... Philadelphia, where America was born

Philly,

When we booked our flights, we were not sure what to expect from you. A lot of people we spoke to did not have much to tell us about you and to be honest; I was kind of happy because it meant we got there without any expectations. We met a wonderful woman when we landed who not only told us about all the places to see but walked us to our hotel and for that we were grateful.

That was the one thing that I learnt quickly about the people that call you home. Their warmth exudes, and it showed in the way that they spoke about it. The bus tour that we took was the most animated that I have ever experienced and it helped me see the place in a different light. I finally understood why you are nick-named, the city of brotherly love.

You are where America became America, where the founding fathers made a home, where they wrote the declaration of Independence and most importantly, where Betsy Rose made the American Flag. Spending time in the old town made me realise how underrated you are.

And on the 8th of July 1776 when America gained Independence from the British, the Liberty Bell rang calling to everyone to gather around and listen to the Declaration of Independence.

I learnt that you preserve not only America’s past but also that of many other nations. In the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we found rooms that insect to be in London Townhouses bought and maintained for all to see. We found the most preserved Indian Temple outside of India and what surprised me the most was the Japanese treehouse. A space so tranquil making a sound seemed so wrong.

The Rodin Museum, with its more extensive collection of Augustus Rodin’s sculptures outside of Paris, made me realise that art isn’t confined to one place but will travel so that many people can experience it as well.

Preservation I learnt here, dear Philly, is not confined to just the museums. My favourite place, a living museum if I can be as bold as to say that was Elfreths Alley that was built in between 1720-1830 and remains that only consistently lived in street in Philadelphia. That place on its own reminded me of the classic English Victorian houses and made me somewhat nostalgic for more.

We might have discovered your gems a little too late, but we learnt a lot. You should not be underestimated; you should be the number one destination in the United States of America.