The city of brotherly love...

Friendship Gate, Chinatown, Philadelphia
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Stayed in a lovely B&B with big porch & really nice, friendly & chatty lady who gave us some great tips & also tickets to a tour which would've cost us $40!

Extremely hungover first night so didn't go too mad, went to Chinatown & had an apparently great meal (couldn't touch mine!). Next day we did a 'hop on hop off' trolley tour of city which is a great way to see a city & decide what you want to do when you have limited time. We went to the Rocky steps, the steps Rocky ran up & down in Rocky I to the theme music. The heat was incredible so we didn't run up them so much as crawl up them gasping 'water'. We went to the historic district, where Ben Franklin, George Washington et al hung out & wrote the Declaration of Independance, Bill of Rights, Constitution etc. Franklin was actually really interesting, as well as being very involved in the 'birth of the nation' he invented bi-focal glasses, the lightening rod, electricity, electric shock treatment, chairs which double as steps etc. Also saw the playground at the start of the Fresh Prince of Bell Air where Will Smith played B-ball.

you should see it, it's all stubbly & gross!

Ciara on the "Rocky steps" outside museum of art
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Went on 'Lights of Liberty' tour when it got dark. It's a walking tour of the city at night to historic buildings etc. which are lit up with various images taking you through the lead up to the War of Independance all done through headphones. It was interesting but I'm sure we looked like freaks, a group of 20ish people trailing around the city, not speaking to each other, with headphones on and our very own lollypop lady (really!). At the end the girl leading us about like the pied piper of mutes told us we were 'an awesome group & that it was really great to hang out with us for the evening'. Think someone was fishing for their tip...

Mark on the rocky steps.
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Ate & Drank in Rotten Ralphs that night. The 20-something girls at the table beside us kept us amused with their very intelluctual conversation: (Think American OC type accents) Girl A: "Oh My God, she's pretty-Jewish, I'm ugly-Jewish. I'm Armenian". Girl B: "I'm Hungarian". A: "I'm tipsy cause I don't eat". B: "Well I don't sleep". C: "Well I don't eat or sleep". D: "Oh My God, why don't you all hang yourselves"? & Later the classic (yelled at top of voice when a boy joined them) Girl A: "Oh My God, Connie doesn't shave her bush"! Girl B: "I Know, you should see it, it's all stubbly & gross"! We nearly fell off our seats laughing!

taking a sly look up rocky's shorts
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We both really enjoyed Philly (& their Philly cheesesteaks, seriously yummy!). It's a really nice city, easy to get around with lots to see & do. Said goodbye to our fantastic landlady & headed off to DC...