July 29 pm

In the pm we took a short walk (abut 3 blocks) from the Barnes Foundation to the Franklin Institute (image number one has Ann and I at the Ben Franklin statue).





We had a coupon for a few dollars off this museum. 


We both went to the giant heart (second image) and the planetarium (most of the presentation there was a 'we love space' piece of propaganda but with great graphics).


 Then we went to the 'train factory' exhibit. This included the the Baldwin 60000 steam locomotive. This train (thirst image) was built in 1926 and was the 60000th train built by the Baldwin company. Unfortunately, the locomotive was too heavy for the rails then in use and by 1933, diesel electric locomotives were displacing the steam ones. The Franklin institute purchased it for $1 and, with a great deal of trouble, moved it to it's current site (yes the ground floor). Then Ann wanted to go to the special spy exhibit. I went to the other exhibits (many of which had displays that were out of order).  

After the Franklin Institute we had a meal at Burger.Org (a kosher place about 5 blocks from the Franklin Institute. It was on the #17 bus line so after supper we boarded the bus and went back to the motel.  The outbound #17 had a problem at one point. The street (19th) was one way, three lanes but with the left and right lanes used for parking. At one point a U-Haul truck was on the left and a large SUV on the right. The bus driver slowed to about 0.5mph to get by with only a few inches to spare on each side. When we got clear, the passengers gave the driver a round of applause.

When we got to the hotel, the WIFI signal wasn't very strong so we complained. They gave us another room where the WIFI was good but the air conditioner didn't work so we complained again and moved again. After we got back I called Orbitz (with whom we had made the reservation) and they gave us $30 credit.