Philadelphia

Last night, three of us went to Philadelphia's historic Headhouse Square / Old City neighborhood for some Argentine steak. The restaurant is called Malbec Argentine Steakhouse. The steak was fantastic, and paired with Argentine red wine and a veggie salad, it was truly a treat for the taste buds. One of the restaurant's partners is actually from Rosario, just like Messi. According to our waiter, Messi himself has dined here twice. Since joining Inter Miami, Messi traveled with the team to Philadelphia in August 2023 for the Leagues Cup semifinal. Also, the Argentine national team often stops near Philadelphia when playing on the East Coast. So the waiter's story seems pretty believable.

Went for a morning walk in Philadelphia and ended up in the Old City. A beautiful little alley caught my eye — it looked just like a painting. This alley is called Elfreth's Alley. Built in 1702, it's over 320 years old — more than 70 years older than the founding of the United States itself. Walking down the alley, the old cobblestone road, brightly colored wooden doors, vintage brass knockers, shutters, flowers blooming on windowsills, and American flags hanging by the doors all gave off a romantic, European-town kind of vibe. Apparently, the people who lived here weren't wealthy at all — they were middle-class craftsmen of old Philadelphia: blacksmiths, silversmiths, shipwrights, weavers. The whole street still keeps that simple, authentic feel of old American life.