Monday, April 30, 2012
Philadelphia History
The American colonies were originally under an oppressive British rule and it was in response to Parliament's punitive Intolerable Acts that gathered colonial representatives in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress (1774) to draw up a Declaration of Rights and Grievances and an appeal to King George III. No concessions were forthcoming so the Second Continental Congress convened in 1775 to appoint George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental forces in the ensuing war with Britain which started with the battle at Bunker Hill. In 1776 ties are severed with Great Britain as America signs a Declaration of Independence on July 4. The declaration was mostly written by Thomas Jefferson (who became the third president in 1801), but supported by John Adams (who succeeded Washington as president in 1797).
In 1787 James Madison (who became the 4th president in 1809), writes the Articles of Confederation which set out the framework for a new government. In 1789 all states ratify the Constitution. George Washington is elected the first president. In 1791 Congress passes 10 amendments to the Constitution (the Bill of Rights).
Philadelphia was the nation's capital until 1800 when government moved to Washington DC.
The Bell (originally to commemorate the 50 year anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges which was Pennsylvania's original constitution and spoke of the rights and freedoms valued by people the world over), hung in the State House since 1753 and summoned the Pennsylvania Assembly to work. It was named the Liberty Bell in the 1830s by anti-slavery groups.
It was originally cast by Whitechapel Foundry in 1752 and recast by Pass and Stow a year later. It weighs 2080lbs (approx 940kgs). The 'crack' happened the first time it was rung due to the brittleness of the metal in the bell. It was recast to attempt to remedy this but it was never improved. The current wide crack is the result of trying to stop any further cracks.
In 1787 James Madison (who became the 4th president in 1809), writes the Articles of Confederation which set out the framework for a new government. In 1789 all states ratify the Constitution. George Washington is elected the first president. In 1791 Congress passes 10 amendments to the Constitution (the Bill of Rights).
Philadelphia was the nation's capital until 1800 when government moved to Washington DC.
The Bell (originally to commemorate the 50 year anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges which was Pennsylvania's original constitution and spoke of the rights and freedoms valued by people the world over), hung in the State House since 1753 and summoned the Pennsylvania Assembly to work. It was named the Liberty Bell in the 1830s by anti-slavery groups.
It was originally cast by Whitechapel Foundry in 1752 and recast by Pass and Stow a year later. It weighs 2080lbs (approx 940kgs). The 'crack' happened the first time it was rung due to the brittleness of the metal in the bell. It was recast to attempt to remedy this but it was never improved. The current wide crack is the result of trying to stop any further cracks.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Philadelphia
The trip to Philadelphia is by train today from Pennsylvania Station, which is underneath Madison Square Garden. The Acela Express is a high speed tilt train that runs regularly from Boston to Washington via New York and Philadelphia reaching speeds of 240kph. 
Saturday, April 28, 2012
New York - Saturday
It's a beautiful spring morning in New York today, starting at only about 10 degrees but clear blue skies and a light breeze, it warmed up to nearly 20. I walked to and around Central Park, amongst the dog walkers, joggers, roller bladers and cyclists. The weather forecast was for rain but it looks like the meteorologists are no better in the USA than Australia.
After breakfast and a barely drinkable latte (despite asking for an extra shot) I walked from 49th Street (Theatre District) to Battery Park which is the southern tip of Manhattan. The queues were too long for the Statue of Liberty ferry so I walked back up via Wall Street to see the 911 memorial (photo of reflection pool). Construction continues on the single WTC building to replace the two originals as well as other buildings that had to be condemned after 911. Security is very tight and on par with airport screening to ensure gets a chance for a follow up message.
From there I caught the subway to Flushing in Queens. On the map its on the top right of the mauve section, near 295. Flushing was the site of the World Trade Fair in 1964 when they built the Unisphere (see photo). It's been used in films such as Men In Black and New Years Eve. This area is also where the New York Mets home ground, Shea Stadium is and where the US Open tennis is played. Also there is the Queens Museum of Art which has a unique exhibit called The Panorama (see photo) which is a very large 'scaled down' model of New York's 5 boroughs. On the way back on the train back to Manhattan I was conscious of being the token white guy as everyone else was either Chinese, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Columbian, Cuban, or even Peruvian. Actually that's not quite correct, there was another white guy but they got him before they got to me...just kidding.
