Day 16, Sunday

Visited the historic Congregation Mikveh Israel synagogue.  Greeted by a member who gave us a tour and a brief background of the longest continuously operating synagogue in the US.  Near the synagogue is the National Museum of American Jewish History.  The museum had a special event, “Chasing Dreams”, which told the history of Jews in baseball.  Admission was free.  Lunch was back to Reading Market and “Sang Kee Peking Duck” for triple dumpling soup.  Then back to Chinatown for more bubble tea.  Afternoon was a visit to the portrait gallery at the Second Bank of the US, our own driving tour including a stop at Elfreth’s Alley which claims to be the oldest continually inhabited residential street.  Also stopped at Fairmont Park for a nice walk along the Schuylkill River.  Dinner was back to Chinatown and Malaysian food at Penang.  Spicy Mango Chicken was delicious as was Shrimps with Lady Fingers (that’s okra) also delicious.  Not so sure about that calorie offset as my baby bump seems to be growing. Fortunately, we have no scale on the coach.

Day 15, Saturday

Wow, 10 hours in downtown Philly and wanting more.  I am one to avoid big cities but I must admit today was a great day.  We began at the Masonic Temple with a guided tour.  Seven different lodge halls in seven different styles.  Egyptian, Corinthian, Ionic, Italian Renaissance, Norman, Oriental and Gothic.  The inside of the building took 33 years to complete.  Wow and double wow.  The photos don’t due justice to the place.  If you’re ever in Philly I suggest this is a must see.  Then a quick visit to the Wanamaker organ to hear the huge pipe organ in Macys 7 story atrium.  Then lunch in Reading Terminal Market which competes favorably with Pike’s Marketplace in Seattle. Name a type of food and it is there.  Also, wall to wall people.  We had special corned beef and roast beef sandwiches at Hatfield Deli piled high and smothered in coleslaw and a special thousand island dressing.  Rosemary ate a half which means I had to eat 1-1/2 sandwiches.  Only left room to split a walnut fudge brownie for dessert.  Then on to the important stuff, Independence National Historical Park which includes Independence Hall, Congressional Hall, Old City Hall which was the home of the US Supreme Court from 1791-1800 and the Liberty Bell Center.  Finish about 5 pm and head to Chinatown to get Rosemary her Asian food.  Before dinner, stop for a bubble tea.  The owners, a very friendly young couple, advised us of their favorite eating spots and we now have the next several days restaurants all selected (all Asian-that’s the best way of keeping Rosemary away from chicken).  Tonight was Spice C, a Szechuan noodle place.  Ordered 2 dishes, one stir fry with hand pulled noodles (we actually watched the noodles being pulled akin to tossing pizza dough but with a lot of pulling and twisting) and one Szechuan soup with shaved noodles.  Both interesting and delicious.  In spite of all the food, it was probably, hopefully, a wash as to calories in and calories spent walking all over the place.

Day 14, Friday

Decided to vary from the planned itinerary and head to Philly.  Only 65 mile trip which we turned into 85 with a couple of wrong turns.  But I now know how much room I need to make a u-turn with an approximately 60 foot rig - a lot!  About 4-1/2 lanes.  No campgrounds in Philly area so we checked into Timberlane Campground in Clarksboro, NJ, only 18 miles away and 25 minute drive in the car, all interstate.  After lunch, head into Philly and first stop, Rosemary’s must see, the Barnes Foundation.  A private collection of Dr. Albert Barnes includes the largest collection of Renior paintings, over 180, and also many Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso, VanGogh, Rousseau and many others.  We spent 3-1/2 hours and I actually enjoyed it too.  Who knew!  The museum was laid out in ensembles in smallish rooms with brochures in each room identifying each piece and also an i-pad audio of a lot of the pieces.  Also, very importantly, a bench in the center of each room facing all directions - my back thanks that aspect.  Museum was open late on Friday and we did not finish until after 7 pm.  Starving, we head to my “must see”, Pat’s King of Steaks, which claims to be the originator of the Philly cheesesteak.  It’ll take a good scrubbing to get the grease off my hands.  Not sure it was worth the 2 years the cheesesteak took off my life.  Maybe an extra statin tomorrow.   As sandwiches go, I’ll take the Tampa Cuban any day. 

Day 13, Thursday

Slept in until 9:30.  Then short drive to the Strasburg Railroad established in 1832 for a ride on a restored 1800's train with plush velour seats, stained glass windows and an original steam locomotive.  45 minute ride through beautiful Amish farmland was very cool and relaxing.  Afternoon was spent at the Landis Valley Museum and Village - a collection of 1800's houses and other buildings including a gun makers shop, general store with original items, blacksmith shop, tavern and one room schoolhouse.  

Day 12, Wednesday

Depart Manheim and travel to Lititz to visit the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Factory, which claims to be the oldest pretzel factory in America.  Twisted our own pretzels and received another degree in pretzel making.  Becoming real academics on this trip so hopefully we can become gainfully employed again when we return home.  On to Lancaster and the Amish area.  After checking in at the Walmart Lodge, we went straight to Intercourse.  Intercourse PA that is.  Toured an Amish house and one room schoolhouse.  After the excitement of seeing the horsedrawn buggies a few times (and being held up by them on the road) and seeing the manure strewn roadways, the novelty wears off and one realizes this is just a tourist trap.  The Amish food is bland American so we decided to eat in.  Yes, Rosemary had chicken.