The home of Rocky

Well we are in Philadelphia. It is really nice here. The weather is a lot cooler but so sunny and nice.

We arrived Saturday and had a little look around. Had a very interesting ride in the taxi to our hotel. The driver was so excited we were Australian. Apparently he loves Australians. Watches the Australian open every year and was very sad when Steve Irwin died. He knew quite a bit about it. Actually he didn't stop talking the whole way, using his hands which was a bit scary seeing he was driving. Good laugh.

Sunday we visited the steps from the famous Rocky movie. Of course we had to run up them and stand at the top, us and every other tourist there. 

The Rocky Steps

Woo hoo... we made it

Go Rocky!!

Then it was off to another football game. This time the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions. Turned out to be a very close game even going into overtime. Unfortunately the Eagles didn't win and the fans were quick to let the players know how they felt. Booing the team off the field didn't seem quite right to me but that's how they roll here.

The line up to get into the game

Our view of the field. Very good.

That's it, we all leave. Some very upset fans.

Monday we are off to see some more of Pennsylvania. 

Until next time...

We are sailing... Across the Ocean, across the Sea

Yep, we were sailing. Our first cruise and oh my gosh, how much fun was it. I think I'm hooked. Definitely must do that again. We started our cruise in Miami, on the Majesty of the Seas. First stop Nassau in the Bahamas, next our own personal island called Coco Cay, then Key West, Florida and back to Miami.

The Majesty of the Sea

Here are some photos of our stops.

First stop - the island of Nassau, Bahamas

Beautiful Beaches

Second stop - Coco Cay. Private Island.

Day at the beach - beautiful!

Relaxing!!

The last stop was Key West in Florida. I didn't take any photos. We walk around had lunch and an ice cream the day was very hot but nice.

We managed to catch a couple of shows on the cruise as well as as much food as we could eat, and even some we couldn't fit in. Caitlin climbed a rock climbing wall (on the ship), we swam and shopped. We did it all.

Rock Climbing wall on the boat. There's Caitlin up there.

Our room. Big isn't it!

The other half.

Inside the ship

'I'm the king of the world'

We ended the cruise on Friday and spent the day in Miami. Stayed in Miami that night and then headed to Philadelphia. We will be in Philli for the next few days before flying home.

Miami

South Beach Miami

Ahhh... Relaxing.

But first, I missed some days. Here is what we did between Norfolk and Virginia Beach and the cruise.

Savannah

Cool Cemetery

I fell in love with all the doors

Coloured houses

Beautiful old buildings

Random man with snake in the middle of the street.

In Charleston we me up with some friends and went to a college football game. Oh wow. It was so great. I don't remember ever being in an atmosphere like that.

Before the game

The band comes out at half time.

The fans go wild!

Until next time...

Life Changing Moment...

Well it's been almost a week. I'm getting slack. Thought that might happen (sigh). Anyway, so now I have to remember what we did!!

Washington DC. Loved it. We toured a few of the Smithsonian's starting with the air and space museum. 

Then the Museum of American History. We went there specifically to see the First Lady Dresses. They were all so beautiful.

Michelle Obama's inauguration dress.

Spent a morning at the holocaust museum. Oh my gosh! If you ever get a chance to go there, do it. Years ago when Alex and I went to Europe for a holiday we went to the Dachau concentration camp and it was life changing. The Holocaust Museum does the same to you. I read a quote near the end that said - all the people that knew what was going on but did nothing was what gave the Nazi's the power to do what they did. It made me wonder if I would have been one of those people... Not sure I can answer that.

We have eaten lots of great food too. Here are just a few pics.

Shrimp and Grits

Godiva Choc Cheesecake from 'The Cheesecake Factory' - more than just cheesecakes

Kebab from Istanbul Gyros and Kebabs

Did the whole tourist thing in DC as well.

Lincoln Memorial

Outside the Lincoln Memorial

Treasury Building

Washington Monument and reflecting pool

Washington Monument

The White House

World War II Memorial

All round Washington was a hit.

Then on Saturday we got up nice an early to catch the train to Norfolk our next stop. The only thing we didn't plan for was the Metro (Washington's subway system) didn't run as often on the weekends. So we didn't leave enough time and we missed our train. Luckily we were able to jump on a bus which ended up taking the same amount of time and actually dropped us off pretty much outside the hotel. So all worked out in the end. Note to self... remember what day it is!!

Norfolk is nice but not big like the cities we have been in up until now. We headed off to church on Sunday in Virginia Beach. Now there is a nice place.

Virginia Beach

After we went down to the beach and found a festival on the boardwalk. I love markets so I had a great time. There was also the 'North American Sand Sculpture Competition', but there were so many people there Sunday we just had to watch from afar. We ended up going back on Monday and seeing it with not so many people. I have added some photos of the sculptures, they were amazing! The attention to detail was magnificent. 

This one was the winner. Called Sandman shows a girls head on a pillow with dreams of castles coming out of her head.

Although in the end my favourite was one of the simplest ones. There was just something about it that captured me.

My Favourite - Fallen. Shows a figure holding a feather with the remains of wings on her back.
Not sure why, but there was just something about it.

Tomorrow we are off to the airport early to catch a plane to Savanna, Georgia. It's our first internal flight and we are hoping we haven't filled up our bags too much yet. Still have a couple of weeks of shopping to go :)

Until next time...