The Philadelphia Flower Show - 2016

The Philadelphia Flower Show is one grand event which is being held once a year. This year's theme is "Explore America: 100 Years of the National Park Service" - in connection to celebrating the 100th year anniversary of the National Park Service.

The main features of its floral and garden displays are centered on America's natural landscapes of waterfalls, wildflowers and woodlands from Redwood to Yellowstone parks. Visitors are to witness the witty and creative designs of the world's leading floral and landscape designers which include exhibitions by at least 408 national parks and historic sites as the show has partnered with the Park Service.

The show is run by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and gets revenues which supports various charities of PHS.

The Philly Flower Show offers more than just floral and landscape exhibits as well. Visitors can shop to at least more than 100 vendors, and can sample wine and spirits from products coming from around the world. Visitors can also enjoy culinary and horticultural demonstartions, and the "Butterfly Experience", - a miniature train garden is another one additional feature added this year.

There is always more to look forward to every year for this type of flower show, as they have different themes yearly!

The "Genghis Khan" at the Franklin Institute Museum

If you love all sorts of history, the Franklin Institute offers these types of exhibits. From May 9, 2015 to January 3, 2016 was an exhibit about the life of Genghis Khan. The Mongolians and Russians call him "Chinggis" pronounced as "chin-ghis", and many Westerners do spell his name as genghis, pronounced as "jen-ghus" or 'ghen-ghus'!

The exhibit features more than 200 artifacts that came from private collectors in Mongolia, Azerbaijan and even from the US. These artifacts are considered mostly as never-before-seen artifacts. These includes weaponries, ceramics, jewels, various relics, guns and swords.

Huge replicas can be seen such as the Genghis Khan Crossbow, the Mongolian Armored horse and warrior, The Grasslands exhibits and Murals.

Murals also include some works of art created after his death. An example of this is a mural of Genghis Khan with his officers.

All Genghis Khan exhibits are located at the Pepper Hall and Pendulum galleries.

A Guided Driving Tour of Fairmount Park Experience

Being considered as one of the largest urban parks in the country, Fairmount Park is just one of Philadelphia's famous attractions every visitor shouldn't miss.

The park has 10,000 acre park system made up of 63 different parks and is comprised with at least 200 historical buildings, making it a park that shows more about public art than any other city.

Experience the stunning trails running along the Boathouse Row and Schuuylkill River and at the same time witness various colorful gardens that you could surely enjoy.

Experience wise, I did the bus tour, but surprisingly, there are parks that are only limited for buses which means you wouldn't be able to see all the park has to offer when doing a bus guided tour.

I would suggest to do a tour on your own by either walking or doing a smaller car driving tour.

Walking tour isn't enough to do in a day, so don't overdo it. Take your time at your own pace...it's the best choice to see all the entire park.

The Eastern State Penitentiary - America's Most Historic Prison

Experience an interesting guided tour of the world's first true "penitentiary" when you are around Philly area. The Eastern State Penitentiary is located on the corner of 22nd and Fairmount Ave., just 5 blocks away from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) has a soaring castle-like Gothic architecture, with a Quaker-inspired design system of isolation that was finally opened in 1829.

It extends up to 11 acres in size equipped with central heat, running water, and flushing toilets, making it once the most famous and expensive prison in the world.

The founders of the penitentiary believed that solitary confinement could reform convicts through strict isolation, inspiring penitence and true regret.

ESP was built in a way resembling a church with each cell containing a Bible and a skylight representing as the "eye of God". It purposely was designed to rehabilitate rather than punish, pushing the convicts toward spiritual reflection and change. ESP was the first one to use solitary confinement, because reformists believed that isolation will lead to reflection and ultimately penitence, thus it came up with the word "penitentiary".

But the effect of solitary made many convicts become insane instead. The existence of tortuos punishments of the inmates carried by the prison's staff also contributed to this.

After 142 years of use as a penitentiary, ESP finally shut its doors in 1971.

Today, as you start walking through its corridors, you will witness the deteriorating effects of the decaying corridors as it nears 2 decades of abandonment. Nowadays, it stands in ruins with crumbling cell blocks and empty guard towers.

ESP also once held many of America's most notorious criminals, including famous gangster, Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton ("Slick Willie"). 

Al Capone's cell is still on display for viewing, which was restored as a 19th century cell. While he spent his sentence in the penitentiary, he was allowed to furnish his cell with rugs, antique furnishings and oil paintings, making him spent most of his sentence in a relative comfort at the Eastern state.

Al Capone's Cell

Tours include a glimpse of how was life like inside the prison's historic cell blocks. You can also choose to do the guided tour by one of the staff, an audio tour if you prefer to  do it at your own pace, or choose the "Terror Behind The Walls."

London Grill Restaurant in Philly!

Located at Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia is an award-winning restaurant; - The London Grill! It has also been named the "Best Neighborhood Restaurant" by the Philadelphia magazine.

Food is great! :)

Best part is, - if you're a tourist, you're eating in a restaurant at the heart of the art museum area. It is also a few meters away to the Eastern State Penitentiary, a tourist attraction! 

The Mutter Museum

The College of Physicians in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is considered to be the birthplace of American medicine. It became an essential institution in the field of health due to its goals it strives to enable every individual, families and communities to take greater responsibilities in caring for their health, as well as to improve public health through service of health professionals.

It was founded as early as in the 17th century, one of the oldest professional medical organization in the country.

Today, there are almost 1,500 fellows who continue to work toward serving the public health for the better.

As part of their goal to provide the community as well as for the medical professionals a place to learn about medicine, both as a science and an art, - The Mutter Museum was born!

