Visiting Historic Downtown Philadelphia

TRAVEL TUESDAY

Taking You To Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  

If you love the history of the United States, then you will definitely want to add Philadelphia to your list of travels to see one day.  Rich in history and home to some of the most famous sights.  This is actually a place you can see everything in one long day, however you might enjoy it more if you have 2 or more.

Sorry, the building was under construction when I went, which is why you see the scaffolding

Right in the center of this Historic National Park is Independence Hall.  You'll have to get your tickets beforehand however, they are free (or were:).  Here you'll get to see the actual birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

The tours won't take you into every single room, but they will take you in and show you exactly where things happened, and explain the history and architecture of the building.  Next door you'll find Congress Hall and Old City Hall.

Next, walk on over to the famous Liberty Bell, one of America's iconic symbols of Independence.  Learn about the bell's history and the myths of when the bell really rang, and the rich history surrounding the famous crack in the bell.

If you don't mind a tad bit of a walk, you can go and visit Betsy Ross House, the birthplace of the American Flag.  Tour her home, learn about Betsy herself and her life and how the idea for the first stars and stripes originated.

Pictured above is the outside of the Betsy Ross house.

Philadelphia's buildings are unique in themselves.  I apologize for the bad picture quality, (It was late at night, and I was exhausted after running a marathon:)  when I took them.)  Pictured to the left is the Masonic Temple and next to it the beautiful Philadelphia City Hall.

As you travel down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Eakins Oval, you'll get to see a few fun sights and statues like these.  Above is one of the fountains - Sorry I went in late fall so the fountain wasn't running.  The below picture is the Washington Monument, uniformed George Washington on his horse.

The famous 72 steps leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  For those of you who remember the "Rocky" movies with Sylvester Stallone.  These are the steps he runs up in the movies, with the famous song "Gonna Fly Now".  If you are like me, you'll want to mimic the running of these steps.
and make the famous Rocky Pose with your hands up in a cheer when you get to the top. 
Now you can't see me unless you look really hard in this picture, but I am at the top with both hands in the air, letting the camera take my picture after the 72 step climb:)

After you climb the steps, next to the building is the famous bronze statue, where you must go and have your picture taken:) Not because you have to, but because it is fun:)  

Ignore, the haggard look on me.  I had run the Philadelphia Marathon, and went from the race, to the shower and then walked downtown back to the museum so I could run up those steps and then have my picture taken:)  Yes, just because I run a marathon, doesn't mean I just go lay down, if I am on vacation I will still go see the sights!!!

Additionally, while you are out sightseeing make sure to stop and grab a famous Philly cheese-steak sandwich!  I found a fabulous little sandwich shop near Independence Hall, because I asked a local where the best place to get one was. 
I highly recommend just asking the locals!  After I ask them where the best place to get something is, then I ask "Have you ate there?  Would you?"  If they hesitate, I'll ask someone else.  But if they jump with a yes immediately, I have found I can usually fully trust their recommendation:)  That's my little travel eating tip for you!!!

IF YOU GO:

A few other sights I didn't mention or picture above that if you have time are worth seeing:
Carpenters Hall
Franklin's Court
Elfreth's Alley
Fireman's Hall Museum
Edgar Allen Poe House
Institute of Contemporary Art
Franklin Square

*  Most of the places, I found to be free but I did have to reserve timed tickets beforehand.
*  The Betsy Ross house did have a small fee.
*  Personally I found it easy to just park my car near Independence Hall, in an underground parking garage and walk to all of the places in the National Historic Park.
*  As for the museum, and Elkins Oval, I found it easier once I was in my hotel downtown to just walk everywhere.  However, if you prefer to drive for a large city its quite easy to find your way around and I personally didn't think traffic was all that bad!
*  If you enjoy marathon's the Philadelphia marathon takes you around all of these attractions by foot.  You can also read my marathon review by visiting HERE.

An Ego Killer, but Recovery Bound

This week has been a lot of Physical Therapy and transitioning out of the boot.  A few days ago I had my first PT appointment.  I was excited, I am really ready to get onto the next level and eventually back to running!!!

The PT first asked me my goals, I replied with: Distance Running, Hiking and a little bit of everything:)  She then took measurements on my flexibility and strengths with my injured ankle/foot area in comparison with my non injured ankle/foot.
We chatted a bit, and I found out she is also a Marathon runner who's written many medical papers on Achilles tendinitis.  I have to be completely honest, I was thrilled she was a runner and a marathoner.  It means she will totally get me!  That and I know I can completely trust her to help me!

