We didn’t get our fill of the learning from the Constitution Center yesterday, so with our old tickets in hand we snuck back in to see what we’d missed out on. Then we went to check out the Liberty Bell, one of America’s most prized symbols of liberty and freedom.
Our next stop was Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Our tour guide was exceptional, if high school history teachers had his enthusiasm, humour and flair then I’m sure we wouldn’t need a TV ad to teach us was who the first Prime Minister of Australia.
As promised, we also tried the Geno’s cheesesteaks, served with more oil, more cheese and a side of racism. The late Joey Vento, founder of Geno’s, evidently had a serious problem with people ordering their cheesesteaks in languages other than English, and thus felt the need to put signs up saying things like, “Press 1 for English, Press 2 for Deportation” and, “This is America, when ordering speak English”. Needless to say, Pat’s would be our recommendation for the best cheesesteaks in Phlly.
Then we headed off to the theatre to see the play ‘Red’ about the Mark Rothko and starring Haley Joel Osmont (who’s all grown up now). Being Brodie’s favourite abstract expressionist, he was very excited by the prospect of a whole play about Rothko; Gavin and Paul went because student rush tickets were $10. The play was very good, covering 2 years of the artist’s life and gave a good insight into his life and mind. Even Gavin and Paul, Rothko skeptics, agreed they had more respect for him after the play.
We ended the day with a handfull of drinks at a very nice boutique beer bar in Philly to celebrate the birth of Paul’s brand-spankin-new nephew Jonathan - freakily the barman’s name was also Jonathan and shouted shots to celebrate the occasion. Sadly we have to wait a few weeks to meet him in person.