Independence Hall, Graveyards and Art in Philadelphia

My second day in Philadelphia began with an absolutely delicious egg, bacon and cheese biscuit sandwich at the Metropolitan Bakery near Rittenhouse Square.  The biscuit was so flaky and yummy!

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Philadelphia Beauty

Philadelphia has so much natural beauty!  Not only its architecture, but all of the small Squares, Parks and Gardens.  This is one of the small parks…

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Elfreth’s Alley, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

There’s a magical street in Philadelphia called Elfreth’s Alley that has colorful and quaint townhomes dating back to 1736.  It’s a short street, but full of charm and history and is our nation’s oldest residential street!

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Lovin’ Philly

With just two days to explore Philadelphia by foot, I saw some beautiful architecture, flowers and scenery.  I don’t remember the name of this park, but it is beautiful!

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Tour of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia

For $10 you can tour the beautiful Masonic Temple in Philadelphia!  The Mason who led the tour wasn’t the nicest fellow or the most dynamic, but the Temple made up for him!  The photos are in order of my tour and there were quite a few rooms, so I didn’t post all of them.

Oh and in case you’re wondering what Masons or Freemasons are…according to Wikipedia…

“Freemasonry (or Masonry) is dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. It uses the tools and implements of ancient architectural craftsmen symbolically in a system of instruction designed to build character and moral values in its members. Its singular purpose is to make good men better. Its bonds of friendship, compassion, and brotherly love have survived even the most divisive political, military, and religious conflicts through the centuries. Freemasonry is a fraternity which encourages its members to practice the faith of their personal acceptance. Masonry teaches that each person, through self-improvement and helping others, has an obligation to make a difference for good in the world.”

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What to See in Philadelphia

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!

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City Life in Philadelphia

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!

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Hiking on the Appalachian Trail

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…

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Unique People of the United States

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”

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Hiking Tent Rocks, New Mexico

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…

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Hiking the Colorado Trail

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.

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Hiking Olympic National Park, Washington

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.

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