The Philadelphia (love) story: a cellphone photo essay
Ryan and I got married in Seattle, on Earth Day 2009. We were fortunate to have a beautiful, small ceremony, and later to get together with friends to toast to our new adventure together. The only downside was that our families couldn't be with us.
That's the reason my family-in-law decided to put together a Pensylvannia wedding banquet for us. We go to Philadelphia every year for Thanksgiving, which worked out perfectly to gather family and friends. It was lovely! We had Italian food (a traditional and favorite for Ryan's family), loving hugs and all sorts of conversations on the sunny, crisp Fall afternoon we had our second wedding day.
Curtains were open, the warm light shined on wine glasses, keeping company to all the affection we got on that Friday.
(On a side note, I am pretty sure will have a third wedding party in Caracas, where many are waiting to hug us and wish us much happiness. Aren't we lucky, lucky, lucky?)
My camera stayed home and the only camera on site presented a few malfunctions. That's why the only photo we have is a cellphone one. I blessed the day our portable phones got cameras on them. I'm a fan and I'm not. I confess I edited these photos to look "handsome". Aesthetics aside, I'm grateful for these. I didn't document just our wedding day celebration, I also snapped some photos while roaming the streets of Philadelphia.
So here they are. My Philly cellphone photos. Some were taken to remember, some to tweet our whereabouts. Either way, I see them and say ¡gracias!
Our wedding cake was from Cramer's Bakery. Located in Yardley, PA, Cramer's has been open since 1946. My family-in-law has also gotten cakes from here for my father-in-law Jeff's 50th birthday party (custom made with a Philly's logo), and other important events like Grandparents' weddings and birthdays. The piece that you see there...humm, I pretty much polished it down myself. It was...creamy...delicious...perfect.
For the second time, my darling husband came with me to buy my bridal outfit. Like the first time, we stayed away from the white dress shop, and he even helped me picking up this burgundy little number (or numbers?) to "walk down the isle."
An all-American tradition I honored for the first time: the corsage. Simple, beautiful and elegant.
Us. Perhaps this is the only photo we've got that day. Handsome husband, right?
Cosmo, my family's 13-year old dog. He's a cool "cat". I thought this was a "picture perfect" quiet moment.
Oh! Adventures in Philadelphia. We pick a different Philly Cheesesteak vendor each year. 2009 was Jim's Steak's year. This fine establishment has been serving the famous sandwiches and hoagies for 70 years. We went to the location they claim is at "the hippiest street in town", South Street (which is a fantastic area to go for food and a stroll).
You might find this very interesting, but I grew up on Cheez Whiz (Yes! In Caracas!). Combine with a warm, just-out-of-the-oven arepa, and you will see heaven. When I saw this "restaurant-sized" can I almost, almost stole it from the counter.
The "assembly line" view from the "hunger line".
Capuccino time at La Colombe Torrefacction on Rittenhouse Square. If you go on a Sunday, this place will be still crowded. They serve their coffees in beautiful Italian coffee china. It seems all the cups and saucers are different. After you're done enjoying their "culinary coffee" as they like to call it, stroll around the Square. We watched a large group of people dancing tango. On another Philly sunny Fall afternoon. Couldn't be better.
If I were your photography professor, I'd challenge you to go around Philadelphia, find these signs, and submerge yourself in developing a series of photos of these. Both Ryan and I are passionate about history. Philadelphia oozes it. And these signs help you remember about it.
Dinner next time we visit. That's what he said. I pray he was serious about it.
¡Muchas gracias, Philly! This one was at Reading Terminal Market. Our quest for fresh and local doesn't stop in Seattle. And this place is amazing.
I am telling you just in case and for when you visit the Reading Terminal Market. We heard this is something you don't want to miss. *Cries*
"Hi Rachel at Pike Place Market, I'm here at the Reading Terminal Market. Cheers!"
I found the name of these little guys to be funny (hello frogs and toads). Also, I found out these are called "The Best Choice" when it comes to sustainability, as Croakers fisheries have a minimal impact of ecosystems and the environment.
Sylvester Stallone commissioned this 10-foot tall statue of Rocky to artist A. Thomas Schomberg. Rocky wasn't liked at first at the Museum (is he art or just a prop?) so he was moved to the Wachovia Spectrum in the South end of the city. It kept visiting the Museum, and brought for the filming of several iconic movies such as Philadelphia. Rocky found his way back home in 2006, and lives here.
