Philadelphia

Picked Aline up at 8:00 and got to the Absecon train station in plenty of time for the 9:02.  Arrived in Philly by 10:30 and I asked for directions to the University of Pennsylvania campus.  A few blocks this way and that, we were told, and we started off.
Penn isn't the kind of college located out in the sticks, with lots of grass, quads, dorms, and classroom buildings; it's more or less in the middle of this big, bustling city.  There is a newer campus in West Philadelphia, however, and I assume that's more like other U.S. universities.
The institution sprang from the brain of Benjamin Franklin, who modified it from an earlier charity school in 1749.  It has nine graduate schools and more than 31,000 students.  For more info, see this:  http://www.upenn.edu/about/facts.php.
Drexel U. is also an integral part of the city, and after we walked a few blocks, we sat down at a convenient shaded spot and consulted our city map.  Asked two men walking by--I'm willing to bet they were faculty--and they directed us further.  I impulsively asked about The White Dog Cafe, where we had gone with Frank and Marybeth and, remarkably, they knew where it was, only three blocks away.
We walked there, decided it was time for lunch, and ate a long, leisurely one there--delish!  After, we browsed for an extended time in a nearby book store, which seemed to be affiliated with Penn. Didn't buy, but each noted several books we want to request at the library.
On our way back to the station, we passed a kind of giveaway in a plaza and acquired free, bright green carryalls.  Stopped at a yogurt/gelato place and got cones.  Continued to stroll along and found we had missed the 3:19 train by one minute--darn!
I was worried that the next one, more than an hour later at 4:47, would be packed and we might not get a seat, but it turned out okay.
Actually, we were delayed by quite a bit and didn't get back to Absecon until well after 6:00 because of a bridge opening.  We also had to pause while another train went by--don't understand why.
Anyway, we greatly enjoyed being in my city.  Aline's is New York, but my roots are in Philadelphia, and on a gloriously sunny day, I was thrilled to be there.  We plan to go again, next time to historic sites, which we hope to reach by bus.
Pat, how convenient is it for you to catch a train?  Why don't we plan to meet up at 30th Street Station and have lunch?  Let me know!