Today we headed straight to check out the place where the great bell of liberty rang out. But first, it was a trip to the glorious museum of The Barnes Foundation. This was more an art gallery, arranged as if we were walking through a stately home. I have never seen so many Renoirs in one place! After gorging on Picasso, Matisse, Degas to name a few, we had a coffee to recover before going into the old city to view the cracked Bell. 

Then it was a pleasant wander along a few blocks in the brilliant sunshine to check out Betsy Ross’s house and haberdashery. This sturdy and brave woman put her embroidery skills to the test and constructed the first American flag. She survived three husbands, and lived into her 80’s.

By the time we’d wound up and down her stairs and taken in the details of this part of US history, it was time to walk past Benjamin Franklin’s grave to the oldest pub in America for a refreshing drink. 

At The City Tavern, whilst slurping up a cider laced with spicey rum, a woman approached from a table nearby. To my utter astonishment – and that of my cousins and sister – she asked me “Are you Jenny Jeffries?” Turns out she and a friend happened to be there and she recognised my sister and I from facebook posts. A happy moment of meeting and photo taking between Stephanie Jan from LA and I. It made my day!!! 

Finally, we went around the corner in a giggly slightly tipsy state, and consumed with great relish the famed Philly Steaks!