I also found out that the team of PT who I will be working with also consist of other marathon runners. Again a big plus!  One of which earlier this year went through what I am going through.

At first I was comforted in that.  But then she said, yes he came to me and said "I have Achilles tendinitis, this is horrible, the end of the world... People never recover from this."
I asked her "But they do recover, right?"  She didn't answer that one directly, she just explained that he is back to running again.  But unlike most injuries, this is one of those things you have to stop running immediately and let it heal before you can begin again.  (As I learned:)

I already knew some don't ever recover from this.  But there is a big difference between myself and them, and I know why I will recover (as I have been told I will).  Some people just can't make the temporary sacrifice to stopping running for a short while to let it heal.  (But I get it, it's so hard to stop doing something you love, especially when you have races and goals planned.)
As for me, I've gone this long without running, I have nothing to lose by continuing that for a tad longer so that eventually I will be able to, and I will be able to be a lifelong runner.

Anyhow, I only mention that little conversation because if anyone is reading my blog who has this injury, or gets this one day.  Possibly they'll take action and avoid ruining their body forever, as well as get back into running as soon as possible by using proper recovery methods.

Well I won't bore you with all the details of the appointment.  However, I will tell you it was a very humbling experience (of sorts).  Truthfully, it was more of a killer to my ego than anything.  But I will deal...

All the series of tests that she put me through, I pretty much failed them all miserably.  The only one I really passed was standing on my injured ankle with my eyes closed.  But sadly I could only do this for 3 seconds, and she told me she was sort of giving me that 3rd second... (20 seconds is the requirement to pass this test.)  I know, I was seriously shocked I couldn't do this.  10 months ago, I had amazing balance, but now....

See I had been a girl who in my past, there wasn't anything I couldn't do if I wanted to do it.  I've never really had any major physical limitations or injuries like this before.
A few of the tests I failed miserably.
Believe it or not, I cannot even go up on my tip toes and back down, even once with my injured foot.
The other thing is, my non injured foot has been picking up all the slack and using more effort and even it isn't 100% up to par...

So basically if you put me on a scale of 1 to 100.  100 being fully recovered, and 1 being a long way from recovery.  When you take into account all the simple tests I failed or couldn't do, I am basically at a 1.
Which is sad, and the ego killer part.  But on the plus side, I really can't go anywhere but up from here!

Because I have such a long way to go, and have to build my strength back up before I can really get into the PT that will get me back to running.  There are only 2 exercises I can do right now.

Stretch one foot at a time for 2 minutes.  I need to do this 5 times per day.  Only limit, I am not allowed to push through ANY pain while doing this.

5 Minutes of this twice per day.  This one may (and does) cause pain.  But a little pain with this one is okay, because the pain I get from this isn't from the injury area, it's from the muscles/tendon's that have weakened during my past 7 weeks of being in the boot, and not getting used.

Yup, that's it!  But I do get to continue transitioning out of the boot.  Two days this week I even had it off for up to 4 hours at a time.
You'd think taking it off would be a welcome relief.  But the truth is, it hurts a lot to take and keep it off for too long.  So putting it back on is a relief.  This will change over the next week or so as I wear it a few hours less every few days. (So I have been told:)

Yes, it's discouraging to know I have so far to go.  But honestly, its a relief in a way too.  I mean the injury itself is healed, and if I take my time and do what needs to be done it will stay healed.  Not only that, but in a few weeks, I will be at a totally different place than I am now.  Who knows, I might even be up to a slow jog by December???  Time will tell!  But I am just excited that I can say I am recovering, rather than injured!!!

Last, I get to start bringing cardio back into my life:)  3 days a week, 20 minutes on the stationary bike, is the recommended amount.  (Although if there is no pain, I can do more:)
The only problem is, I don't have one in my home gym right now:)  So this is on my list to acquire cheaply from a thrift store or borrow from someone this weekend.
My next PT appointment is on Monday.  I am bound and determined to make some progress!

I'll leave you with this Halloween picture of me and two of my adorable Princess Nieces.  I am a very proud aunt, and I love them all to pieces!!!

Cinderella and Sofia The First Princess's - I went as a Rocker chick this year:)

Did you dress up for Halloween?  What did you go as?
What are your goals for the next week?