New Jersey to Pennsylvania (Philly) Day 4

Rise and Shine, Bullingtons! Time to see where Washington crossed the Delaware!!  Fun Fact: There is not one, but TWO parks bearing almost identical names that explore this historic event! The Washington’s Crossing State Park in New Jersey (where the troops landed) and The Washington’s Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania (where he started). Another Fun Fact: We didn't know that. 

We bounded into Washington Crossing State Park on the Jersey side and startled the gentlemen working the front desk.  He brightened at the prospect of visitors as there were no other cars in the parking lot. He gave us some brief instructions and I indicated that I had paid online for a 10:00 tour. His face fell and his shoulders slumped. In a slightly accusatory tone he said...."Oh. you meant to go the OTHER park. Like I'd intentionally shown favoritism! We quickly perused the exhibits at the New Jersey park and crossed the Delaware on our own. While not in a boat, through blizzard conditions, with 2400 of our closest friends, we did have to go over a very narrow rickety bridge and lived to tell the tale! 

We missed the movie, but we were able to bore the children with a minute-by-minute (or at least it seemed that way) account of Washington's 11-hour trek across the river Delaware. The harrowing tail was told to us by a young lady who is still cutting her teeth on her career as a tour guide. Her lackluster account of one of the most  pivotal moments in American History left us wanting more. Also, I was VERY disappointed that there was not some sort of costume situation where I could dress everyone up and pose them on a Durham boat like in the famous painting...There goes my Christmas Card idea.....

Now, just picture Mr. Bullington at the helm, the children and I with oars. It would've been epic. 

We loaded up the wagon and headed to Philly. First stop, our answer to the cheesesteak battle royale that has been brewing and festering since the 60's. Pat's claims to have the oldest cheesesteak sandwich in Philly having opened in the 1930's, 36 years later, Geno's opened across the street and claimed to have perfected the sandwich. We split up and bought several cheesesteaks from each. We met at a yellow bench between the two that we deemed "Switzerland" and proceeded to perform a neutral, non-biased taste test. The winner was unanimous! Pat's with cheese whiz and onions! It all came down to the bread. Geno's was also very good! And now, I need a Tums. 

Picture in the dictionary when you look up heart burn.

Taste Testers

Pat's for the win! 

We headed to our hotel and dropped the luggage. Time to see the Liberty Bell! Y'all it is Georgia hot in Philly this week.  But, ever ones to torture our kids, we decided to hoof it to all of our points of interest.  Hard to see a city from a car, kiddos! 

I see your crack.

If you could have heard the professions of thanksgiving from the Bullington lot when they learned we were headed to our third educational stop of the day.....you would still be listening intently. Little did they know, en route to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I'd planned a little surprise foray into the Rare Books Room at the Philadelphia Public Library.....They are going to be SO EXCITED!!!!

I had done my research into this next stop. The Rare Books Room of the Philadelphia Public Library had been closed because of Stupid Covid, but had recently re-opened to the public...or so the liar website said. I traipsed right up to the security guard and asked how to get to the Rare Books Room.  He responded, "Oh, that's closed right now". I said, "Naw, it's open. I saw it on your website". He said, yeah they reopened it, but it's not opened right now (mind you, this was during operating hours of the library) This is when Mr. Bullington and the wee Bullington's attempted to dissolve into the shelves and begin to flip through books as to not be affiliated with the crazy argumentative lady from Georgia.  A nice employee of the Library interjected and suggested that I take my request to the head Librarian. Point the way, sister! 

I met Richard who asked, quite directly, "What is it exactly that you want to see in our Rare Books Room?". "I came all the way from Georgia and have dragged my grumpy family from the Liberty Bell to see Grip." Richard got a little impish grin on his face and asked me why. "Richard, I have an interest in the Taxidermy Arts and would like to feast my eyes upon the stuffed Raven of Charles Dickens. You know, the one who inspired Edgar Allan Poe to write the poem? He is currently housed in your Rare Books Room. What's it going to take to get me in there?"

Richard then picked up the phone and made a few phone calls and while I couldn't hear exactly what he was saying, I am sure that he might've uttered the words "a little situation down here" and "crazed taxidermy lady". But, whatever he said worked! A few minutes later we heard footsteps echoing down the marble staircase. A slight little man with horn-rimmed glasses approached us and asked us to follow him. He had a collection of keys that he employed to unlock a series of doors. We eventually ended up in a sterile corridor with a glass case at one end. And, there he was! Grip! Joe told us all about the beloved pet of Dickens and how he had met his untimely end by snacking on some lead paint. He is wonderfully preserved and now my kids can tell their friends that their mom muscled her way into a forgotten hallway of a random library to see a dead bird....But, they probably won't. 

On our way out, I thanked Richard. He had written down the titles of several books about interesting taxidermy that he said I should definitely not spend money on, but check out from my local library!

Nevermore!

After the fam "Oh Mom'd" and eye-rolled me out the door of the library, I hurried them up the street for our timed entry into our next stop, The Philadelphia Museum of Art! As I was explaining the significance of the steps in the movie Rocky, I subsequently thought that I should've made them watch Rocky,  I thought I heard my name. Lots of Sarahs in the world....But, then I heard it again. I turned and SHUT THE FRONT DOOR, there was my friend, Sybil and her beautiful babies, Rehm and Ella from Marietta! Sybil and I work together at The Walker School where she is the amazing art teacher. Rehm and Ella are actually amazing young adults now, but will always be first graders in my head. I talked Sybil's face off because:

A. She doesn't currently hate me for forced museum visits and 

B. Is the first friend I've seen in 6 days! 

I heard all about her amazing road trip with her kids while John watered the grumpy Bullingtons. By the time we finished our chat, my family was super stoked about going to look at art on Opposite Day. I couldn't convince anyone to run up the length of the the magnificent steps and victory dance at the top in the style of Rocky. Oh well. Maybe next time.....

World just got smaller! 

I see you looking! 

Thomas trying to explain that this is actually a Meme, not art......

See the Nation! 

Come on, Man! One run up the steps for posterity??

 

We finished off our day with some delicious Mexican Food from El Vez, cue the Blood Orange Margaritas!   John and the kids spent the remainder of the night watching the Philadelphia Men in Blue trying to curb the appetite for dirt bike racing in the streets. We'd watch the Police set up a sting and then get hoodwinked by groups of youths on dirt bikes who would all go in different directions and speed up the street at 90 miles an hour running red lights and sending pedestrians jumping out of the way. I figure that risky behavior will work itself out, Darwin said so.