PRO'S SOCCER EXTRAVAGANZA 2004
July 30 - Aug 4, 2004
3 games, 4 nights, 2 cities.
The Soccer Extravaganza started with the Liverpool - Porto match, Friday July 30, 2004. Porto 1 - Liverpool 0. Skydome, Toronto.
The next night, AS Roma - Glasgow Celtic. Skydome, Toronto.
Totti scored the only goal of the game for Roma and was Man of the Match. We had great seats for the game ... my ongoing joke was that we were within spitting distance of Totti.
The next day (Sunday), my buddy Mike and I headed for Philadelphia to see Chelsea - AC Milan on Monday night at Lincoln Financial Park, Philadelphia, PA.
AC Milan won 3-2 in an absolutely amazing match. We had awesome seats too.
After a three hour rain delay for a 7am flight we arrived in Philadelphia Sunday morning which had parts of the city flooded. We just buzzed around the city taking in the sites. Philadelphia is well known for the cheese steaks and the public art.
Some of the public art you can have fun with.
Other public art you can have more fun with.
Philadelphia Art Museum's grand staircase. (yes, the one the movie Rocky made famous)
The Liberty Bell, and it's new home.
The former home of the Liberty Bell (below) is now the airport-esque security check point prior to the secure entry to the new pavilion which houses an exhibit on and the actual Liberty Bell. I had been to Philadelphia in 1995, as a student, and remember the simplicity and beauty of former home of the Liberty Bell.
From my prior Philadelphia experience, my favourite building in the city was William Lescazes's PSFS building, which is now a swanky Loews Hotel.
Also from my 1995 trip to Philadelphia, I knew that there was an amazing board room on the top floor of the PSFS building (which I'd toured prior to the renovation), we made it up again for an stunning view of the city.
The old gentlemen architect's tradition of Philadelphia was that 'no building should exceed in height, the hat of William Penn's hat'. There is a statue of William Penn on the top of the City Hall in the middle of the city. There was never a law against building higher, it was just something that was observed ... the PSFS building is just below the brim of William Penn's hat, which is 32 stories.
That lasted until the 1980's, and now you get the schlock 80's Post Modern crap in the background ... thank you 'excessive greed of the eighties' for that one. (shot below from the board room at the PSFS Building ... notice William Penn's hat over by the right)
While sitting for a coffee at a Starbucks, I saw what I though were some Chelsea players walking down the street towards us .... so I walked out to confirm my suspicion (more like ran out into traffic, leaving my wallet and articles in the Starbucks) and Mike snapped a photo with the players. He also brought me my wallet and articles. (from left to right) John Terry, Scott Parker and Joe Cole (who's jersey I have) Good guys.
This appeals to the Sault Ste. Marie in me.
Went for dinner.
Checked out the cool places to have drinks.
This place was called Buddahkan, great place for a beer.
Don't know the name of this, but I've seen it published.
The next day, before the game we toured the city more. This is the new Kimmel Center (for the performing arts). Rafael Vinoly was the design architect.
There's an awesome courtyard garden atop one of the theatres, which you can kinda see from the outside.
Did I mention cheese steaks? This place, Geno's Steaks, which looks like the Honest Eds of Philly Cheese steak, is rumoured to be the best. It's in South Philly, which is where there is a huge Italian American community.
Went to the game.
Got my picture with the Rocky sculpture, outside the Philadelphia Spectrum ... adjacent to Lincoln Financial Field.
And came home.