Philadelphia Street Scenes I: City Hall & Center City 🏟😅🌆

When I first arrived, my classmate introduced Philadelphia as the "birthplace of America's dragon" (a poetic way of saying it's a historically significant city where America's rise began). 🐉✨ The city is dotted with classical-style buildings, where the construction year is often imprinted on the bricks outside. You might stumble upon a building that's centuries old without even realizing it. 🏛️📜 There's a tangible sense of solidity in the bricks and concrete here. The doors in these buildings are heavy to push open, and the elevator cars are spacious, mostly rectangular. Step inside, and they rise or descend smoothly without a wobble. 🚪🛗 No matter where you go, even to restrooms in train stations, hospitals, or schools—places bustling with people—there's not a hint of unpleasant odor. I absolutely love this aspect and can't quite wrap my head around it. 🚽👃 Once, I accompanied a classmate to the hospital emergency room. The waiting area in the hospital lobby reeked. I guess when people come in for emergency care, some might be disoriented and exhibit certain behaviors. 🏥😷 After living here for a while, my classmate often blurts out these straightforward observations, like saying the restrooms don't smell like restrooms, but the lobby does. It always cracks me up! 😂🤣 #NotesFromMyStudyAbroad #UrbanLandmarks #PhiladelphiaPA 📚🏙️