PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM

Day 1

The 7th and 8th grade Philadelphia Freedom tour got of to a rousing start!  Our bus broke down on Snyder Freeway, just before we turned onto I-64 (power issue, nothing dangerous.) Toby Tours came through - we only waited for an hour for a new bus so we could continue the tour.  Don't worry parents, our bus driver, Ms. Nancy,  called Metro Police, who sent an officer to control traffic so that our kids could be safely moved from one bus to another.

Kids seem to be having fun so far.  We stopped a couple of times for stretch/restroom breaks, but by combining them with gas stops and shortening them a bit, we were able to arrive here in Philly just in time for our 7:00 p.m. reservations at Bucco de Beppo. 

We just got them into their rooms at the Comfort Inn and right now all is quiet.  The security guard comes on duty in 8 minutes, at which time we will all settle down for some well deserved rest (if you can believe it, very few of them slept coming up!)

Tomorrow is our 3 hour tour of Philadelphia then shopping at the Bourse.

Pictures from day 1 (Some of the almost 500 I took.  Will post more later.)

 

Pictures in order:  Click the pictures to view larger image

Our first and second bus (police officer is in the car at the rear)  Eating at Subway/Dairy Queen.  For many of us, this was our first sighting of a wind farm. Our first sighting of Philly skyline.  Old Philly courthouse.  Eating at Bucco de Beppo- many of hte kids didn't like the 'upscale' version of pizza- the adults did.  The view out of many of the kids' rooms.

Day 2

Our 3 hour tour ended up being a walking tour.  Saw Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written. The kids got to sit in the chairs in the first House of Representatives (though the man presenting this portion was, let's just say, NOT from the south- if you get the idea.) Saw the signing room and the first court room of the Supreme Court. Went to the Liberty Bell center and kids took a bunch of pictures in front of it.  It is situated so that Independence Hall is directly behind it through the glass, so it's impressive. Had a few minutes to kill, so we walked a couple of blocks and saw a little bit of China town- the gate was something to see.  Dinner was at the Hard Rock, and the kids seemed to enjoy it. 

Breakfast	Meeting in the lobby	Bus driver Ron and escort Cathy were wonderful	First view of Independence Hall	The Bourse, where we ate and shopped
Cemetary where Franklin is buried	Another cemetary entrance	First view of National Constitution Center	National Constitution Center	Walking
Waiting to enter Independence Hall	An old water fountain converted to a planter	First assigment was on architecture.	Betsy Ross' house	Pictures of Franklin Court.
	Hard to lose your way- all signes point to historal sights	Second Bank of the Untied States
	Independence Hall	Guide		Waiting for video at Franklin Center
		Hallway at Congress Hall, where first Congress met		Signing Room
			Inside INdependence Hall
	Group Picture		Mrs. Cottner and Chomper. Her son sent him to keep her company.	Waiting to go into Congress Hall
View of National Constitution Center through arch at Independence Hall		Copy of Declaration of Independence printed July 4-5 1776 in the Documents Room at Independence Hall.	Sitting in the first House of Representatives	First Senate. Students were not allowed to sit here (some original furniture)
	View of Independence Hall		View of the Bourse	8th graders mugging for the camera
	Inside Liberty Bell Center	View of Liberty Bell from inside Liberty Bell Center with Independence Hall in background	The Liberty Bell	Inside Liberty Bell Center

 

Click pictures to see larger image

 

After walking all day, they were begging to just come back to the hotel, but we had tickets to what has turned out so far to be a major highlight of the tour- the Madcap Theater- and it is aptly named!  It is a two person comedy troupe (can two people be a 'troupe'?) that presents a shortened version of the Revolution.  It was hilarious- and totally interactive. The kids were pulled out of their seats on the front row and made part of the act: stopper guns, hats, aprons, scarves, pool noodles, baby dolls, you name it, they were wearing it, throwing it, or whacking each other with it! There were hats flying repeatedly as the actors switched characters, and at one point Mr. Newman was pulled on stage and dressed as a woman, and was using a chamber pot to catch as many 'babies' as the kids could throw at him.  Needless to say, they loved this part and thoroughly enjoyed this show.  Have a few pictures, but honestly, we were all having so much fun and laughing so much, pictures were forgotten.

A student came down ill (parent was called) with what we think is a stomach virus.  Your kids will have a real story to tell! So far it's eventful!

 

Visit back soon for more pictures.

These are some pictures Mr. Newman took

The whole group outside Independence Hall

Sign used during Madcap Theater	Chomper got thirsty in the U.S.S New Jersey	Pulpit of Christ Church	The group in front of the U.S.S. New Jersey	Kids at the Adventure Aquarium
	Images are superimposed on buildings during the Lights of Liberty Show	Chomper went to the brig on the New Jersey