After breakfast and a barely drinkable latte (despite asking for an extra shot) I walked from 49th Street (Theatre District) to Battery Park which is the southern tip of Manhattan. The queues were too long for the Statue of Liberty ferry so I walked back up via Wall Street to see the 911 memorial (photo of reflection pool). Construction continues on the single WTC building to replace the two originals as well as other buildings that had to be condemned after 911. Security is very tight and on par with airport screening to ensure gets a chance for a follow up message.
From there I caught the subway to Flushing in Queens. On the map its on the top right of the mauve section, near 295. Flushing was the site of the World Trade Fair in 1964 when they built the Unisphere (see photo). It's been used in films such as Men In Black and New Years Eve. This area is also where the New York Mets home ground, Shea Stadium is and where the US Open tennis is played. Also there is the Queens Museum of Art which has a unique exhibit called The Panorama (see photo) which is a very large 'scaled down' model of New York's 5 boroughs. On the way back on the train back to Manhattan I was conscious of being the token white guy as everyone else was either Chinese, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Columbian, Cuban, or even Peruvian. Actually that's not quite correct, there was another white guy but they got him before they got to me...just kidding.
New York - Friday night
I flew into La Guardia Airport at 9pm and about 6 degrees with a wind. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that La Guardia is only a $25 cab fare from mid-Manhattan. That distance in Sydney though would have cost $50 easy. I hadn't dinner yet so I had a pizza and a glass of Tuscan red in the Italian restaurant within the Time Hotel. I'm always amused that New York pizza makers haven't figured out that you can have more than 3 things on a pizza. And that includes the cheese and tomato!
Now the hotel. It's a boutique (which is code for renovated old building) just off broadway. I was stoked when they upgraded me to a larger room but frankly I don't know how it could've been any smaller! I dropped a handkerchief and had a wall to wall rug. Apart from that, the bed was comfortable and I was softly lulled off to sleep to the melodic sounds of police and fire sirens.
Now the hotel. It's a boutique (which is code for renovated old building) just off broadway. I was stoked when they upgraded me to a larger room but frankly I don't know how it could've been any smaller! I dropped a handkerchief and had a wall to wall rug. Apart from that, the bed was comfortable and I was softly lulled off to sleep to the melodic sounds of police and fire sirens.
Dallas
I arrived in the land of oil wells, big hair, 10 gallon hats, the Dallas Cowboys, (more importantly) the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and J.R.Ewing on time and only slightly crippled from trying to sleep in aircraft seats. Immigration and Customs was quite painless but then I had to get to another terminal for the flight on to New York. Wow! I think I walked halfway to NY. I walked past gates D1 to D40 then C1 to C36. Yep, 76 gates. And I'm fit! I don't know how most of the super sized inhabitants of this state would do it. I even walked up the stairs instead of using the escalator and was pointed at like I was the freak.
I only had about 15 minutes to get from the international terminal to C36 but if you weren't in a rush, there's no end to the stream of places you could sate your appetite along the way. There was Blimpies, TGI Friday, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Fuddruckers Hamburgers, Dickeys BBQ Pit, Einstein Bros Bagels, to name about 10% of them. I think that's where the difference between US and Australian airports is so stark. While we of course have a 'food court', most of the other stores are shopping whereas in the States, it's the other way round.
I only had about 15 minutes to get from the international terminal to C36 but if you weren't in a rush, there's no end to the stream of places you could sate your appetite along the way. There was Blimpies, TGI Friday, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Fuddruckers Hamburgers, Dickeys BBQ Pit, Einstein Bros Bagels, to name about 10% of them. I think that's where the difference between US and Australian airports is so stark. While we of course have a 'food court', most of the other stores are shopping whereas in the States, it's the other way round.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Moves and Departures
As only Murphy could write it, the day I fly out is the day we move house. But Murphy wasn't happy with just combining the two events, I'm allergic to dust - and there's plenty of that around! So after sneezing and sniffling my way through check-in, immigration and customs, and getting the occasional curled lip look from other travelers who probably thought I was bringing in the latest strain of exotic flu derived from a Bangkok farmyard, I finally got to sit in the Qantas Club enjoying what was most likely the last decent cappuccino for 2 weeks and as it was Qantas Club machine coffee you can see I haven't set my benchmark too high.
