On the drive back to the Amtrak station, my Uber driver admitted that she has been in Philly her whole life and can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Philadelphia met Alex and I with moody weather, perhaps as a hint that I should spend some time in their Museum district before eagerly wandering the streets. We spent half the day at the Eastern State Penitentiary, which is now officially my favorite place to photograph in Philly. The torn-down worn out building is a playground of light chasers, even on a cloudy day. Between Chinatown and Philly’s pristine and quaint Historic District, Alex and I spent the rest of the day wandering around the city and dodging the rain. When the weather cleared, we continued our trek to the Rocky Statue and the steps leading up to the Museum of Art.


Once in a while, Alex and I disagree on a city. Philly happens to be one of these places. I enjoyed the quaintness of small Philadelphia, its quiet waterfront seemed like a much needed change from my usual bustling and smoggy Manhattan. I think Alex prefers the grittiness of a city like New York to my yearning for the laidback vibe of Philly. Before we left for the train station, I took one last stroll on the Ben Franklin Bridge. I had intended to run across the bridge in the morning but the rain kept me confined to the hotel gym. Now, with the sun beaming above me, I could make out downtown Philly faintly in the haze.