Les UnMiserables

Picking up where I left off…

Olive Garden – Katie and I stopped here for an early dinner before heading into the city yesterday. Mmm, mmm good! On our way there we followed several school buses with about a thousand kids on each and all their stops were between us and the Olive Garden. I feel certain they were frustrating me on purpose.

Schuylkill Expressway – Katie and I sat on this for well over an hour. Thank goodness for an awesome playlist and great sing-along songs.

Double Tree Hotel – After driving around the parking lot and feeling the whole bus annoyance flaring up, we finally found a spot. Upon check in I found out that Todd was the “Guest of the Day” and we got all kinds of free stuff – Vitamin Waters, granola bars, pretzels, hand sanitizer, a book mark, a free in-room movie (excluding adult movies, of course), and some other stuff that escapes me right now.  It was so good to be us!

Academy of Music – After freshening up a bit we left the hotel, walked across the street and into the theater. Seriously – right across the street! Talk about convenient. We found our seats – high up, but very good – and settled in to watch the magic about to ensue.

And ensue it did. We were transported back to mid-19th century France where times were horrible for the average person, nobody talked and everybody sang what they were thinking or feeling. It really was a fabulous performance. The singers were amazing (although neither Katie nor I were very fond of grown up Cosette’s singing) and some of the special effects were wonderful.

Double Tree Hotel – Back across the street after the play, up to the room, and we ordered a cheesecake from room service for Katie while I gnoshed on one of their famous chocolate chip walnut cookies and a cup of decaff. Sweets that late at night make for very nice dreams.

Jean’s Cafe’ – This morning we woke up when we woke up, turned on the TV and watched some silly movie. Then we walked a block and a half to this little hole in the wall, Jean’s Cafe, for a delicious and extremely cheap breakfast.

May I just insert here how much I adore Center City? Silly to ask permission when it’s my blog and all, but I’m trying to be considerate.

Starbuck’s – While the food was good, the coffee left something to be desired so after breakfast we walked a few blocks up the street to Starbuck’s for “morning dessert”. For those of you who are new to the “morning dessert” concept, as I was until I thought of it on our way to Starbuck’s, it’s something sweet after a savory breakfast along with a White Chocolate Mocha. ‘Cause, you know, that’s how I roll.

Schuylkill Expressway – Apparently nobody wants to leave Philadelphia on a Saturday afternoon because traffic was a breeze.

Home – This would be where we laid on the couches all day, watching movies and dozing off and on.

I wonder how we can top this next weekend.