Fact: Day Ten

Today we woke up in beautiful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

We didn't necessarily get UP right then. In fact, the housekeepers knocked twice convinced that we must have checked out by now and I cheerfully let them know that we weren't quite ready, but thanks for asking. It was a lovely, lazy morning.

We finally tumbled out of the hotel right at noon and headed the strenuous 2 blocks to Independence Square. We saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall (and we relived all the scenes from "National Treasure" that we could), tried a real Philly Cheesesteak (Jim, Will, and I loved them--Jourdan wouldn't try it, Will & Rachel were quick to reject it and I guarantee I found the MOST expensive vendor in the entire city...but that's another story all together), saw Benjamin Franklin's grave, toured around the United States Mint (the P on all your quarters mean they were minted in Philadelphia, of course you knew that), and left Pennsylvania behind.

We drove on the New Jersey Turnpike all the way to Newark. The whole way, I made phone calls to hotels in New Jersey and Manhattan and came to a swift and scary conclusion...IT'S A HOLIDAY WEEKEND!! We need two nights in a hotel until our subleased apartment is ready for us on Sunday afternoon. Everyone could accomodate us tonight. Tomorrow--not so much.

So we took the first option that was available--a medium-cheap Marriott basically in the parking lot of the Newark Airport. Actually on the off-ramp of the southbound access road that is leaving the Jersey Turnpike and connecting a U-turn from the northbound loop.

Which thing I know because I made the horrible decision to do laundry. I got convenient, printed directions from the hotel concierge to a local laundromat and off I went. Except that the street didn't exist. I toured the streets of Newark enjoying the view (a lot of the houses looked just like Peter Parker's aunt's neighborhood from the first Spiderman movie) and ran into a clean, warm laundromat in a Korean-ish neighborhood. The owners were friendly and helpful and I got the laundry done.

At 8:35pm, I was pulling out of the McDonald's drive-thru and had just texted Jourdan that I was on my way back to the hotel. At 9:26, I pulled into the hotel parking lot. Which was precisely 3 miles north of where I was when I texted her. You do the math.

I drove past the hotel going the wrong direction three times, circled the airport twice, went the wrong way on accident 5 times, got on the turnpike once (a 60 cent mistake), and got to the hotel with a bag full of room-temperature french fries and an increased appreciation for public transit.

Independence Hall and Liberty Hall (wherein the Liberty Bell resides).Dwight loves Pennsylvania.
We did walk two entire blocks.
Matt.
The Liberty Bell!
Benjamin Franklin's grave dotted with pennies. Will & Matt spent some time cleaning up around his grave, putting all the pennies back on top. I briefly wondered if they'd pocket the pennies had no one been looking...but Franklin probably would have approved.




Mint, Dwight?

Mint, Dwight?

Michael Scott's Paper Company Official Snack Food
When we drove into Jersey, we looked and looked (and LOOKED) for a Welcome Center. Jourdan declared that she did not feel welcome and I said that might be what they were going for. We did find the words "New" and "Jersey" together in a couple of spots...
Will is our official state-hunter.
We are all prepared for our grand debut as agents for an Improv Everywhere mission. We have 6 iPods, 2 cameras, and 3 phones charging. We have purchased, washed, and hung gently all the required wardrobe. We have checked and double-checked our route to Roosevelt Island. And we're ready. It's the reason we came to the city tonight.