
Entry #25.2 / 17th July 2022
I went to the Independence Visitors Centre, and while I was disappointed not to see Holly again, I was pleased to only spend five dollars for the bus journey around the tourist sights.
Once I got onto the Phlash bus, I dug around in my backpack and pulled out the bracelet.
Enjoy the Journey.
Taking it out of the packet, I put on the bracelet with a small smile and ran my thumb over the words. And then, by chance, I looked up and saw something.
Well, what that something was, I wasn’t too sure, but it looked… beautiful.
Without thinking, I pressed the bus’s stop button, and soon, the bus stopped at the next location.
Quickly thanking the bus driver, I exited the bus and headed for the traffic lights. Impatiently tapping my foot on the ground, the traffic lights mockingly took their time, but eventually, they indicated I could cross.
Soon, I made my way to the location that had caught my eye, and it was just as beautiful as it looked from the bus.
Getting the Phlash bus map out, I saw I was at the location of the Rodin Museum. The entrance was an old-style marble wall with black iron gates that were open and led onto an open patio.
Slowly going up the steps I took in the area. There were hardly any people about, giving the air a sense of peace and contentment. Fallen lives scattered themselves on the ground and steps, adding more authenticity to the area rather than adding dirt.
Walking through the iron gates, I saw a few people mingling around the open patio, but for the most part, the peacefulness followed through.
As I wandered through the area, I breathed. A lung of air left my lungs as the tension, worries, and self-doubts left my body. This place, which seemed just as frozen in time as Elfreth’s Alley, brought with it so much stillness and calmness that you forget for a moment that this is only an entrance to a museum. That this is where you are in the world in Philadelphia. Who you are.
It was a beautiful way of taking a momentary break from everything and everyone – including myself.
***
The peace couldn’t last forever, though.
Since I was on a strict time schedule, I could only stay within the Rodin Museum grounds for ten minutes or so. But it was nice – a nice break away from everything.
Soon, though, I returned on the Phlash bus and headed towards the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Or, more specifically, the Rocky Steps.
It seems hypocritical to visit an iconic place in a film I haven’t seen.
Damn, my to-watch list keeps getting longer and longer.
Once the bus stopped at the Museum of Art, I thanked the driver and hopped off. With each step, the stairs came into full view.
Woa… I finally stood at the bottom of the steps, my eyes wide with… That’s a lot of steps. I let out a laugh, pulling out my phone. It was not enough to stop me, though.
Once the camera was on and staring down at my feet, I sped, walked, or lightly jogged up the steps, recording each second of it. Laughing the whole way through, a childish gleam ran through me as I did.
A gust mix of breathlessness and laughter broke out when I finally reached the top of the steps. My legs shagging with relief when I finally stopped and took in the sights before me.
Suddenly, in the midst of the relieved joy, someone tapped on my shoulder, and I jumped, turning towards the source.
“Cami?” I asked, surprised to see the familiar face of my fellow camp co-worker.
I shouldn’t be too surprised – I knew some internationals would be coming to Philadelphia this weekend. But not for the full weekend – I think everyone mainly came on Sunday, today. But with the group WhatsApp group I was in, it was difficult to keep up with everyone’s plans. I didn’t realise that Cami and Pedro were amongst those who were coming today.
Cami held a kind soul about her that you knew was a rarity in this world. So, again, it shouldn’t be too surprising that when she saw me, she came to say hello, along with Pedro.
I chatted with them for a good ten minutes, giving them suggestions of where to go and the Phlash bus, which takes you to all the destinations for five dollars. Cami then assisted in taking some photos on the Rocky Steps, and we all shared a selfie together.
Once the conversation died out and I realised the time, we went our separate ways. However, I saw the Rocky statue when I got to the Phlash bus stop. I internally debated whether to get a photo with it as I did not have enough time (as there was a bit of a queue), but… I haven’t seen the film yet. It’s one thing to take a photo of the Rocky Steps; it feels like an insult to take a photo of the statue that the film is about.
Am I thinking too much into it?
‘Most probably.’
***
City Hall was next on the hit list. Well, not hit list—this is America, and I don’t want people thinking I’m literally going to be taking people down. Honestly, I wasn’t even 100 per cent sure why I wanted to see City Hall. Obviously, it’s a historic place, and apparently, I love me some history, but I honestly wasn’t fussed about it.
But I saw it on the map, and my intuition told me to go.
It couldn’t hurt.
So, getting off the Phlash bus for the last time, I went to the City Hall building.
And fuck! It was bigger than what I was expecting.
‘What were you expecting?’ The bright voice inquired as my feet aimlessly walked around the building.
I took it all in—the white brickwork, the design, and the structure. It was interesting to see, but it didn’t capture my attention or imagination as much as the previous tourist places I had been to. But I kept with it, taking photos and videos and just being…
Then, I rounded a corner of the building and stopped in my tracks.
To one side of the building, in its open space, was a type of BBQ, with food being served in one area of the space. It seemed to be BBQ food—burgers, hot dogs, etc. Just opposite it were integrated ground sprinklers, popping up and down with water on the brick/concrete. A few kids were running around through it, laughing as they were covered in the cool water.
Tucking my phone in the safety of my shorts pocket, I made my way through the sprinklers – on the steel pathway with a safe distance between each sprinkler.
Once safely away from being sprinkler-field, my eyes widened as I took in the next attraction of the area.
Rothman Roller Rink.
It was another one of those situations where things you see characters do on TV or in films magically appear before you. It’s so stunningly surreal that I want to pinch myself to make sure I’m not caught up in one of my many daydreams.
I remember rollerblading as a kid. But those were with straight-lined roller blades, and nine times out of ten, my two left feet would knock me to the ground. Weirdly enough, I was much better at ice skating.
But whenever I watched American films and TV shows, and they had a part where the characters were rollerblading at a rink, the desire to try that sort of thing ramped up. I had seen a few places in England that do that sort of thing, and whenever I looked into it, either the price was not reasonable or, when it was, the time was not reasonable.
Getting out my phone, I glanced down at the time. Once I triple-checked the time of my bus back to NYC, I realised I had a good forty-five minutes to spare.
Approaching the stand of the payment, I saw that in total – with entry, roller blades, and a locker lock – it came up to twenty-five dollars. I pushed my lips together as I internally debated, weighing up the pros and cons, the gains and disadvantages, the positives and –
‘Oh bloody hell, just do it!’ the responsible voice hollered out, possibly inspiring envy from the bright voice because of its loudness. ‘You only bloody live once!’
The decision was then made; I spoke to the till worker, Frank, and purchased all the needed items.
***