MAXIMA TOURS - ATLANTIC CITY – AT THE TROPICANA
Daily Newsletter – Day 4 - Wednesday June 3rd, 2015
What a day we all had today. We started out on our adventure to Philadelphia, the City of
Brotherly Love by meeting in the Transportation Centre at 8:45 a.m. The drive into Philly took
approximately one hour, the traffic wasn’t too bad this morning. We cross the Benjamin Franklin
Bridge into downtown accompanied by “Philadelphia Freedom” by Elton John. Harrison had to
do a little jaunt back around the block when we got to the National Constitution Centre; it looks
like all the Coaches had the same idea as we had to arrive early. Once around the block and we
were able to pick up our tour guide Pat Stallone who was dressed in period costume.
Our three hour guided tour of Philadelphia, included highlights such as:
Christ Church, was founded in 1695 as the 1st Parish Church of England and from that became
the 1st American Episcopal Church. Worshippers at Christ Church included three famous men in
history – Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, and one famous woman in
history – Betsy Ross. The Church cemetery is the burial site of seven signatories to the
Declaration of Independence.
Betsy Ross House – we had a chance to see the house from the Coach located at 239 Arch Street.
Betsy Ross fashioned the first ever American Flag.
Elfreth’s Alley, the Nation’s oldest occupied residential street where the homes include homes
from 3 – 16 rooms. We didn’t get a chance to stop and have a walk, the parking in this area was
very restricted and it was extremely busy with school trips today.
Comcast Building – you all had a chance to see the amazing wall screen – 86 feet wide and 23
feet tall, displaying over 10 million pixels.
Philadelphia’s Magic Garden is a mosaic visionary art environment, gallery and community art
centre that preserves, interprets and provides access to Isaiah Zagar’s unique mosaic art.. We had
a short photo stop – luckily we were able to squeeze down the very narrow street. Wasn’t that the
most interesting art work – you never know what you can make from items that others throw
away such as bicycle wheels, bottles, pieces of mirror, dishes, and the most wonderful hand-made
tiles.
Philadelphia’s Museum of Art – famous for the training steps in the film “Rocky” – you
witnessed first hand some of our group pump their arms in the air and run the steps to the top,
including Steve with his new hips – he made it up those steps in record time. Way to go
everyone!!!!
Liberty Bell – weighs 2080 pounds and cracked the first time is was wrung in 1776 due to a
casting flaw.
Pat also pointed out numerous famous historic buildings, statutes, monuments, works of art, many
murals and sites during her very interesting tour today.
We finished our time in Philly with a couple of hours of free time for lunch and shopping at the
Reading Terminal Market – in 1892 the Reading Railroad opened the Reading Terminal
Market below the tracks of their massive new train shed. The 78,000 square foot market held
nearly 800 spaces for vendors and was touted as the greatest food market in the world. After the
railway went bankrupt in 1971 the market and building began a long decline, but today the new
and improved market is home to nearly 80 businesses. Did you all get a chance to try a famous
Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich???
Three cheers to Harrison for all his excellent driving skills – we sure needed him today getting
around some of the very tight spots and narrow streets.
FOR TOMORROW – DAY 5 – Thursday June 4th, 2015
LUGGAGE PICK UP AND DEPARTURE: Please have your luggage ready to be picked up by
Bell Services inside your room beside the door by 6:00 a.m. Please be in the Transportation
Centre at 7:40 a.m. – the Coach will be leaving at 8:00 a.m. Please bring all your hand luggage
and personal items with you.
If you have any room charges please ensure that you settle them tonight at the Front Desk in the
Lobby which is located inside the Casino – go to the right (palm tree lined tile floor) and you will
see stairs and escalators down – across from the Escalators to the Marketplace. We will get a print
out after dinner to make sure all items are clear.
Please bring your name badges – we will collect them – you may win a lovely prize for handing
your name badge back in to be recycled.
We are providing you with a Questionnaire Form and a Canadian Declaration Card with this
Newsletter tonight.
Please bring your completed Questionnaire forms – we will collect these on the Coach tomorrow.
Please have your Declaration form completed – 1 form only per family is needed. Have all you
receipts for your purchases totalled up – but do not complete this amount on your Form (In Part
C) until you have shopped at the Duty Free before we cross the border.
If you have any questions with regard to completing your Declaration Card, please leave the
space blank and we will assist you tomorrow.
On the Declaration Form complete as follows:
Part A - Complete Personal Information and Home Address
Arriving by: Highway
Airline/flight No. etc. AYR Coachlines
Purpose of Trip: Personal
Arriving from: US only.
I am/we are bringing into Canada – You should be able to answer all these as NO
Part C – You should be answering NO to this question
Date Left Canada – May 31st, 2015
Part D – Sign and Date
PLEASE LEAVE YOUR ROOM KEYS IN YOUR ROOM WHEN YOU LEAVE IN THE
MORNING.
OUR ROOM NUMBER IS 3102
OUR U.S. CELL PHONE NUMBER IS 646-715-9065
Win Big Tonight, Sweet Dreams.
Wendy and Steve