The Birthplace of Freedom and Cheesesteaks

I am feeling a bit patriotic today. As a history nut, Philadelphia is like the Disneyland of historical playgrounds. Everywhere you turn is another famous house or building or statue of someone who was instrumental in my ability to travel, work and bake with freedom.

I really love this land of ours.

We took a bus through the city that stops at all of the important places. It was colder than the arctic tundra so I was very happy to just ride along.
















Here are the "Rocky" steps. I swear I could hear the guy next to me humming Eye of the Tiger.

At Independence Hall, we got out and walked around. This place is incredible. It actually made me a little teary.












Oh, if these walls could talk.




And then, there's this:




I had the overwhelming urge to ring it but an orange jumpsuit is not my best look.

We stopped for lunch at Reading Market. It is the most amazing covered market that just happens to be across the street from my hotel.

Oh, darn.

It is filled with bakeries, sandwich shops, butcher shops, cheese stalls and ice cream counters. It is every kind of culinary wonderful.








We rounded out the first half of our day with a cheesesteak. When in Rome, right?