Philadelphia PA to MARYLAND

Relaxing day at back at our Bushkill villa (Pennsylvania) to recover from New York City! Think we ventured outside at about 1pm! Lots of kids activities that the resort run, so we went to Kids Bingo in the afternoon. Met a nice family from Tennessee and we all went to dinner together.

Up early again the next day and made the 1 and a 1/2 hour drive into Philadelphia. A population of 1.45 million people and home to NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, 76's Basketball, Phillies Baseball team and the Flyers Ice Hockey. All their stadiums were conveniently located together which we came across on the edge of town. Philadelphia also borders on nearby state Delaware. We had to just pop over the border for our 47th state sign photograph!

First stop was the Philadelphia Museum of Arts. Famous for it's Rembrandt's and Picasso pieces inside. Team Connor was there however .......for the "Rocky Steps" that lead to it's entrance! The same staircase that Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) ran up in the 1976 Oscar Winning movie Rocky.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIVVL5SDWH8

The view from the top looking back towards Philadelphia central was beautiful.

All in all, we found it to be a really nice city. Lots of Parks, Memorial Squares, Statues, fountains, clean streets and park benches to sit in the sun & relax. Although only 90 miles from the heart of NYC the pace of Philly life was a lot more laid back and livable!

Next day we left Pennsylvania and off down to Amish Country in nearby Lancaster. Very amusing to see all the town's folk out in their beautiful horse drawn black polished buggies off to church for Sunday morning. The surrounding farms had tractors and ploughs sitting out in the paddocks which are all powered by man or animal. No electricity and modern conveniences to be seen. All foods made from scratch and a very different and simple life for these communities. Jackson could not believe that they did not have X boxes or Wii's!

Across the border into our very last continental state .....yes we've done it, the 48th state - Maryland (Washington DC)!

Mission accomplished! But still plenty to do.

For those who may not know, America has 50 states (but 48 are continental). The remaining two - Alaska and Hawaii - one too cold and the other too far away! (techniquely we covered them all, as we meet a family from Alaska and we have watched Hawaii 5 0.)

One week left touring Washington DC before flying out to Los Angeles, then back home to Oz!

Love to all.

Team Connor USA.