From "incoming" to Philadelphia

Well even the generator couldn’t keep us awake last night, so refreshed we’re ready for action. First stop, Enterprise car rentals, this involves 2 mini bus transfers, the first back to JFK and the second a short 2-minute ride to Enterprise. As the bus sets off the driver gets on the walkie talkie to say “ 2 incoming”, I’ve never felt like a scud missile before! Now, the bit that Dave likes, negotiating a reduction on the price of our car hire and choosing the car. Deal agreed, he selects a black Dodge, Journey, leather seats, sat nav, seventh heaven for Dave. All starry eyed we set of for Philadelphia, hit traffic on the Beltway but an enjoyable drive all the same over several impressive bridges, especially The Verrazano Bridge.

At last the outskirts of Philadelphia and we discover our hotel is on a one-way street with very strict parking laws and must move the car quickly before it gets a ticket and $75 fine. The room in the Alexander Inn couldn’t be more different to last night, it’s in a boutique, old hotel and the room is quite art deco old fashioned in design and much smaller but lovely.

Guitar at Hard Rock Cafe

We’re eager to start exploring, first stop a photo opportunity of The Hard Rock Cafe's enormous guitar and after that, food and a beer. More by accident we end up at Fergie’s Pub, one I’d marked as promising during my research and we’re not disappointed. Suitably refreshed the afternoons sightseeing starts with Reading Terminal Market, City Hall, the Basilica of St’s Peter & Paul followed by the Rodin Museum, the Rocky Statue and the Art Museum. All the buildings are an eclectic mix of old and very modern glass positioned next to each other. Dave’s not impressed I’ve managed to fit in another church on a music tour, but we both enjoy the architecture, paintings and stained glass. The Rodin museum is beautiful with famous statues such as The Thinker and The Three Shades outside all set in tranquil gardens planted with purple and white alliums and purple tulips around a water pool. We pose on the steps of the Art Museum ala Rocky before heading back to the hotel.

Well it’s amazing what a couple of hours’ rest can do! We have no idea where we will eat tonight so we set off to wander and choose, eventually deciding on a French bistro restaurant! (very like Café Rouge in the UK). Lovely hanger steak and frites with red wine. For a final drink we stumble into Frankie Bradleys enticed by the promise of “live music upstairs guys” but on asking we realise that the music is Middle Eastern belly dance! Not quite the screaming guitars or soft American Rock we visualised. Retreating downstairs to the bar for a drink we realise what an eclectic bar we’re in. it seems to have been decorated by several people all with wildly different tastes, babes in sparkly scanty bikinis and erotica, Christmas trees, medieval coats of arms, wall art of sekonda watches, traditional deer antlers and varied lampshades from fringed shades to art deco. This place is surely at the centre of a time warp!

The Thinker!

The Three Shades

Rocky Statue

Philadelphia from The Art Museum steps