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Philly Cheesesteak
Foodies more knowledgeable than I can tell you the culinary history of the famous Philly cheesesteak sandwich and what the differences are between Pat’s and Geno’s. It’s widely regarded that Pat’s made the sandwich famous in the 1930s and Geno’s wants a slice of the meat in the 1960’s. One Read more
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Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, like many other American patriotic symbols, are not what the traditional national narrative claims it to be. For example, the Star Spangled Banner written at Fort McHenry came from the War of 1812, an expansionist American war of aggression against the British Empire, which they Read more
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Benjamin Franklin Museum
The first postmaster general of the United States is also the only non-president to be permanently featured on American money. He built his house in the middle of a courtyard in Philadelphia, making the museum tricky to find. Franklin was one of 17 children and apprenticed under his brother, a Read more
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National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia is devoted to education on the American constitution and the history of American slavery. The constitution was severely challenged when southern states decided to leave the union despite the supreme court ruling that the nation is indestructible. But after the war and Abraham Lincoln‘s Read more
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Philadelphia Rodin Museum
The famous French sculptor has his main museum at the Museé Rodin in Paris. Many of his works in clay have been cast in bronze for Philadelphia. Sculptures are one of the few forms of visual art that can be reproduced faithfully in a near-exact manner. Featured figures in his Read more
Iconic Places
Independence Hall
Philadelphia was the largest city in British North America at the time. Independence Hall was originally built as Pennsylvania’s colonial seat of power with the governor’s office and the courtroom inside the building. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed here. You have to book in advance Read more
Cities
Philadelphia, PA
It was the largest settlement in New England at the time of the American Revolution, so there is plenty of history. Elfreth’s Alley is the oldest street in America that is still continuously inhabited in its 18th century form. The Second Empire style city hall can be seen from the Read more
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The Jewish Museum
This museum in New York City should be seen in context with Philadelphia’s Weitzman Museum of Jewish Americans. This is the art and culture museum, and that is the history museum. The yellow OY/YO is immediately recognizable in both museums as are the photos of European Jews landing in Coney Read more
Flights
Swiss A330-300 Business Class
Route: Zürich to MontrealPlane: A330-300Date: Jul 13, 2025Price: $1,811.96 (including a previous flight from Oslo and an onward flight to Ottawa, same price as premium economy) ComfortThe seat is over a decade old and its age shows. The buttons look tired and there are crumbs stuck in crevasses everywhere. My Read more