Looking up while walking through Old City Hall on the way to a nice roast beef and peppers sandwich
After lunch at the Reading Terminal Market, Vicki stayed to look around while I followed the drums and the sounds of the crowd and ended up in the middle of an Indian wedding procession that was slowly but very loudly moving on the sidewalk across from the Terminal Market.
Edit Thanks to Kcalpesh I now know that this is the groom and very likely his sister on their way to the wedding, also that the procession is called "Baraath" in Hindi.
My wife Vicki and I made a last minute decision to spend Fourth of July weekend in Philadelphia. I have a knack for being able to get top notch hotels at relatively bargin prices. This was no exception as I booked the Ritz Carlton for less that $200 a night. In typical James- and-Vicki fashion, we rolled up to the Ritz valet in our dirty 2004 Toyota Corolla. I was in my Target and Wal-Mart shorts and t-shirt ensemble, and Vicki was dressed slightly better in her department store sale jeans and top. Our luggage consisted of two old back packs and a duffel bag.
The hotel lobby is amazing. It was converted in 2000 from a bank that was built in 1908. I'm planning on doing a post on this incredible lobby in the future.
These pictures were taken Friday afternoon. After more exploring we went to an evening outdoor concert in front of Independence Hall featuring the Philadelphia Pops Orchestra.
Then on July fourth I went to the big parade. Later, Vicki and I did a quick sweep of old city and Penns Landing before resting up then going to the huge Sheryl Crow concert and fireworks extravaganza. So much fun and we didn't even have a cheese steak or a pretzel.
At least for a weekend that was my world. If you would like to see all of the other My World Tuesday posts, please click here.
you covered a lot in a short period of time...an indian wedding, the ritz, the concert...wow.
ReplyDeletegreat capture of the wedding procession.
looking forward to seeing more shots of your fab weekend.
I love the photo of the groom and bride, well captured.
ReplyDeleteFabulous shots! And you did cover a lot in a short time! Love it! Marvelous shots of the wedding and procession -- so colorful! Almost as fun as being there! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteWhat a weekend! The photos are wonderful. It's amazing what you can see sometimes by just looking up! The photos of the wedding are splendid.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work, James!
These are great photos. Well done. But the story of your weekend was even better. I love how you are just normal people going into the Ritz. That's what I would do. I've always that my money is just as good and just as green Love it. Sounds like a great weekend. Aloha
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I like especially the second photo - wonderful angle and composition of colours:)
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you on my blog! Philadelphia looks great, you had a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteI love your last skywatch picture very much - the colours really remind of ice-cream!
Have a nice week ahead!
I like your style and your spirit. Maybe one day you can organize a convention of snappy dressers like us at one of these fancy joints.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful photos.
Like the way you put on the ritz. Have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your weekend with us! You certainly had a great time! Thanks also for your visit to the French castles.Some of them are now in use as hotels!
ReplyDeleteSimply great: the photos, the story and the attire for the Ritz Carlton!
ReplyDeleteOh what a beautifulpictures and the couple is like from a fairytale You must have had a lovely time $200 american dollars for a night cheap? OK
ReplyDeleteGreat photographs of Philadelphia. Looks like a fun time.
ReplyDeleteYou picked a wonderful place to spend the 4th of July! Love the way you caught the plane flying overhead in that second picture. The last time I was in Philadelphia, I think I had a cheese steak at Jim's Steaks on South Street.
ReplyDeleteHow nice it was to happen on that beautiful wedding while touring Philadelphia. Great way to celebrate the 4th.
ReplyDeleteNext time I need a hotel room I should get you to do it for me. LOL! :-) Great shots. It must have been fun to watch the wedding procession. How colorful!
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful series of pics James!
ReplyDeleteReally like the traditional dress in the wedding. The fireworks display must have been good. Pretty fancy puttin on the Ritz. Look forward to the lobby shots, and more I hope.
ReplyDeleteJames, I bargain hunt for hotels also. Sometimes you can get in to some of the pricier places thru tourist sites saving tons of cash.
ReplyDeleteYou were so in the right place at the right time to be celebrating your Nations 233rd anniversary of their Independance. You can't get any more historic than that. So happy to hear you had a marvelous time.
I was grinning while trying to imagine your entrance to the hotel in your duffel bags and get-up but hey, that's how it is to live..by having fun:) Amazing to see such color and grandeur of a different culture in America. Nice capture.
ReplyDeleteSounds like us arriving at the swankest hotel in Calgary in a 3rd hand Jeep Wagoneer after driving more than half way across Canada with two children. We could not turn the motor off, since it it wuld not start except when cold and a Beefeater in full regalia askd the Prof:'Would Sir like to have the car parked?' Needless to say, we had a great time.
ReplyDeleteYou were lucky to take in the Indian wedding. So nice when nice things happen to us.
Nice to see the Indian wedding shots that you captured. Yes, our weddings do get noisy... :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a romantic spontaneous 4th of July getaway! Now I'm craving a beef and pepper sub, a good curry, and Ritz crackers all at once! Shame on you!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a fantastic weekend! Love your story about your outfits ;)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely looking forward to your photos of the hotel (which I think is amazing) and everything else!
Looks like you had a wonderful holiday weekend. I love the last shot of the newly weds. Enjoyed the whole story - hotel, car, outfits, following the drums. Great post!
ReplyDeletegreat photos here again! nice to know blogger friends who love to travel and share interesting photos..thanks a lot James!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post James! The photos are beautiful, I especially like the second one, but my favorite is imagining you and Vicki pulling up to the hotel in the way you described - perfect, just my style :-)
ReplyDeleteYou had quite the trip. I love luxury hotels at bargain prices. I've been told all you need is four walls and a bed. Not me, I like staying at nice places.
ReplyDeleteSo much fun. I am glad you are embracing "my" city... except, I think you are seeing far more of it than I! It's tough with a 12 yr old who after 2 hours is ready to GO HOME. The wedding photos are fab!
ReplyDeleteHey James, this is a pretty cool job. I never thought it was possible to get married with a complete Indian tradition including the procession which is called "Baraath" in Hindi.
ReplyDeleteNice captures.
The picture which you have mentioned as "Precious Moments between Bride and Groom", actually shows the Groom only. The lady sitting ahead in the charriot is very likely the Groom's sister as this procession is generally carried out before the wedding. They are all going to the venue.....