The Mutter Museum contains collections of various anatomical specimens, medical instruments, models and other exhibits related to human body with a goal to help both the public and health professionals learn and appreciate the historical diagnosis and treatment of diseases better. The collections are placed and done in a 19th century "cabinet museum" setting making it a unique environment to learn more about medicine and health and discover the mysteries and beauty of the human body.

Each collection is beautifully preserved with the help and care of a curator to maintain as well as to expand the collections.

The first collection actually started as early as in the 18th century as a donation from Dr. Thomas Dent Mutter whose goal was to improve and reform the medical education.

Today, the museum is continously rising in its popularity making an attendance of visitors annually to more than 130,000.

If you plan to visit, take note that photos are NOT allowed inside. So, reserve your photo sessions outside the museum. Tours are mostly self-guided.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The museum has expanded! Art lovers, time to visit this museum when you are around Philly. A good news indeed for those who love photography, sculpture, fashion and textiles.

The Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building was added, which was the first expansion of the museum since it was opened 80 years ago.

The building was renovated costing to $90 million in public and private funds. Its interior features a skylit galleria that links the existing structure to a 59,000 sq. foot addition. There are four main galleries; a high-ceilinged space for sculpture, a gallery for works on paper, space for modern design, and a gallery for customes and textiles.

With the new expansion, the costume display can expand to more than five times its original size.

It's worth visiting for the art lovers, don't you think?

There will be a minimal admission fee to visit the Perelman Building alone. If you prefer visiting the whole museum, you have to pay at least $14 - to cover entrance to both buildings.

Enjoy the various displays of art! :)

Discover Philly (Part 2 )

The National Constitution Center is worth visiting in learning America's history. The center is made of impressive limestone complex in which the famous opening words of the US Constitution was engraved on its facade. This center was opened in 2003. One of the favorites is the Signer's Hall, where life-size bronze statues of the Constitution's 39 signers and 3 dissenters are displayed. You can even choose to sign or dissent :).

The Old World Charm can be your historic dreams. This continues at the Thomas Bond House built in 1769. This is the former home of the cofounder of the Pennsylvania Hospital which was being restored. With it are 12 guestrooms and decorated with period furniture and all feature views of Welcome Park.

Ride The Ducks Tour provides you an opportunity to relax and enjoy the scenery from a duck's eye view on a 70-minute ride on the river. Once aboard, you first cruise the streets of Philly before splashing into the Delaware River.

More has to be discovered as you go along. So, enjoy your historic vacation.

Happy July 4th!!!!

Discover Philly (Part 1)

Philadelphia's old city neighborhood is a historical place where during the 1770's the founding fathers began America's quest for freedom and independence.

The Independence National Historic Park is considered to be the most historic square mile in America. It is now visited by millions of tourists every year (also known as the Independence Mall), which also includes the Liberty Bell Center and the Independence Hall.

Did you know that there are more than 200 years of American history to be explored in Philadelphia's Independence National Park?

Why not begin your visit at Independence Visitor Center. Here, it will be your first stop to Independence Hall. Tickets are available in first-come, fist-served basis, so be sure to get an early spot. It sells like hotcakes! Just close by is the Liberty Bell Center where you get up close with the bell, America's famous bell.
Your tour inside the hall will take you to the Assembly room where the declaration of Independence was adopted and where the Constitution was drafted and signed. You can further proceed outside to the Independence Square where the Declaration was first read. You can also visit Congress Hall, Old City Hall, and the Philosophical Hall. Then stop by at Carpenters Hall, Franklin Court, the 2nd Bank of the US and Todd House just within the steps of Independence Hall.

You might also want to explore the colonial graveyard with a $2 entrance fee, the fmous Christ Church Burial Ground where it was the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin and his wife Deborah. The grave is visible from the sidewalk. Don't forget to toss a coin on Franklin's grave as a sign of good luck and respect :).

Visit Philadelphia Mint, the oldest mint in the country, where the first US coins were minted in the original facility.

I-Glide Tour in Philly

April 13, 2007 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I enjoyed this tour very much although the weather was so called and chilly. Hubby was about to give up because of the cold weather, but we already paid for it, so we did it. At first, the tour started with a quick "rehearsal" on how to use the Segway Human Transporter. This is like a scooter, only that it has been added with more advanced features, and operates with the use of a radar. The movement depends upon your bodies moevements too, so it's not that complicated to ride on it. I can say,bicycle is much more difficult to handle than this.

Me, during my Segway ride rehearsal :)

Me and hubby

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Trip

April 9-13, 2007 - "Philly" Trip :)

April 9 - After checking in at our hotel and got settled, we went to see the famous Liberty Bell - the symbol of American freedom. It was just 5 minutes away from our hotel.

On July 8, 1776, the Liberty Bell chimed from the tower of Independence Hall summoning the citizens of Philadelphia to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.

Historical buildings and statues are all around most of the area, so I did enjoy my walking as well as taking some shots...hubby was delighted to be my photographer for a little while, so it was great!

April 12 - Ride The Ducks Tour and our visit to King Tut Museum

Although the weather was cold and sharply chilly, we went for the ride the ducks tour. We were not able to go and visit the Independence Hall since they ran out of tickets despite of attempting to go there twice to get some tickets. So, down we go for a quiet splash along the coast of Delaware River. I didn't appreciate much of the scene because perhaps due to the cold season. It was only some couple of ducks swimming on the river that I saw but still wasn't able to take photos because windows are covered with a thick plastic. Anyway, it wasn't a badi idea after all because part of the tour was also a mobile tour around the Philly area seeing the historical buildings and landmarks.

Doing the duck whistle! :)