It hasn't been that long since last blog and so I apologise. But I have to share this with you. Mary took Kay and I to Philadelphia yesterday. It was the most amazing day and the weather was beautiful. I think that I fell in love a little yesterday. It was just so lovely, we tramped about the streets, on the pretext of seeing the Murals that have been put around the city. They are completely wonderful and amazing! They have all kinds of themes that are loosely based on the area or building that they adorn. I love art and I love buildings, what a fabulous combination. I took a ton of pictures so bare with me.
There was however a bit of a side story that went along with the Mural Mile walk and that was my hair! I will share that I really didn't think about the dying of the hair in the context of other peoples reactions. I know that sounds crazy but it was literally a spur of the moment thing. So you can imagine I go to the city and interestingly enough I get some comments. Now these were all wonderfully positive but as you may recall I live my life constantly surprised so of course it surprised me every time that someone said something!
There is one who deserves a special note as it was rather too much attention. We were in South Philly and this guy walked up to where we were stopped ( probably discussing murals!) and said in the most intense way, that my hair was "Frikin Awesome!" and he went on to say he loved the colour. He was completely starring and standing a little too close, for more than the average stare time. My normal "get back dude face!" was not on and I just looked shocked and I just can't imagine what I was doing with my face but it was a play of emotions that I am sure Mary and Kay got a real kick out of! The difficult thing was that his girlfriend was sort of backing away..............yeah real intense! I think I said thank you to him............what can you say, "actually dude my hair is grey!"
He was the only scarey intense moment, the rest of the people who stopped to talk to us as we ambled about and saw the Murals, were really wonderful and friendly. We met so many people who talked to us and one guy at the Lesbian and Gay Rights mural was so lovely, told us all about Irish peeps that died building part of the railway near Malvern (up the road from here). I of course knew all about this terrible deed as I listen like a addict to NPR (National Public Radio). He was great fun and when Kay said that she was from Donegal where these Irish labourers were from, he really dialled it up and encouraged us to find 'Duffy's Cut'. He also said we were the best dressed Ladies in Philly! So here are some of the pictures............there are a lot pace yourself............
This glowing statue really grabbed my eye on our way into the city
We passed the Art Museum and of course the Rocky statue
There is Independence Hall and a British Flag!
All through my pictures you will see that I love architectural features and tiles, as we whizzed a long I got this shot! The tiles and period that this were done, I love
The dress on the left is stripes both ways and I just love this picture...........no good reason, just snapped it as we passed in the car!
This is Washington Park and the start of our journey to see the murals.......and where the car was parked. So we had a look at the things there and we found this memorial....
OK, Bicentennial Moon tree, seed that travelled to the moon and was planted but look at the size of the tree! So anyone thinking of travelling to the moon watch out............it stunts your growth!
This the most beautiful thing I have ever seen Maxfield Parrish's Dream Garden, made 1914-1915 with 100,000 pieces of Tiffany glass and 266 colours and made into 24 panels! It took a year to make and 6 months to install
This is one of Mary's favorite bits!
The Hall that it sits in
Amazing architecture
This name gave us a giggle.........he is one of the people that signed the Declaration of Independence
First Mural on foot that we saw. It is about the rise of people in America
This is the Reading Terminal Market and it was really good. The food we had there was just wonderful.
There was a little shop there that had a map for you to locate where you were from, for starters it had the Isle of Man on it! so really I had to stick a pin in it...........mine is the red one!
I love the mix of buildings in the city
This is the Tree of Knowledge
This is the building that it is on and one of the recurring themes is that the mural blends with the building............it works wonderfully with them all.
This one was hard to photo. But the message really beautiful
We are all linked..............
This mural was on the side of lawyers offices and the guy that commissioned it loved city art and he included it in the picture as well as himself and
daughters. It was quite cool
This is a great example of the blending of the existing building and mural...look at the windows
The mural commissioner saved the building that the mural is on and this is it! Wowe
This graffiti was opposite the mural..........couldn't resist taking it's picture too!
Stunning mural and this is a community garden
The street that it is on is so sweet and the cafe is onto the garden too.
Cool building
I thought that this was a really sweet street and what a brilliant plague
This is for the performing arts
Again look at how they have used the brick and put the wall plagues into it as a feature!
This little row is adjacent to the mural of performing arts.
This mural was about women and their role
I liked this section of it and again how the bricks are part of the mural and incorporated to the wall
Think the bride is Grace Kelly (She was from Philly!)
Building near by and the following pictures are close ups of some features on it
Just cool windows
Really interesting building
This is a French Restaurant
Provence!
This Mural very near by is for Gay and Civil Rights
Just cool streets all along our walk
Loved the doorways
This shot is totally cool the arched glass bit is the Kimmel Center....for those that know Philly
This Mural is Spring
Fab corner building
This was near the Spring mural on a bar called Dirty Franks!
Nice garden in the city
This is for the performance arts
The only mural I noticed with 3d parts to it...the heads!
Another cool street
This mural is on an animal shelter
Street with flags up and one of the residents told us that the flags were put out for fun and when Mary asked about the Union Jack, the lady said the guy was having an "off day!" Good job I didn't open my mouth!
This is the Magic Garden.........I am not sure about structural integrity?
These buildings were close by and covered! in mosaics
Winter Mural
Ah the cardinal!
Cool Ride!
This is another wonderful Mural..........location of the Frikin Awesome comment!
Passed this dilapidated synagogue a few times
This is the Italian Section of Philly
Yes indeed the Sicilian Flag does have three legs!
Mural for a cheese shop
The Italian Market was wonderful
I really loved the different buildings that I saw
Double frontage is rare and this is a lovely house! (there seems to be a problem with this picture and it is repeated.............but hey this is a good picture! so forgive the mistake)
I thought that these two were lovely with their contrasting window styles and moldings
A stand alone friend
The pancake place............yummy !
My pudding!
Our tattooed waitress and flaming Kay's pancake
(Mary for the record it is a possum and ok I admit it a raccoon!)
we argued on the way home about what these animals were on the girls arm? any guesses ?
Caught this on the way to the car what a wonderful weather vane.
Such a great day, so many pictures too but lots and lots of fun! Philly really is a brilliant city. Wow that is a mamoth blogola! Sorry, but there was just so much to see. I am sure we walked more that the Mural Mile though! My feet feel walked off but it was so worth it and I am so grateful to Mary for taking us and to Kay for being such a good egg!
