There is so much to see and do in Philadelphia! I started walking towards the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row. This domino sculpture is pretty cool! I like it sometimes when there is someone in my photo, because they become an actor…like in this photo…it’s almost seems this lady was posing for me!
I arrived in Philadelphia Monday evening to the home of my lovely Couchsurfing hostess…Claire. She was still at work, so I had detailed instructions on where to find the keys to her beautiful City apartment that is located near Rittenhouse Square. All of the lights were on when I arrived to welcome me.
This is her living room. I love window seats! She is a voracious reader and just outside of this photo on the left is another built-in bookcase with books!
I can’t believe I’m leaving in 10 days for Philadelphia (2 days/3 nights) and New York City (almost 4 days/4 nights) on a jet plane!! Frontier Airlines had a special for $32 round trip flying out of Columbus, Ohio. I’ll have to drive from Cincinnati, but from my house it’s only about an hour and 40 minutes. Parking at the airport is only $4 a day! I’ve been around the world…but never to these two Cities. I’ll be Couchsurfing with a lady in each City and they’re really cool! They’re both about 40 years old, beautiful, and fun!
I’m in the process of researching. I’ll fly into Trenton, NJ which is about 40 minutes from Philly and a little over an hour from NYC by train. I’ll have to pack in a lot in a short period of time (especially for NYC)…but I’m thinking for Philadelphia of doing a 3 mile self-guided walking tour called The Constitutional Walking Tour and it includes 33 sites such as The National Constitution Center – Liberty Bell Museum and 13 other non-constitutional sites. I’d also like to make it to the Museum of Art – Longwood Gardens – Boathouse Row – Magic Gardens – South Street.
And for New York City–possibly the free Staten Island Ferry (if it’s not too cold) – from Battery Park you can take the free Downtown Connection bus to South Street Seaport – walk across Brooklyn Bridge – Ground Zero – Chinatown – Little Italy – Washington Square Park – Greenwich Village – Highline – Chelsea Market – Midtown to include — Times Square (a 1.5 mile walk along 42nd street to see architecture such as The Candler Bldg., W. R. Grace Bldg. – New York Public Library, Grand Central Station, and the Chrysler Building) – Rockefeller Center – Radio City Music Hall – Museum of Modern Art – St. Patrick’s Cathedral – Central Park – Brooklyn (possibly the Apollo Theater and Lennox Lounge in Harlem and/or some sites in Queens).
I’m not planning on going up to the top of the Empire State Building because I’ve read that it’s less crowded to go up the Rockefeller Bldg. and that way you have a view of the Empire State Bldg. I won’t be able to go in the Statue of Liberty due to repairs.
I thought about renting a bicycle in NYC.
If anyone has any “must see or dos” please let me know. Of course, the ladies I’m staying with are locals and will be able to give me lots of good information.
One of the ladies does pole dancing in a studio to keep in shape and wants me to join her…I’ll be so busy, you’ll have to wait until I return for a recap!
Oh…the people I’ll meet, the places I’ll go, and the things I’ll do!
Letizia from Dutch Goes Italian tagged me for the Travel Confessions series. Thank you so much Letizia! As you can tell from Letizia’s blog name…she’s Dutch, but loves everything Italian! If you ever plan a trip to Italy…she’s your travel source!
There are a few rules in the Travel Confessions series:
Travel confession No. 1
I prefer traveling solo…most of the time. For some of the obvious reasons…you pick what you want to see and do…eat where and what you want…walk at your own pace…decide when you’re ready to leave…don’t have to deal with a traveling partner’s annoying habits (we all have them)–such as complaining..moodiness..overly talkativeness, etc..odd sleep schedule or snoring, etc.
I also enjoy it because I love to meet new people and it’s easier when you’re on your own. This is a photo from my solo six week road trip through the Southern U.S. back in November.
I thought I’d give you a more personal look at my life lately! I joined a new Meetup.com group a few weeks ago that focuses on cooking. Seeing that I’ve made over 160 new recipes from Pinterest this past year, it’s quite appropriate. I volunteered to host the first gathering, which was held at our house Saturday evening. The theme was Mexican and there were 12 of us. Because I was the hostess…I didn’t need to cook. Everyone else brought the food. It was still quite a bit of work to make sure the house was clean, to assist the night of, and to clean again afterwards; but I enjoyed the company and the food was delish!
I joined another Meetup group for creative people and attended the first meetup the other night. There were about 9 of us…so we went around the room and shared a little about ourselves and I’m signed up for the next event, an art exhibit for one of the members!
Hiking on the Appalachian Trail was another bucket list experience! I discovered that you can hike Lodge to Lodge, so you don’t have to carry a tent and food (other than snacks and lunch), along a 17 mile portion of the trail through Virginia in the Shenandoah National Park. If you’d like to plan your own trip, the details are here.
These are some of the images I encountered while hiking…
I love people…well most people! Many people like to have their photo taken. Some of the time I sneak a photo…because I want a natural shot. Here are some of the people I’ve taken photos of in the United States in the last couple of years (other than friends and family). They all seem to be playing a part…
St. Paddy’s Day Festival
Cincinnati, Ohio – 2012
“The Party Girl”
Hiking Tent Rocks, New Mexico is like being on an alien planet. According to Wikipedia…
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, located 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico was established as a U.S. National Monument by President Bill Clinton in January 2001.
The area owes its remarkable geology to layers of volcanic rock and ash deposited by a volcanic explosion. Over time, weathering and erosion of these layers has created canyons and tent rocks. The tent rocks themselves are cones of soft pumice and tuff beneath harder caprocks.
A 1.2 mile (1.9 km) recreation trail leads up through a slot canyon to a lookout point where the tent rocks may be viewed from above. A 1.3 mile (2 km) loop trail leads past their base.
This is my favorite photo from the day…
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is “Earth“! My first photograph is in the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan. I love this particular rock formation, along with the exotic look the camels add to it…
Hiking the Colorado Trail is a perfect way to spend the day! The scenery is picture perfect! I hiked a portion of the Molas Trail, an 8 mile round trip hike, that descends to the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and follows the Colorado Trail for a little ways.
Island is the “A Word a Week Challenge” this week. My contributions are from the Island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania, Africa.
Hiking in Olympic National Park, Washington is a feast for the senses! I was blown away by the natural beauty! I was there in July of 2011 and the weather was glorious.
The People of Peru were so cute and adorable! I loved the colorful clothing and most of them had smiles on their faces.
Lima, Peru – 2009
During my 18 day visit to SE Asia in 2009, I found the people there to be very industrious! When I took this photo in Hanoi, Vietnam, I didn’t know the bicycle driver was looking at me with a friendly smile. There was so much energy and movement…always something to look at!
There are many words one could use to describe people in Africa, but spirited seems fitting to me!
Every time I’m able to take a photo of someone who seems interesting to me…I feel like I’ve just been given a present. When I saw this man standing in Cape Town, South Africa, I just had to take his photo. Actually, he posed for me. I asked him to turn sidewise. It all happened in the space of less than 30 seconds. To be a travel photographer, I think it’s important to have an outgoing personality, so that you’re able to approach people easily.
Sherry Lachelle Travels 
