Meine Klein Welt

British Pie Quiz

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So you learn something new everyday, and today I learned it in line for lunch.

Question: What's the difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd's Pie?

Answer: Cottage pie is made with beef; shepherd's pie is made with lamb.

Mmmm…Forbidden Donut…

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img_0007.jpgI think this is a bit of false advertising. I don't think anything really "runs" on Dunkin' Donuts. I'm going to say it's more of a waddle.

And while I'm on the subject of Dunkin' Donuts, VCS's physics teacher extraordinare, Chad, goes on and on about how good Dunkin' Donuts coffee is. I mean on and on and on. Cream and sugar, he says.

So I need a little pick me up one day and decide that it would be a good time to try Dunkin' Donuts coffee, cream and sugar. Two words: Not impressed. Sorry Chad, but I'd drink a good old Wiener Melange any day over this coffee.

I would not, however, choose a Vienna donut over any these wonderful Dunkin' Donuts. Yum.

Elfreth’s Alley

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So VCS has a new secondary secretary who had been to Philadelphia before. So she was appalled to find out that I had not ever been to, and had never heard of, Elfreth's Alley. Sad, but true.

So I made one of my friends accompany me down to Old City to take in this wondrous site: The alleged oldest residential street in America.

I liked it so much I went back a second time. See, I thought it would be funny to send a postcard back from Elfreth's Alley, and while purchasing said postcard, set my camera down on the counter. It wasn't until later that evening when I wanted to take a picture that I realized it was gone. The problem being, I was flying out the next morning.

Fortunately the good people who run the Elfreth's Alley Visitor Center found my camera and even answered my phone call and gave me my camera before opening hours. What a great place to lose a camera!

Who Needs the Jersey Shore…

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img_0001.jpg…when you've got plenty of wonderful fountains to play in. Another thing I love about Philly is watching kids play in the many fountains there. Just this last weekend the temps rose to the low 90s.

I saw two boys trying to pedal their small bikes through one fountain and this cute little girl "riding" the water-spewing frog. This is the kind of thing that I miss about America. The free spirit of children and adults. In Vienna, playing in a fountain is a good way to get the Polizei after you.

From the Land of Cheesesteaks

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img_0005.jpgI'm going to be doing some retro-blogging over the next day or two before I head out to England. So check back often for more posts.

I just spent 6 days in good old Philadelphia eating Cheesesteaks and Tastycakes and all kinds of other yumminess. Here's me at Rick's Steaks in Reading Terminal Market. I find it a bit amusing that they have an official certificate from the self-proclaimed King of cheesesteaks, Pat's. Somehow this validates the cheesesteaks they make, though I certainly had no complaints. Fill 'er up!

As always I had a wonderful time catching up with friends, seeing new babies and spouses, and distributing chocolate to the masses. The more I go back to Philadelphia the more I miss it, and the more I'm glad I'm back. I spent many an afternoon walking about the city from West Philly, to Center City to Old City seeing what's changed and what remains.

Thanks to all who made this a wonderful trip. I look forward to seeing you all again next year if not sooner.