Eventually the 3rd and 4th Sudafed kicked in and dried up my runny nose just in time to enter the arctic freezer otherwise known as a 747 and be waited on by the plethora of Qantas flight attendants that reminded me more of a group of soccer moms frantically working the canteen at Saturday morning sport, only this time it was champagne and hot face towels instead of pies and sausage rolls.
Have you ever noticed sometimes when they give you a menu as soon as you board and you build great expectations about what you would like and choose what you'll have (at least in your head), then ... 2 hours later when the soccer moms are serving the food, and passengers are asked 'dukkah chicken with the pearl cous cous or pork loin with the fig and pancetta relish?' about 5 minutes into the meal, people will reach for the menu again to read again what they are supposed to be eating as if to say 'Really? That's chicken?'(Please note I was tempted to use the old 'I am a chicken, my wife is a vegetable' joke here but resisted). And Neil Perry went to so much trouble...honestly sometimes I think most people would prefer pies and sausage rolls....
But at last Qantas have realized its almost impossible to kill someone with a plastic butter knife (except for inflicting a nasty scratch which could get infected) and have relented and now give us stainless steel cutlery instead of the plastic we've been forced to use for the last 10 years. Mind you, I'm sure your average terrorist would probably come better prepared nowadays with ceramic knives or other high tech weapons that can evade the considerably upgraded screening process (i got the full body x-ray today. I asked could they check my prostate while they're looking- not amused). I'm guessing terrorist training camps no longer include sessions on 'how to seriously hurt someone with what you find on airline food trays'. Although I'm sure getting salt in your eye could sting...
Eventually the 3rd and 4th Sudafed kicked in and dried up my runny nose just in time to enter the arctic freezer otherwise known as a 747 and be waited on by the plethora of Qantas flight attendants that reminded me more of a group of soccer moms frantically working the canteen at Saturday morning sport, only this time it was champagne and hot face towels instead of pies and sausage rolls.
Have you ever noticed sometimes when they give you a menu as soon as you board and you build great expectations about what you would like and choose what you'll have (at least in your head), then ... 2 hours later when the soccer moms are serving the food, and passengers are asked 'dukkah chicken with the pearl cous cous or pork loin with the fig and pancetta relish?' about 5 minutes into the meal, people will reach for the menu again to read again what they are supposed to be eating as if to say 'Really? That's chicken?'(Please note I was tempted to use the old 'I am a chicken, my wife is a vegetable' joke here but resisted). And Neil Perry went to so much trouble...honestly sometimes I think most people would prefer pies and sausage rolls....
But at last Qantas have realized its almost impossible to kill someone with a plastic butter knife (except for inflicting a nasty scratch which could get infected) and have relented and now give us stainless steel cutlery instead of the plastic we've been forced to use for the last 10 years. Mind you, I'm sure your average terrorist would probably come better prepared nowadays with ceramic knives or other high tech weapons that can evade the considerably upgraded screening process (i got the full body x-ray today. I asked could they check my prostate while they're looking- not amused). I'm guessing terrorist training camps no longer include sessions on 'how to seriously hurt someone with what you find on airline food trays'. Although I'm sure getting salt in your eye could sting...
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Trip to USA and Mexico
I was fortunate enough to win a scholarship to some executive education so i've chosen the Wharton Business School in Philadelphia for a 5 day course incorporating finance and strategy. After a day sightseeing in New York and the next day in Philadelphia I get to Wharton. After the course I'm going to Cancun in Mexico which is close to Chitchen Itza where the Mayan Pyramids are (see photo). These are one of the 7 wonders of the world and makes 5 for me - just Petra and Machu Pichu to go. I then spend a day in Miami on my way home to Sydney.
Friday April 27 - Sydney to New York (via Dallas)
Saturday April 28 - New York
Sunday April 29 - New York to Philadelphia
Monday April 30 to Friday May 4 - Wharton Business School
Saturday May 5 - Philadelphia to Cancun
Sunday May 6 - Chitchen Itza
Monday May 7 - Miami
Tuesday May 8 - New York to Sydney
Friday April 27 - Sydney to New York (via Dallas)
Saturday April 28 - New York
Sunday April 29 - New York to Philadelphia
Monday April 30 to Friday May 4 - Wharton Business School
Saturday May 5 - Philadelphia to Cancun
Sunday May 6 - Chitchen Itza
Monday May 7 - Miami
Tuesday May 8 - New York to Sydney
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