Philadelphia

Ethnically mixed, smart, cultured, down-at-heel, bohemian, historic, noble, tacky, vibrant.... Philadelphia is a real mix and after nearly a week here we have gathered a rich variety of impressions. It has been a whirlwind of activity and  this is the first opportunity I've had to write anything on here. We are staying with my Russian friend who came here 12 years ago. Her daughter was just 3 when they moved from Siberia. So we are seeing things partly through their eyes too. Although one thing we are realising is that there isn't really a 'typical' American experience - there is such diversity here (in this city at least).

We have been to Atlantic City and swum / body-boarded in the warm sea. We have taken in a show on Broadway in a rainy and traffic-filled New York with cars hooting just like they do in films. In theory you can get fined for sounding your horn; I'm not sure how they'd enforce this though. We've explored Philadelphia city centre (or Center City as it is known), including the Liberty Bell, Independence National Historic Park, Penn's Landing, the Museum of Art, a rather strange and interesting alternative art installation, and the Free Library of Philadelphia.

We've eaten out at some great places - Carrabba's Italian Grill is my favourite so far, which we especially appreciated because we were pretty hungry by the time we got there. We were also driven to Norristown (about 40 minutes from where we are staying in the Philadelphia suburbs) and treated to a feast of Japanese food. We've enjoyed some great home cooking too, with a Russian twist. Lest you should get the impression it has been all about food, I should add that I managed a swim at a health club earlier this week.

The weather is HOT, but we are getting used to it and most indoor places are air-conditioned. It has rained a bit too. Being British we're on more familiar territory with rain. We are walking a lot and using public transport, but realise that one reason many Americans drive everywhere is that it's so darned hot, as well as the fact that pavements, or should I say sidewalks, are only found in some roads (seemingly at random).

We are enjoying our stay here and experiencing warm hospitality. It has been great to catch up with my friend and has also been an opportunity to revive my long-dormant Russian language skills. This area has a thriving Russian community and we often drive past Russian shops, restaurants and other businesses. So... here we are in America, and at the same time, in a little piece of Russia!

This picture is taken at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, in the tree garden on the top storey.