Philly’s Static: Rain, Rust, and Really Weird People

okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. i landed in philadelphia yesterday, and honestly, it’s… a thing. a weird, beautiful, slightly unsettling thing. the air smells like wet concrete and something vaguely metallic - probably the old factories, ya know? i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the pressure’s sitting at 1025, which is… intense. feels like my sinuses are trying to escape.

my phone’s battery is already at 17%, which is a personal record. i’m blaming the wifi. it’s aggressively slow. i tried to find a decent ramen place on Yelp, but everything’s either a dive bar with ramen or a ridiculously overpriced brunch spot. ugh. i need carbs. and sleep.

i was wandering around *Old City earlier, dodging tourists and trying not to trip over cobblestones - seriously, these streets are a hazard. someone told me that the Betsy Ross House is a total tourist trap, but it’s still kinda cool to see where they supposedly sewed the first American flag. i’m not saying it’s real, but it’s a story, right?

i stumbled into this tiny record store called ‘Vinyl Static’ - it was crammed floor to ceiling with records. the owner, a guy named Silas, looked like he hadn’t slept in a decade and smelled faintly of patchouli and regret. he kept muttering about the ‘golden age of vinyl’ and how everything’s “going downhill.” he gave me a free copy of a Bauhaus 7-inch. seriously. that’s the kind of thing that happens in philadelphia.

i’m staying in a hostel near South Street, which is… an experience. it’s loud, it’s crowded, and the walls are paper-thin. i heard a guy arguing about the merits of different types of pizza at 3 am. it was intense. if you get bored, baltimore is just a short drive away.

i tried to capture the vibe with my camera - it’s a beat-up Canon 5D Mark IV, naturally. it’s seen better days, but it still gets the job done. i’m mostly shooting street scenes and portraits of the locals. they’re a strange bunch. a lot of them have tattoos and wear band t-shirts. it’s a whole aesthetic.

i’m attempting to document the city’s industrial past. there’s a real sense of decay here, but also a kind of gritty charm. i spent a few hours exploring the Reading Terminal Market, which is a chaotic, overwhelming, and utterly delicious place. i grabbed a cheesesteak - it was… okay. definitely not the best i’ve ever had, but it’s a philadelphia staple.

someone told me that the Magic Gardens is a must-see, but it’s closed for renovations until next year. bummer. i did find a cool mural in Rittenhouse Square, though. it was a giant octopus covered in glitter. seriously.

i’m trying to find a decent coffee shop - the caffeine withdrawal is real. i need something strong and black. i’m thinking about hitting up La Colombe. they’re supposed to be good.

i’m also trying to avoid getting scammed. i heard that some of the street vendors overcharge tourists. be warned. and don’t trust anyone who offers you a ‘free’ tour.

i’m starting to feel like i’m losing my grip on reality. i need to find a quiet place to recharge. maybe i’ll check out the Barnes Foundation. it’s supposed to have an amazing collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art.

i’m documenting everything on my blog, of course. it’s my way of making sense of this chaotic mess. i’m also trying to upload some photos to Unsplash. it’s a slow process.

i’m going to head out and explore some more. i’m feeling strangely compelled to visit the Eastern State Penitentiary*. it’s a former prison, and it’s supposed to be incredibly creepy. i’m not sure i’m ready for that, but i’m going anyway.

check out this map of the city:

and for more local tips, head over to this TripAdvisor page: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g3823-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html

and if you're looking for good eats, Yelp has some solid options: https://www.yelp.com/directory/Philadelphia-PA

finally, a local board with events and happenings: https://www.phillymag.com/

i’m officially exhausted. time for another coffee (or three).

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