Went for jog this morning. My sense of direction stinks but these windy blocks which aren't on a grid and give way to narrow alleys and stairwells don't help. I gave up trying to keep track of were I was going and figured when I got tired I'd ask directions back to the main road (Delmas)
I quickly found myself awkwardly prancing through sewage streaming in alleys so narrow 2 can't pass shoulder to shoulder and I often could tell if I was inside someones property. From the bigger roads the city looks healthier more vibrant and cleaned up from last year. But it's only a few yards away that you see persistent squalor tents and shantys.
But contrary to what the state dept is saying I mostly got smiles. Could be good luck but it didn't feel threatening. I mention the state dept bc a friend of friend called me here bc he's scheduled to come teach music and received dire warnings not to come from state dept due to civil unrest. I'm not seeing it. Maybe west philly has inured me

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