The day after the 2016 Presidential election, before the sun rose, we headed to Atlanta to board a flight to Philadelphia. The election had nothing to do with our trip, but that morning as my husband and I dressed to leave, and later as we walked through airport security, it seemed like all was a fog and everyone was moving, ever so slowly, in some sort of strange, parallel universe.
What had just happened?
Did our nation just elect Donald Trump as president?
The same sentiment was apparent in Philly. Everything from the young female offering hugs in front of the famous Philly "LOVE" statue to the man screaming at me about fear of African-American men like himself as we walked out of the Philadelphia art museum a few nights later showed the range of emotions so many were experiencing.
There were protests outside our hotel. I didn't realize it until the night after the protests began, and this only after I got several texts asking if we were safe.
Safe? What was going on for me to get several texts such as this?
I don't know why it didn't cross my mind protesters were out in full force in Philly. I saw on the news they were happening all over the country, but it never dawned on me they were literally going on directly in front of our hotel, which was across the street from city hall.
Even though tension was in the air, and I was in Philadelphia for a work conference and had meetings each morning, our family ventured out each afternoon and evening to explore Philadelphia.
We were not disappointed.
The Academy of Natural Sciences
The Best Philly Cheesesteaks EVER at Jim's Steaks
The Philadelphia Zoo
AMAZING works from the Mexican Revolution on Display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Independence Hall
The Liberty Bell
Selfies waiting to play putt-putt and ride the carousel at Franklin Square
The Rocky Statue followed by a run up the Rocky Steps
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