I could not have asked for more perfect weather on a trip….it has been sunny and nicely warm every single day that I have been here so far and today was no exception. After waking up, having coffee we headed to the Cyclorama which contains the worlds largest oil painting …the size of a football field…depicting the Battle of Atlanta which was painted in 1885 by 11 Polish, German, and Austrian painters. It was truly incredible and presented in 360 degree theater that rotates. Also here I learned all about the Battle for Atlanta the decisive battle drawing the war to a close. Atlanta was the artillery and rail center for the south. Sherman laid siege to the city for three days and captured it. The city was completely burned and everyone evacuated and then he began his 100 mile march to the city…completely severing the south. In the three days of Battle for Atlanta 7500 confederate troops were killed…in just 3 days. It is hard to imagine that when thinking we haven’t even lost that many in Iraq in 5 years. It was really interesting the tour and history.

After we drove outside of Atlanta north to Stone Mountain which is the largest monolithic piece of granite in the world! It is in the woodlands and hills of Georgia and has lakes, hiking, plantations and was really interesting and fun. On the face of the granite mountain is carved the image of Robert Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis….sort of like Mt. Rushmore but with famous Confederate people. There is also an aerial tramway to the top of the mountain but we opted to do the hike. It was a really hard hike…it was so steep and as you neared the top there was no shade so we were hiking on granite in direct sun for about an hour. But I was proud of myself….I made it!! So not too bad for a middle aged, overweight, smoker! LOL. The views from on top were incredible…you could see the city of Atlanta in the distance, the foothills of the Apalacians, and the sprawling foothills and red clay land of Georgia. We then hiked back down the mountain and drove around the area which was beautiful.

We headed back to Atlanta and then had Country fried chicken, collard greens, mashed potatoes and gravy with deep fried onion rings and ranch sauce. Yummy! We got home and were pretty tired, sweaty and salty from the hike. So we just unwound, had ice cream and talked.

It is also odd I was thinking of “how I came to be in Atlanta….” And it all seems like such twists of fate or courses of destiny that has led to my being in Atlanta for these few days. All of the events in my life that have led me to be here…a series of coincidences or a course that was already destined.? It is always fun for me to think how I ended up wherever I am and the people I know and how the interwoven threads of live weave together a tapestry of memories, experiences and people who bring happiness into your life.