We checked in to our hotel, the HI Historic District (above left) at 4th and Arch, late Tuesday and Wednesday morning we were off and exploring. Well maybe we were looking for a good cheese steak. We walked by Carpenter's Hall (above right)

We also walked by the place where we had late evening refreshments on Tuesday. The bar girl there gave us some good information about where to eat, drink and shop.

Jim's Steaks, 4th & South Sts.

Several people, including our friend from Marmont, recommended Jim's Steaks on South Street at 4th.

They were right! The cheese steaks were great and the atmosphere was pure Philly. In the middle photo if you look to the right you can see the automatic slicing machine. There is a big piece of beef on the right and it gets sliced cheese-steak-thin and piled up on the left, then goes directly to the fry top. No frozen stuff here.

Independence Hall

As long as we were here in the cradle of the US we thought we might check out the place where the Declaration of Independence was debated, approved and signed. We already had a cheese steak and it was too early for cocktails.

It is inspiring in a historical sort of way to be in the same building where Benjamin Franklin, Tomas Jefferson, John Adams and assorted other famous old dudes put together the documents that set the 13 colonies of England on the road to independence.

I think that's why they call this Independence Hall. It used to be the State House of Pennsylvania and that's what it was and what it was called when said old dudes congregated there.

The Liberty Bell

Still not quite cocktail hour, we went across the street to visit the Liberty Bell, which used to be in the State House, I mean Independence Hall, but now has its own building. We exchanged peace signs with the Dalai Lama and took a couple photos.

Penn's Landing

There is a life-size sculptural tribute to the Irish called "The Irish Memorial" in Penn's Landing. It commemorates the great Potato Famine and the survivors who came to the US.

Elfreth's Alley

This skinny street opened up in 1702 and allegedly is the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the US.

That may or may not be true but there is no shortage of colorful old house along both sides.

The sun was getting a little low but I took a bunch of photos anyway.

That's part of the Ben Franklin Bridge which spans the Delaware River and takes people to and from New Jersey. Who knows why anybody goes to Jersey? The next photo is entitled "Still Life with Bucket and Tire". Then of course we have Lorri and Elvis.

Race Street Cafe

Finally, finally it was time for a libation so we stopped at Race Street Cafe and had a beer while watching the Phillies take on the Colorado Rockies in the playoffs. Half the people we saw on the streets had some sort of Phillies paraphernalia on.

Heading back to the beautiful Holiday Inn we passed Bread Street, a sign about George Washington, first in war, first in peace (except maybe for the Dalai Lama) and first in the hearts of his countrymen. On the right is Lorri out in front of the HI.

Jones

We had dinner at Jones. It was good. That's us. Enough said.

The next morning we had planned on visiting the National Constitution Center since it didn't exist the last time we were in town. I mean the Constitution existed but not the Center. Unfortunately it was closed due to the fact that Bill Clinton was to award the Liberty Medal to Steven Spielberg that evening. We were not invited so we went to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank and learned about money instead. In the second and third photos if you look real close you can see Lorri and I reflected in the window across the street. I call this our self portrait.

Sticking with the money thing, we then walked by the First Bank of the United States.

And then found our way into a re-created 18th century garden which led eventually back to Carpenters Hall.

Carpenter's Hall

Since I was a carpenter in a former life, well back in my 20's, and I know some people who are carpenters, I thought it was important to visit Carpenters Hall.

Carpenters Hall is where the First Continental Congress met in 1774. I guess the State House must have been booked.

We scrambled by the Philadelphia Exchange and on down a cobblestone alley to the City Tavern where, guess what? We had  beer. Uncle Hobble met us there, fresh form Williamsburg, and took us up to the Homewood Suites Hilton in Lansdale, expertly navigating out of the City and up the treacherous Schuylkill Expressway.

On the left, a street vendor and on the right, Lorri and I celebrating traditional Thursday Martini Night at Cravings, the restaurant across the street.