From Philly to TrumpTown...

Hello, from Arlington, Va... Back to Philly... On Thursday went on a Hop On/Hop Off bus tour, in the city of love/brotherly love... What a warm sunny day to be sitting in an open air trolly... I went all around the city, City Hall, Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, East Penn and of course the statue of Rocky, to name a few hi-lites... Rocky is no longer on the top step of The Museum of Art, the powers that be argued that it was not art so much as a commercial happening so Rocky was taken away... The city fought to bring him back so now he sits in a designated area, street level, right beside the museum... The skyline is fabulous, so many flowers all throughout the city with the beginning of the beautiful autumn colour in the trees... After completing the tour, had lunch at a neighbourhood pub before viewing Eastern State Penitentiary, built in 1829... One of AL Capone's homes, just for a year, appr. 100 years later either late 1920's or early 30's... Sure was something to see, slowly the city is restoring the property, lots to go and a huge area... I viewed Alcatraz on my 65th birthday, thought that was bad until this... Don’t know why the prisons interest me but they do... On the way back to the hotel, our trolly bus got hit by a transit bus in the middle of rush hour, ouch!! No one was hurt but we were in the middle of the city so the horns started honking, actually was quite exciting... All passengers got off making their way to wherever... My concern was to make it back to the hotel in time to set up tix for Friday, made it... Friday I was picked up at the hotel to tour Amish Country at 8:00 which involved 2 1/2 hrs travel on Amtrak to Lancaster County where I joined a few Utah ladies also on tour... We first viewed a film right from the beginning in Switzerland, didn't know that was the originating place... There were several screens, almost a 3D effect, great filming... After we were shown a one room school room (took me back to my first 4 grades 'cause that's what was small town Saskatchewan), then a typical home, very plain but boy very serviceable, no electricity but running hot/cold water, so many pieces oF furniture were made, even games because no TV, radio, internet, etc... Found it all really interesting, then time for lunch... After we had a tour of the countryside where Amish, Mormon and English (thats what Amish call us) live peacefully in a beautiful countryside, was really impressed of the beauty of the rolling countryside and all yards/farms so well maintained, very neat 'n tidy!! We stopped at a shop that offered baking, lots of quilted items, Halloween decorations, etc... Then back to the city, bid the Utah gals goodbye and off on the subway to my first, ever, major league ball game, wahoo!!! Phillies playing the Atlanta Braves... Had no trouble on the subway, got to the game, even got a certificate of my first Phillies game... Gosh, it was too cool to be there, they didn't win, tho' but that didn't bother me just super to be in the moment, wahoo!!! Saturday was a travel day, once again travelling on Amtrak, boy is that ever a sweet way to travel!! Arrived in Washington early afternoon... Union station is fabulous!!, a mall within itself but the building is as cool as Grand Central Station in NYC as is Philadelphia Penn, grand old buildings!! Grabbed a cab to this hotel in Arlington passing by the Capital bldg, a glimpse of the White House, and The Pentagon, geezlouise!! Once arriving here took care of some housekeeping, namely washing clothes in the laundry facilities, clean clothes = priceless!! Also walked to the nearest grocery store and stocked up on beer, teehee!! Today, Sunday, took the subway back to Union Station for a Hop On/Hop Off Tour... I have been touring all day and currently toured out, hahaha!! My goodness, saw Georgetown, the Capital Building, Ford Theatre, White House, Arlington Cemetery, the Mall, Washington Monument, the Pentagon, again, just so many of the actual buildings that up until this morning had been pictures, am in seventh heaven!! I have a 2 day tour so tomorrow will actually get off the bus and do some close ups before investigating the Smithsonian, rode by all those buildings today so am looking forward to Tues., Wed., & Thurs... I have also signed up for a night tour, for tomorrow and also a river tour on the Potomac sometime this week, was closed today and tomorrow because of flooding... I have to say even tho' I am enjoying this, am getting a little homesick for my quiet little life in Victoria and I miss my car, what a weenie, huh?? The weather has been brilliant, very hot, glad I brought light clothes... Philly was hot and humid, clothes sticking to you, yuck!, here hot but not humid, think I got sunburned today... This trip is absolutely fabulous, worth waiting for but my Visa card is about to melt, help!! hahahaha!!! Geezlouise, another long blog but gotta' tell you I have been doing a lot and havin' fun, yahoo!! Stay tuned... Helen