PHILADELPHIA

We were here: September 20, 2014.
Recommended number of days: 1. If you are a museums person, then 2.
My score: 2/5.

Many Americans I know seem to speak of Philadelphia with affection. They say things like it’s cool, nice… it leads me to think that they are not able to say it’s beautiful, so they extol their other possible qualities, and I think there’s a lot of patriotism in it, since here the Independence Hall is placed, where the independence of this country was forged, as its name suggests; we will find the famous Liberty Bell and the declaration of independence.

Like most tourists, I visited it on a day trip from New York City. I had already visited Washington DC, and it took twice as long to Boston, so we decided to go. My impression was not bad but neither too good, and partly I do not understand why:

It has a very nice city hall, to be added to the Independence Hall buildings as an architectural claim.
The famous Philadelphia Cheesesteak is here, how could it be otherwise, better than anywhere, in more interesting market than I expected.
And it also has many museums. It is remembered for the mythical image of Rocky Balboa climbing the steps of the Art Museum of the city; so much so a statue has been dedicated to the bottom of them (not at the top as the movie shows us). Needless to say, the photo with the statue is a very favorable point.

But movies also often shows us a gray and decadent Philadelphia not without reason; that feeling certainly floats in the air and maybe it’s responsible for my bittersweet memory. I think we should give him another chance, if possible with some American friend to show us why they like Philly so much.