Mountain?

img_7970Baltimore, Maryland

We were driving along the freeway as the sun was setting over Baltimore.  I grabbed my camera and took this photo with the setting sun behind a mountain, or is it?  I showed it to our son, Benjamin and he knew right away what it was, because he knows there are no mountains in Baltimore.  What is it?  Well, it is a type of mountain, a mountain of salt ready for the winter.

Cheesesteak Sandwich My Style

IMG_7699acPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania

A cheesesteak sandwich is made from thinly sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese in a long roll. The cheesesteak is one of the favorite foods of Philadelphia. It can be found in most parts of the United States and is called a “Philadelphia” or “Philly Cheesesteak”. Now, when you are a vegetarian or vegan, this sandwich doesn’t work…however, I was delighted to find veggie cheesesteak sandwiches around Philadelphia and they were delicious!  On this one they added mushrooms to the spinach, onions, green peppers & marinara sauce.  The other day I had one with portobello mushrooms on it.  Just take off the cheese and it’s vegan, yummy!

Tomb of Benjamin Franklin

img_0098-70Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Across the top of Benjamin Franklin’s tomb people drop penny’s for good luck and in remembrance of his sage advice; ‘A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED’. His tomb is very simple, just as he requested, with his wife buried next to him. Near by on a wall are some words that the young Benjamin Franklin wrote, never intending them to be used;

The Body of B. Franklin, Printer, ~ Like the Cover of an old Book, ~ Its contents torn out,  ~ And stript of its Lettering & Guilding, ~ Lies here, Food for Worms. ~ But the Work shall not be lost, ~ For it will, as he believed ~ appear once more ~ In a new & more perfect Edition ~ Corrected and improved ~ By the Author.

Independence Hall

img_0081Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

One of the nice things about Philadelphia is that all or most of the historical things are within walking distance, so after a great walk & seeing some really cool places, it was time for a sit, so I put my feet out and RELAXED!  As I did this I thought of freedom and my gratitude to all those who went before and gave so much!!  In 1776 Benjamin Franklin said, when referring to being unanimous in signing The Declaration of Independence, ‘we must hang together, or we will be pretty sure to hang separately.’

Liberty Bell

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I always enjoy going to the Liberty Bell when we are in Philadelphia, is symbolizes America’s Independence.  It was made in 1752 and was originally placed in the steeple of what we now know as Independence Hall which you can see in the background, and was cast with the lettering “Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”.  It first  cracked when rung after its arrival in Philadelphia and the crack grew over the years.  In the 1830s, the bell was adopted as a symbol by abolitionists, who called it the “Liberty Bell.”

76

img_0073-40Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Even the horses remind us of where we are, REMEMBERING 1776, a year that changed the world!

Independence Hall

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We went on a tour of Independence Hall with a very enthusiastic tour guide.  I learned some new facts and was reminded of some old ones, namely, that Independence Hall is where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted, so in other words, it is where the United States of America was born.  It was completed in 1753 and was the Capital of the United States off and on from 1776 – 1800.  It is now a part of Independence National Historical Park and is listed as a World Heritage Site.

Bumble Bee & Flowers

IMG_7704Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

While visiting the Benjamin Franklin Museum, we went outside where they have a structure that shows where Benjamin’s house once stood. There in the area that would have been the courtyard are some beautiful flowers. As I was taking photos of them, a Bumble Bee came by and enjoyed the different and very colorful flowers.

Remembering Benjamin

img_7967-70Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

These structures were put up to help us see where Benjamin Franklin’s house once stood as well as his printing shop.  Below where I am sitting is the Benjamin Franklin Museum.
I had to sit and RELAX for a while, to take it all in, as I realized what a giant of a man he was!

Benjamin Franklin’s Neighborhood

img_0094-50Philadelpiha, Pennsylvania

Today there is the Benjamin Franklin Museum where once stood his house.
Some of the buildings surrounding where his house once stood are still there,
so it gives us an idea of what his neighborhood was like.

Benjamin Franklin’s Neighborhood

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I found the prefect place to put my feet up and RELAX in the neighborhood where Benjamin Franklin once lived.  I asked my son; if Benjamin Franklin was alive today would he be a printer, an inventor, a developer, a statesman, a politician, what would he be?  It’s a good question, because he was all of the above in the 1700’s and more.