If yesterday felt like Christmas Day then today was certainly Boxing Day. The sales began in force and the shops were mobbed. Families were out together enjoying the sites of Philadelphia.

I had visited the Liberty Bell and Indpendence Hall yesterday when they were the only buildings open. Then they were quiet and thoroughly enjoyable. The numerous historic buildings clustered in central Philadelphia were all open and extremely busy today.

I chose the "National Constitution Center" as my first stop and it turned out to be all that I managed to see. A jampacked, innovative, "omnimedia" (and at times OTT) exhibition delivered an extremely thorough treatment of American history and the influences on and of the Constitution.

I found this genuinely fascinating and spent over four hours there until it closed. The treatment was generally not dumbed down nor patronising (thought it had its moments) and, although my propaganda radar was on full alert, it left me with a great deal of respect for the creators of this nation and its Constitution... and full of opinion.