Carved on my gravestone would be the phrase, “Died of surfeit. She was smiling at the time.”
To paraphrase the poet, I have eaten not wisely but too well since arriving midday on Thursday. Among the lowlights:
- A cheesesteak with extra Cheez Whiz, at Jim’s Steaks on South Street
- A Tastykake lemon pie
- Three huge soft pretzels, twisted and baked and slathered with butter by Amish teens wearing their traditional plain dresses, caps and Reeboks
- A chocolate ice-cream cone from a local “micro-mooery” (hee hee)
- Organic tomatoes, cucumbers and new-crop apples
- Oatmeal (free, at the hostel)
Those last two are healthy, but the rest? Appalling. Also delicious.
I’m walking my feet off — haven’t taken a single bus — but it doesn’t begin to compensate for my eating habits. Right now I’m writing from a McDonald’s, where I’m using the wifi, nursing a Diet Coke and sending up silent hosannas to Willis Haviland Carrier. It’s about 17 blocks from my hostel, so the walk back will be good for me. But all I can think about is detouring over past the Reading Terminal Market for more of those pretzels. Maybe that’s not kosher salt sprinkled on top. Maybe it’s crack.
The Apple Hostel here in Philly has been just swell. It’s air-conditioned (thank God and Willis Carrier), has free wifi and is located just steps away from the historical district, as well as from a city bus that runs to all the major museums/pretty places every 15 minutes and can be ridden for $5 all day. Maybe I’ll ride it the next time I’m here.
Tomorrow I head to New York City via the Megabus. No doubt I will find new ways to hurt myself, some of which include the word “deli.” Of course, I might also sample the city’s fresh produce stands and ethnic markets.
But here’s the problem: I pick up the bus within six blocks of the Reading Terminal Market. And to get to the pretzel stall I’ll be walking past a bakery stall that sells things like individual pumpkin-cream cheese pies, “monster” cookies (oatmeal, peanut butter, M&Ms, chocolate chips), sticky buns and, I swear to god, red velvet whoopie pies.
Maybe I should skip the bus and just walk to New York.
Too funny Donna. Having a yummy vacation!
I think all that walking will compensate for the good food 😉 Since you’re already going to be there, don’t forget the oversize slice of New York pizza that gets folded in half. Enjoy!
Philly pretzels are the best!
You must continue in your wicked ways by hitting the fat witch bakery at Chelsea market in NYC where the seriously awesome brownies become half price at 5 pm. http://www.fatwitch.com/fwbipadd.html
Drools…
After a long day at work, you always make me laugh. And now I am really hungry!
Carrying all the extra weight of the goodies in your hands will help to burn off calories. Likewise, having them stuffed in your jacket and purse will provide you with weight to carry, so that your walk/workout is more intense. I think it would be perfectly alright to get one of everything. It is a long busride to NYC. Chocolate will make the bus ride go faster…honest…lol. Just pretend you are carrying around one of those little dumbell weights.
Have the bus driver let you off five miles from NYC if you feel really guilty.
I thought having the cheesesteak was a law when you’re in Philly. Maybe you should have another to be sure you aren’t violating any local ordinance. :o)
You sound just like me lol how funny. (This part) “Died of surfeit. She was smiling at the time.”
Maybe one day I can meet you. I live in Fed Way.
@Msjbelle: Life is going to be hectic until about the end of October (I’m making two more trips after getting home in mid-September), but maybe I should try to arrange a Surviving and Thriving meet-up in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Would you mind e-mailing me at SurvivingAndThriving (at) live (dot) com to remind me?
Thanks for reading.
I visited Philly for the first time a couple years ago to see a friend graduate college. I had my first REAL Philly Cheesesteak at Pat’s Steaks on South 9th Street (is that near Jim’s Steaks?). So delicious! And so funny how different they are from the cheesesteaks served in the Midwest, was not expecting Cheese Whiz.
Yup, there’s a reason Philly residents are supposedly among the fattest in the nation. I once heard it’s the only city where people can be seen eating soft pretzels and mustard for breakfast. Enjoy your East Coast adventures, gustatory and other.
I concur, Mary L. – can’t go to Philly and not have cheesesteak or they’ll lock you up! 🙂
You sound like you’ve landed in foody heaven! Keep havin’ fun, your fans out here will continue to eat vicariously through your posts. Somehow it’s not quite the same, though…have a blast!! 🙂
Donna – I am SO happy to read that you had your Philly cheesesteak. I recall in a past blog you wrote of your regret in not having one when you were out here.
Promise me you’ll have some good pizza, a sidewalk hot dog and try to find a White Castle.
Junk food is God’s way of showing us he loves us!!!
Nom nom nom…
I see a great segue to a frugal travel/food show.. heeheehee. sounds wonderful, and with all the travel by foot, I am quite sure that the additional calories absolutely do NOT count.
I’m glad that you are having fun even though you are injuring yourself a smidgen.
“Practice all things in moderation…even moderation.” (So in other words you are doing just fine.)
Oh wow there are a ton of awesome foods listed here. I wouldn’t be able to resist that either.
The hostel sounds great! How much is it a night? I wish I could travel with you!
@Mutant Supermodel: WIth fees and those famous Philly taxes, I paid about $71 for two nights. Here in New York, also with taxes and fees, I’m paying $299 for seven nights.
It’s cool if you don’t mind hanging out with other people. Kind of like going to summer camp, i.e., a bunch of other bunk beds in the room that may or may not hold people you’ve never met and will never see again.
NOM NOM NOM! lol sounds delicious!
Lemon Pie? Tastyklair sounds better~!
“If I lived here, I’d be dead now.”
We do live here.
And we are already dead.
Hi Donna,
Don’t forget you are on vacation and travel food becomes a memory, not just a meal. Please count me in on the meet-in-greet! I would love to “do lunch” with you and like minded others.
Enjoy your journey…
Glad you went to Jims for a “Steak and Whiz”! Hubbys favorite TastyCake is the Peanut Butter one. Funny because he isn’t into sweets at all, but loves those things!