And then Moses chased Pharaoh around the Palace

After church today, my 4 year old was telling me about their Sunday school lesson. They were learning about Moses and his calling by God. He told me about the burning bush, how Moses could make his staff become a snake, and then he told me about Moses' hand. "He put his hand in his shirt and pulled it out and said 'Ah! Don't touch it! It's diseased!'"

I could imagine Moses doing this, then chasing Pharaoh around like kids chasing each other because of cooties or the cheese touch.

Let my people go or get the cooties. That pry would have worked faster than 10 plagues.

Day trip to Philadelphia

We live about 2 hours away from Philadelphia, so after church yesterday, we drove up for the afternoon with another family. Our goals were simple, cheese steaks and the liberty bell.

Two hours and $16 in tolls later, we arrived at cheese steak corner about 1:45. Parking is free along the street.

We wanted to try both Pat's and Geno's, so one family stood in line at Pat's, the other at Geno's.

Our friends stood in line at Pat's. They said that though they were concerned ordering food because the sign said "If you make a mistake, don't panic, just go to the back of the line and start over." However, despite ordering one provolone wit-out, their cheese steak had onions. Cheese fries helped to round out this healthy meal.

We stood in line at Geno's. When we got to the window, the cashier was quite friendly and helpful. After talking to him briefly about a couple items on the menu, he recognized us as first timers and walked us through the process. One whiz wit, one provolone wit, one american wit-out. He also gave us two free pens. French fries and cokes (both Pepsi and Coke products) washed them down.

Geno's is infamous for their speak English sign.

The cheese steaks.

One whiz wit

One provolone wit

The verdict on cheese steak? The whiz is amazing. You have to have it the Philly way, whiz wit. But Pat's or Geno's? Pat's had better tasting meat. If I went back, I'd be a Pat's cheese steak guy.

Then it was on to Independence Hall. There is a parking garage under the north visitors center.

To tour Independence Hall, you have to have timed tickets. You can get them free at the visitor center, but they tend to run out early. We bought ours online for $1.50 each.

Our tour was for 3PM, so at 3PM we arrived at the visitor center. We got our tickets and walked down to Independence Hall.

 

After walking, clearing security, and waiting in the tour line, we caught the 3:45 tour. The ranger checking tickets was pretty rude, seeing at 3PM tour and saying that we missed it pretty badly. When I told him we got out tickets at 3PM, he looked at me like I was an idiot. So, the time on your ticket isn't the time at the visitor center, but at the hall. Arrive early. Regardless, we got in on the tour and the ranger giving the tour was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the place and the American revolution.

The tour first takes you into a briefing room in the east wing for a brief talk about the hall centered around a painting of the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

We then went into the hall and started in the court side of the old statehouse.

Then to the more famous legislative side where the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution were signed.

You then exit out the back and into the plaza.

Commodore Barry, Father of the Navy

Then, the Liberty Bell.

The Liberty Bell does not require tickets. You just stand in line to clear security, then can walk around the exhibit where it is located. You cannot touch the bell. I did go at one time when you could and got a photo with my hand in the crack, but not any more.

Two hours later and $8 in tolls (there is an $8 toll to leave Maryland, none to enter), we were home.