A Visit to Philly, PA (click pictures to enlarge them)

If you know me already you know why I went. The Blue Jays had some games transferred to Philadelphia while the G20 meetings were going on here, and I'd only been to Philly once before, about 20 years ago. It was a rushed trip but still some time to do a little sightseeing. Just wandering downtown in a modern city always presents some beautiful (imho) architecture

and art.

I did take time to visit the Franklin Institute - Ben's a pretty important person in Philadelphia. The plaza is dominated by this fountain

and the Philly Phanatic is there to welcome you.

Mr. Franklin, himself, graces the rotunda.

I found the building almost as interesting as the exhibits, most of which are designed with children in mind. As usual the IMAX Theatre was worth attending - "Hubble" was being shown.

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But the impetus for the trip, of course, was baseball,

so Friday evening and Saturday afternoon were spent at Citizens Bank Park which is some distance outside the city centre and part of a complex of sports stadia (!) and parking lots.

There are a number of larger-than-life statues around including this one of Robin Roberts. Roberts began pitching just about the time I became a baseball fan (1948).

The entrance to the park isn't spectacular

but there is a great view of the city skyline in the distance. It was as I was admiring this view that I was spotted by a couple from Cobourg who had also come for the games! When I go to the Rogers Centre I never see anyone I know. Go figure!

Inside, it's a cozy park and nothing seems too far away.

(Ritchie) Ashburn Alley is where most of the food vendors are.

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and the stacked bull pens are in good view of almost everyone.

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The park hold 43,000+ fans and they are currently working on a long string of sellouts, so this must be what it looks like every game, not just when I'm there.

In this particular picture Chase Utley is batting against Jesse Litsch with the bases loaded and none out. Utley singled to drive in two as the Phillies went on to score 6 in that inning.

Unfortunately Roy Halladay was the opposing pitcher

and here is the rest of the story!

By way of explanation, remember that these game were moved from Toronto and so the Blue Jays were the home team with the last at bat.

The Liberty Bell "rings" for Philly home runs and probably did for this Philly win, even though Toronto was the home team!

At both games I attended between-inning entertainment was provided by the Philly Phanatic accompanied by "real Canadian Mounties!" Not!

On Saturday afternoon power was supplied by John Buck (2-run homer)

and the outcome was considerably different, thank you.

At the Friday evening game I sat next to and made the aquaintance of Barry Goldberg and his teenaged son. It turned out that Barry is an artist who shows his work at a gallery in downtown Philly. I was able to drop in there on Saturday morning and meet him again and view some of his work, but only in sketch form. I like what I see on the link above but didn't dare ask prices and Barry didn't tell me!

Across the street from the gallery is historic Christ Church. "Known as the "Nations Church" because of the famous Revolution-era leaders who worshipped here, Christ Church was founded in 1695. It was the first parish of the Church of England (Anglican) in Pennsylvania. It is also the church where the American Episcopal Church was born."

I had hoped to worship here on Sunday,

but nothing quite worked out as I expected

and in the end I arrived home about 12 hours late,

but safe and sound for all that! Thank God.