Monday Funday in the City of Brotherly Love

Our second full day in Philadelphia brought up to Reading Terminal Market and the Museum of the American Revolution.

Several people told us to head the Market with empty stomachs because there is so much to eat, so we figured that would be our first stop after a late morning at the hotel.

Walking the three-quarter mile to the Reading Terminal Market (pronounced Redding) we built up even more of an appetite. Our first goal was walk the market and scope out possible locations for the best food. Shortly we realized there is no "Best" food because it all looked amazing. Why not start with some Stromboli, then head over to find some other snacks, homemade Amish pickles to be exact!

One pretzel deli sells the elusive Surge soda

Toss in a few donuts, a whoopee pie, and a handful of chocolates from Mueller's (for the folks back home, of course!) and that seemed to round out our trip in the market. It only took 3 hours to consume it all and feel satisfied to leave for the day. Knowing we could come back later in the week as our hotel will be only a block away.

Whoopee Pie

Our next stop was the Museum of the American Revolution. What drew me in would be the prospect of seeing George Washington's actual tent used towards the end of the war. Then, what did I do? Spent too much time in the rest of the museum and ended up missing the whole presentation! My fault, but overall we really enjoyed the information and artifacts presented in the museum.

A sign at the Museum showing Eagles pride

Tearing down King George III's statue

The infamous sunrise chair (replica) sat in by Thomas Jefferson

Super Bowl Sunday in Philly

Green lights leading up to the City Building

When watching a Super Bowl it is difficult to know who is going to win - each team is usually well matched, and this year was no different. A few weeks ago, upon hearing that the Eagles would be a contender in the Super Bowl we knew we would be in for some fun! Eagles fans can be rowdy and passionate about their team, and they have never won a Super Bowl, so win or lose, something was going to happen in this city after the game.

As seen in a window across from our hotel

The hotel bar, Red Owl Tavern, had a few extra TVs set up for the game and we were able to secure a spot only an hour before kickoff. We ordered some drinks and settled in. Several groups of Eagles fans had already gathered and were eating or drinking preparing for the ride. I wore my Broncos jersey to show my interest in football and solidarity against Tom Brady.

The Eagles played really well and managed to pull it out at the end of the game. We watched as fans stood for the last few minutes and swelled to excitement as the clock ticked down to mark the end of the game - some people were starting to put on their jackets to take to the streets. Cheers erupted and several people ran out the door. We joined them just to see what was happening. Already, there was so much noise around us, we could a roar from several sides, people cheering and setting off fireworks, along with car horns honking up and down the street.

Cheering after an official review benefits the Eagles

We ran up to our hotel room and grabbed our jackets to join the festivities. The majority of the crowd was moving west towards the major thoroughfare of Broad Street. After a mile walk we found the crowd gathered - cheering, screaming, igniting fireworks, dancing, etc. whatever they could do to show their joy. Both of us were on alert for the mob mentality and the start of a riot, but the majority of people just seemed to be enjoying the moment, very little destruction was happening in our line of sight.

After 20 minutes we decided to walk back toward our hotel. Almost all the way, there and back, we ran into fans walking the street. It was quite an awesome site to see so many people united in a single cause. The news was reporting on several areas around Pennsylvania and the tri-state area that were holding rallies in the streets, still very little destruction was being reported on.

Congrats to the Philadelphia Eagles and their victory in the Super Bowl (and for beating Tom Brady), there's no thrill like seeing your team become the champions within their sport - cheers!!