PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – Language Spoken: tough English – Location: East Coast, USA
Some go for the history, some go for the cheesesteaks, me – I go for the coffee shops and the cheesesteaks. For some reason, cheese steaks don’t hurt my gluten intolerance (lies, lies, lies) so I tell myself every time I return to this gem of a city. I’m not a big fan of my hometown state city, NYC, because I can’t afford to love it the way it should be loved. There are most definitely rough patches of Philly and I have experienced shootouts first hand, BUT PLEASE DON’T be scurred. Seriously, I have no problem with areas bordering bad areas because I like to stay cheap, so don’t worry most of the city is rather safe. It’s just like every other city- know your surroundings and don’t be an idiot.
Philly is like the cool, cute, sassy, intelligent cousin of NYC for the
rest of the middle incomers of the world.
Girllllll, the cheesesteaks are freakin’ deeeee lish!!! I feel like most of the time I’m in Philly, I’m usually eating or looking for something to eat. I mean the cheese steaks melt in your mouth and keep your hunger soul begging for more. Your taste buds have a Philly Phiesta in your mouth. Da da da daaaa, chaaa chaa chaaa. Personally, I don’t love the traditional Philly cheese steak if it’s not drenched in liquid cheese, I’m more of a Italian pork with provolone kinda chick. Oh man, my mouth is a wattataring! Cheesesteak, get in me belllll eee.
So, if you’ve ever been to trendy, hipster coffee shops that just know how to do it, this is like the Mecca of those to me. Their coffee shops are ah maze ing and some are super huge! I like having my own space at cawfee shoppes because I eavesdrop too often. If I’m too close to someone, I will totally be all up in their conversation literally putting my uninvited two sense into it.
Reading Terminal Market is one of the best indoor markets I could experience in the states. It has aisles upon aisles of yummy, delish food. There are aisles of desserts, aisles of pizza, aisles of cheese, aisles of meat, aisles of different kinds of food with a place to sit your bum down to eat in the middle. My favorite cheesesteak place in the terminal is in the aisle all the way to the right if you are coming in from the front. They have great cannolis at Termini’s too!
While we are on the subject of food, I need to mention Ralph’s Italian Restaurant. This restaurant has been open since 1900 and it still has the feel of a good old Italiano restaurante that is lip smacking good! It is very authentic and it makes you feel like you are meant to eat all the cheese, pasta, and sauce until you explode. The mussels there are ridiculous, if you don’t get the red and the white then you’re not my friend.
F Y I
Places Stayed:airbnb in Fairmount, airbnb in Kensington (email me for links)
Places Visited:Reading Terminal, Liberty Bell, Rocky Steps, Eastern State Penitentiary, Magic Gardens, Rittenhouse Square
Purpose of Trip: Travel and family
backpackingChick 