Friday Five - No One Is Driving That Car!

 Friday Five - No One Is Driving That Car!

We left temps in the low 70's, and landed smack in the middle of the humid high-80's over here in Georgia. But we're having a great time!

1.  We have walked and walked in Atlanta, and life is good. We've been averaging six miles a day, which is enough miles to feel great, offset our once a day meal splurge, and ensure we sleep like logs. 

2.  We're enjoying all the wonderful food things.  So far we've sampled fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, turnip greens, cornbread, biscuits, and peach cobbler (my spouse). We've shared most meals, my preferred way to dine when traveling in that we can't take leftovers home. And while I want to enjoy delicious food for my main meal, I don't want an overwhelming amount. It's worked out well, and our servers have generally been suggesting it in advance of our asking, or been quickly supportive when we inquire. Which has been lovely.

3. We've enjoyed chatting with our servers. We so enjoy viewing snippets of what life where we are visiting is like, and our restaurant servers often provide a terrific mirror with which to do so. Because we tend to eat quite early, restaurants are usually quiet when we arrive, and our servers have had time to briefly chat. I love to hear what brought them to an area, and how they are enjoying it. We experience delightful, quick little conversations so often as a result.

And we get in-return thoughts, often stereotypical, about our home state of California as well, which I actually appreciate. Yesterday, as an example, we were chatting with our server about the rise in popularity of mock-tails among young people, and the affect that was having on the bar and restaurant business. She said that something called 'Cali-sober' was increasingly a thing among her peer group. When we looked at her quizically, she said, 'You know, no alcohol, just that other 'thing' instead". It took a moment, and then we all broke into laughter.  

That is what I love most about travel - the little slice of life moments we get to experience.

4. We're seeing all the tourist stuff, and I'm 100% OK with that.  Because that's exactly what we are! Self-mocking aside, our preference to walk everywhere does tend to put us along side local residents, and that is when we are prone to get a glimpse of what life for locals is like in whatever area we're visiting. But I'm equally OK with being a tourist, because the big stuff is what generally brings us to an area in the first place.

The city of Atlanta as reflected in the lake at Piedmont Park.

Our visit to The World Of Coca Cola was a whole lot of fun.

Our spontaneous visit to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Museum, located just across the street from our hotel, was not only free to enter, but so, so interesting.  

And where we picked up the best souvenirs of our trip - small packets of shredded currency, also free! We picked up one packet for each of our granddaughters.

The home of Martin Luther King, Jr, was unfortunately closed for repairs during our trip. We did, however get to visit the MLK National Historic Park, where Dr King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, are laid to rest.

5. We have enjoyed seeing all the Waymo self driving vehicles and the self propelling delivery rolling carts that are all over this city. Because we live in the 'burbs, these techno self-driving cars and carts haven't made it our way yet. So, it was lots of fun to see so many of them out and about every day as we walked around the city.

There is no driver in that car if you look closely!

Some of the self propelling delivery carts even have names. So cute!

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So much already seen and visited, and we still have Savannah and Nashville to go!