did not include bathing suits, fake IDs, alcohol, or the beach.
Instead it was full of rain jackets (but not umbrellas), historical sites, and driving through the countryside with the top down and the music blaring.
I went with my friend Regina to Pennsylvania. First to Philadelphia, where we stayed with her cousin, Megan, and her cousin's husband, Matt, in their studio apartment, and then to Lancaster, where Regina lives.
We decided to take the Bolt Bus to Philly, since it was $13. Our connecting train from Jamaica Station in Queens to Penn Station was 20 minutes late! Which meant that we had a total of like 5 minutes to get from the LIRR, which is at the bottom of Penn Station, to 8th Street before they gave our tickets away. We had to run, though Penn Station, through the rain, across NYC street. Thank gosh Regina is a dancer and in amazing shape, and for the kindness of strangers.
We were stuck in a monsoon, so the outdoor pictures are scarce.
We woke up bright and early on Saturday morning, determined to smash as much into one day as possible. Even though Regina lives 2 hours away from Philly AND her dad is a history teacher, she had never done all the fun historical stuff.
First we took the tour of Independence Hall, with a tour guide that made us realize we were giving our tours of Adelphi all wrong. We should not be "spoon-feeding" prospective students information, we should not speak louder when kind old ladies as us to, and we should be ruthless, not kind. Let's just say that it took every fiber of our beings to stop from laughing at the ridiculousness of the tour guide.
Then we went across the street to the Liberty Bell Center. 20 minutes into our day, our umbrella was already scattered across Walnut Street, and ended up in a trash can.
Therefore, we were soaking wet.
Independence Hall!
Pictures from the little Liberty Bell Museum.
Liberty Bell!
I bought this picture in a post card because I couldn't get the right lighting.
Then we walked all the way to Reading Terminal Market for lunch.
Even on a rainy day in March it was packed. I saw the first of many, many, Amish people I would see on my trip here.
Then we took a cab (thank goodness!) to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Regina, a big Rocky fan, partook is running up the stairs. Claiming "I don't see why it was such a big deal for Rocky to in the movies, that was easy." and she was doing it in the rain. I, who has never seen a single Rocky movie, walked behind her and watched her ridiculousness.
We payed an extra $5 to see the wonderful Picasso Exhibit. Both Regina and I were extremely happy to find a companion that was more than willing to look and talk about the art in one another. Pictures were not allowed in the special exhibit, but it was breathtaking. I also saw my first ever real Chagall!!!!!
Although this was absolutely horrifying, it was one of our favorites from the day. Depiction of Massacre of the Innocents.
This woman's name was Emma. Hence the silly pose by me.
A week later we talked about this room in my Art History class.
This piece is hilarious, but too complicated for me to talk about here. As Regina would say "this woman has got it going on."
Such a dancer.
The four seasons, some of our favorites.
This urinal, dubbed "Fountain" by its "artist" Duchamp, is an extremely controversial piece of contemporary art, I've already discussed it in 4 of my college classes. The reason it is controversial is because people disagree with whether it is indeed art. Regardless of my views, I was so excited to see it in real life.
Until I found out it was a replica!
Then the museum closed, and it was pouring outside. The museum is incredibly far away from the rest of Philly. Obviously we planned on taking the cab to the ballet, where we intended to get student rush tickets. After 45 minutes of trying to hail a cab, calling cabs, having them stolen by other people, and standing out in the rain, we just started walking. While Regina and I are both troopers, this was by far the worst part of the day. Eventually, after about 30 minutes of walking, we found a cab and made it to the ballet in time to be second in line for student rush tickets.
We decided that we love Philly, but Manhattan reigns superior as far as cab-getting goes.
Once we had our tickets we ate at a lovely Italian place.
Then we went to the ballet, soaking wet, disgusting looking, but very content. It was an absolutely amazing show.
This is the view from Regina's cousin's apartment the next day.
We went out to a yummy brunch with Megan and Matt, Regina's parents, and her aunt. Then Regina's parents drove us to Lancaster.
The night we went and watched her sister's musical rehearsal, had a home cooked meal, and I finally watched the end of 'The Dark Knight'.
On Monday we went to Kitchen Kettle Village, where we spent 45 minutes in a store trying jam and salsa and other homemade spreads, and looked at quilts.
Then we went to Charlie Browns for lunch, where I got my sweet tea fix for the semester!!!!!!
And then we went shopping at the outlets. I bought an Ann Taylor shirt for $4.77, made friends with the Bath and Body Works employees...
And goofed around at the Disney Store.
After four horrible days of rain the sun was finally shining on Tuesday! So we drove all the way to Hershey with the top down, singing at the top of our lungs, and letting our hair get very, very tangled.
Obviously I brought a brush along.
Regina LOVES her car.
HERSEY! The park was closed, but Chocolate World was open.
This is the ride that shows you how chocolate is made...like on Jon and Kate Plus 8 (the good years).
Singing cows!
KISSES!
Our free chocolate at the end of the ride.
Then we went to a place called Issac's for lunch. It was great food, although our waiter was a little odd.
This is me trying to fish for Regina's lemon which was stuck at the bottom of her glass. I have a confession to make, Regina, if you're reading this, when you were texting someone on your phone I had the sudden urge to push your lemon to the bottom of the glass with your straw, so I did. But I was successful in getting it back to the top, so we're even.
That is what good old Pennsylvania farm land looks like! I didn't get any picture of Amish people, but I saw tons!
So there it is, my visit to my 26th state and an amazing first half of my spring break!!
