Philadelphia

On Monday September 3, we left Baltimore, Maryland drove a total of 220 miles and went through 6 states - Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. 

After leaving Baltimore, we stopped in the historic portion of Philadelphia to see the sights.  We toured Independence Hall, saw the signing room for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  We also saw the Liberty Bell and a replica of the Liberty Bell.

Independence Hall

The signing room

The actual ink stand used in signing both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution

The Liberty Bell

For lunch, we enjoyed an authentic South Philly cheese steak sandwich.  It was so good there was not a crumb left on our plates when we were finished.   The waiter also told us to check out a tavern around the corner which was a favored gathering place for our founding fathers.

Our South Philly Cheese Steak sandwich with Spanish Fries

We decided one of these two taverns had to be the one our founding fathers gathered in after a long day of debate in Independence Hall.  The one on the right looks old and the the one on the left looks even older.  And amazingly enough, they are still in use today. 

We wandered around the old city a bit and came across Christ Church which was founded in 1695.  The founding fathers worshiped here when they were in town.  Benjamin Franklin and four other declaration signers were buried in their burial ground.  The burial ground was closed the day we were there due to rain. 

Christ Church

Christ Church Steeple

Pipe organ in the church.  The organist was practicing while we were there. 

We also came across Elfreth's AIley.  It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited residential streets in the country, dating to 1702.

The street was just wide enough for a compact car to drive down.

The fist bank of the United States was located in a beautiful building.  It was started by Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin - who we decided must have had his hand in everything around here.  He sounds like a very interesting character so I'll have to find a book on him to read.  

After leaving Philadelphia, we headed off through New Jersey and New York with all the New Yorkers returning home after the Labor Day holiday.  Our route took us across the George Washington bridge into upper Manhattan and then into the Bronx before taking us into Connecticut.  It was an experience driving through New York city but we made it.  

The George Washington Bridge going into upper Manhattan

About this point in our trip across New York City, we ran over a big piece of metal in the road and where afraid that we were going to have a flat tire.  Luckily, the Subaru made it through unscathed.