Shoeshine

I caught these guys having a no doubt well-earned break. The shoe shine stand is a vanishing American icon but this one located in Philadelphia's famous Reading Terminal Market seems to be a popular venue. It's just one of the many attractive features of this cavernous temple to gastronomy, below what was once a major railroad station, where the voluptuous sights and scents of many cuisines mingle and jostle for attention: Chinese, Italian, Jewish, Amish, Cajun... Most of the produce on sale is of high quality and high cost, but we noted some cheap fish heads and offcuts that offered the potential for a great chowder.

I see that last year I also blipped a generously-proportioned African American gentleman with a ready smile, right here in the same market. Both seemed very happy to co-operate.