad to have each other.

Us girls before the climb

Us girls hanging 120 stories above New York City

Unfortunately the day could not last forever. We had such a great time in New York with friends, but had to say goodbye and head back to Philadelphia.

Brett and Atlas walking through a water feature at Dilworth Park in Philadelphia after our full day in New York

After a very full day in New York, Brett required a rest day... or two. The next day we decided to take it easy, but Atlas and I didn't mind as this gave us time to utilize the indoor pool at the hotel. Atlas quickly got the concept of kicking his feet. This is the first time we are staying at a hotel with a pool. It being indoors is a bonus as it's not quite warm enough outside for me to be frolicking in the water outdoors (I require it to be at least 9o degrees fahrenheit, in the shade, before getting in the water outdoors). Atlas really enjoys kicking his feet! Going underwater is going to be a bit of a challenge as Atlas keeps his mouth open the whole time he's in the water.

Atlas and I warming up our kicking before jumping into the pool

Atlas and Mommy swimming in the pool.

Atlas having a fun time in the water!

Once Brett had a few days recovery we decided to check out "Body Worlds" at The Franklin Institute. It is an exhibit of REAL human bodies. It took me back to me anatomy lab days. Even Brett was nerding out over it. I think he is able to identify which side of the body the hamstrings are versus the quadriceps (It only took 8 years.) The Franklin Institute itself is also super amazing. It has a planetarium and the largest steam locomotive train, that you can also explore inside. We didn't get to see everything on our first trip the the Franklin Institute so we went there twice. It is not like us to visit the same thing twice, because there are too many places in the world to go. However, the institute was just that great!

The family in front on the Benjamin Franklin statue inside of the Franklin Institute

Danielle with one of the plactinates at body world.

A display at The Franklin Institute demonstrating how the brain perceives illusions.

Brett and Atlas inside the largest locomotive steam engine ever built. It was so large that the museum and its walls were built around the train.

We were able to travel the path of blood through a human heart. This heart would be accurately sized for a man taller than the empire state building.

The Franklin Institute and the Body Worlds is really fantastic. If we lived in Philadelphia, we would definitely become members. However, the most memorable thing that happened to us was actually on the way to The Franklin Institute. We took the city bus to the institute (anyone who has taken a public bus knows this is not going to be a good story). We have been riding the bus throughout the city as the subway doesn't go to as many locations throughout the city and it is the worst we have seen as far as handicap accessible. We got off on one stop on the subway and watched an older lady with a cane struggle up the stairs. The bus is usually more difficult than the subway with the stroller, but in Philadelphia, the bus is a better option or so we thought. While riding the bus to The Franklin Institute, a lady got on the bus talking to herself, went to the back door of the bus before the front door even closed, started banging on the door and yelling for the bus driver to open the door, then proceeded to pull her pants down and pee on the bus steps. It was a full bladder. The whole bus is yelling at her and freaking out. One lady even took out her phone and started recording. Needless to say that bus was taken out of commision. Brett and I were just in shock that someone got on the bus and before it could even pull away from the stop also urinated on the bus. We have been officially initiated onto the public bus.

(no picture provided, you're welcome)

So much in just one week! What will we do during week two?