This New York city girl never thought that Philly would win her heart, but it did. The history and modern world coexist in this small city.
Past weekend we explored Rodin museum in Philly. The museum was truly psychotherapy for the soul. The tormented expressions on the busts of Hugo and Balzac satisfied the need of expressing our own darkest moments of our lives. The thinker, who sits on top of the gates of hell evaluating his life, revealed our most sacred desires of eroticism and sins. What makes Rodin works unique is his worship of the human body. It’s not about the faces, but the body movement.
Every connoisseur of art has his or her favorite work. At Rodin museum I fell in love with “The Kiss.” Cut in white marble it appears romantic and even innocent, and yet innocence quickly turns into eroticism. Two naked figures locked in passionate embrace. Every gesture, every muscle is tense, but when you look closer, there is much more to this work. When I saw it, the feminist in me was truly aroused. The woman was the initiator of this kiss. She clung to the men, her hand wrapped around his neck pulling him closer into that kiss. She is the one who is in throes of passion. The young man is simply there to satisfy her lust. His gestures are almost resigned. He is a reluctant participant, but being a man he cannot resist the pull of a woman. I set in front of this work for what seemed as an eternity. Well, at least until it was time for lunch.
Lunch was a much anticipated fair. It was at Sky High restaurant on the 60th floor of a very modern Four Seasons Hotel. We’ve been trying to get in since Christmas. The high-speed glass elevator whisked us up in a matter of minutes building our anticipation with every floor. Once we reached our destination, we realized the genius of the design of a very modern yet comfortable lounge. The simple elegance of the floor design directed our attention to the view rather than the restaurant. The ambiance only heightened our anticipation of the famous casual cuisine. However, we were sadly disappointed when we realized that the view was the only satisfying feature of the restaurant.
After browsing the menu, I ordered a drink. It was divine. A perfect combination of alcohol and bitters that was so well proportioned you’d think it was created by gods. If I knew what was coming when I ordered my meal, I would have stuck to the drinks. For my meal, I elected to go with a special. I ordered a creamy tomato soup that ended up tasting like it was put together with a can of tomato sauce, tomato paste, cream, lemon and curry accompanied by a burned crostini drowned in shaved parmesan cheese. I guess it was necessary to hide the burn marks. My disappointment did not stop there.
All my friends know that I like my food very well done, but even I could not eat the crust of my $25 lobster pizza. The crust was not simply overdone, it was plain burned. At least all the disappointment in our dishes prepared us for a cappuccino that was bitter and carrot cake that tasted as if it came from a local supermarket. Overall, the restaurant that was supposed to be a perfect interlude where we were expecting a unique experience, turned out to be a unique disappointment.
If you plan a trip to Philly, definitely visit Rodin museum, visit Sky High for the view and the best drink you will have, but save your dollars and have dinner elsewhere.
