Category: travel

So, a few day ago, I told you about my drug-motivated trip to Philly. Which was extended so I could visit, however briefly, with Annelies. And I left you wondering how we spent our day on Monday.

She had to be at the airport at about 3:30, so our time was limited. We just wanted to do something simple that would allow us time to really visit, i.e., chat and catch up. That was actually the first opportunity she and I had spent any length of time together without the guys. Not that we don’t like spending time with them, too, but girl time is different.

On our way back to the hotel from King of Prussia, where we visited with Jessika, we passed a sign for the Philadelphia Zoo. After a bit of discussion, we decided that would be a great place to go. Neither of us had been to a zoo in years. And we could just roam around at our leisure looking at critters and chatting. So that’s what we did.

Our first challenge was finding our way back there. We used the GPS feature on my phone, since we didn’t have a map. Which sent us on yet another driving adventure. The thing about a GPS is, it tends to take you places via the shortest route. And that’s not always the best route. Especially when you’re in a city like Philadelphia, which is a lot like Baltimore in that the city center is surrounded by some pretty rough areas.

Twice on the previous day, I’d ended up driving through the hood. Once before I met up with Annelies, and once when she and I were on our way to meet up with Jessika. Annelies had never seen a real-life American “hood”, which is really just a poverty stricken area of a city where crime rates are much higher than in other areas. So when I told her we were in the hood, she said, “How do you know this is the hood?”

“I grew up in Baltimore,” I told her. “I know a hood when I see one.”

Maybe it wasn’t the worst part of Philadelphia? Who knows. Maybe you can tell me. Here’s where we were. (I never did show Jessika a map of where we’d ended up.)

I asked Annelies if they had the TV show The Fresh Prince in Belgium. Will Smith’s character was from Philly. I think it was South Philly though, which I had accidentally explored the previous day. When she said yes, I told her that could be where The Fresh Prince (meaning the show) was shot (as in filmed).

“He was shot?” she asked, very seriously. “I don’t remember him being shot.”

That cracked me up, of course. We had quite a few conversations like that.

Anyway… here are the pictures I captured at the zoo.

That was our zoo experience.

Check out Annelies’ suitcase.

At this moment, Annelies is moaning, saying to herself, “I knew I shouldn’t have let her take that picture.”

Not the suitcase picture (above), the shot I captured of her laying on top of that over-stuffed suitcase trying to make it close.

But I decided to spare her dignity for a change and not post that shot.

Not long after we got back to the hotel, it was time for her to leave.

I hate goodbyes.

But at least I know I’ll see her again in Italy. Yves, too. We are so looking forward to that trip.

So, what’s your favorite zoo shot?

I cannot lie. My recent trip to Philadelphia was drug-motivated. That’s how it started anyway.

Drugs and friends. What a great combination.

Those of you who know me well are aware that I work for a clinical research organization (CRO). CROs provide services that help pharmaceutical companies conduct clinical drug and device trials.

When I learned that my Austin-based company would be having a booth at the Drug Information Association (DIA) trade show in Philadelphia, I decided to drive up on Tuesday to meet with some colleagues. There were several at the show who I’d never seen in person before.

Originally, I was going to just stay for the day. Then my employer decided to put me up in a hotel for the night. Which meant I’d come home on Wednesday.

Then I heard from my friend Annelies, who lives in Belgium, that she’d be in Philadelphia for a sales conference the weekend before DIA. Since I don’t get to see her often, I jumped at the chance to visit with her. We planned to meet in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, when her sales thing ended. The deal was sweetened by the knowledge that I’d also get to visit with some of the other folks I used to work with.

I was tickled to see and chat with Annmarie, my former boss, who reads this blog but rarely comments.

Yes, Annmarie, I had to throw that in there. 🙂

Later, Annelies and I spent a lovely, long afternoon catching up with Jessika.

The three of us had a grand time hanging out together. It had been about two years since I’d last seen Jessika. I’m still kicking myself for not having someone take a picture of the three of us!

I didn’t take many people photos that day. But, since I arrived in the city earlier than anticipated, I did get to walk around exploring the city a bit.

That was actually the first time I’d been in Philadelphia. Which is crazy, especially when you consider that I grew up about 90 miles away in Baltimore. And I was in the area several times in previous years while working for a company based outside of Philly in King of Prussia.

I am definitely more of a country person, but visiting cities every once in a while is fun. There’s certainly lots to look at. And Philadelphia is actually quite cool.

I enjoy the vast array of sights. Like the “best Chinese food” sign. Does that mean not as good when eating in?

I managed to capture quite a few interesting images. Which, of course, I just had to share here…

That’s it for the city pics. But I do have one more image to share with you.

When Annelies, Jessika, and I walked into the King of Prussia Mall, this store window caught my eye immediately. How could it not? Of course, I didn’t see the sale” signs. Just the “BIG” and “ASS” signs.

So I asked Annelies to go pose for me. Not because she has a big ass or anything. Actually, she has a skinny ass. I just thought the signs were funny.

She agreed.

Then she immediately asked, “Why do I listen to you?”

Because it’s fun. It makes us laugh. And it makes memories.

I wish we didn’t all live so far apart. But sharing Sunday with the two of them was lots of fun.

Now, wait until you see what Annelies and I did on Monday…