This was a busy but wonderful day. I was on my own and spent nearly 8 hours walking doing the highlights of Atlanta. Craig had to work so I went with him downtown to work and then started my day off at Centennial Park. My first activity was the CNN Newsroom tour which was so totally awesome. I really enjoyed that. After that I walked up Marrietta street to Decatur street over to Immaculate Conception church which was the oldest and first Catholic Chruch in Atlanta in 1848 and one of four buildings that suvived the burning of Atlanta in 1864. I then went to the Capitol building and congress was in session so it was very busy with lobbyists and congress members.
After touring around the capitol building I walked (quite a distance) to Oakland Cemetery which was founded in 1850. Here was the grave of Margaret Mitchell (author of my favorite book and movie…Gone with the Wind). There was also a confederate burial area containing 7500 graves…it was very moving and sad to see…so many lost in that war, so young, and brother against brother. At the time, blacks were buried in a segregated area which I visited and then went to the potters field for indigent people and also the Jewish section. There was also a monument and tomb to the unknown confederate soldier. The cemetery was so peaceful, tranquil and thought provoking I meditated for a while. I then walked another long distance to the Auburn section and over to the Matin Luther King Jr. Birthplace, Gravesite and Ebenezer Baptist Church where the civil rights movement all began. It was a great exhibit and very interesting.
By now it was 2 pm and I was famished so I stopped and had some spicy hot garlic wings. I then walked to the train to get back downtown. I was impressed with the Atlanta Transportation. I transferred trains and head up to midtown to see the Margaret Mitchell house. As most of you know…its one of my favorite novels and movies and have read/seen it several times. It was so interesting and fun and it actually gave me a lot insight into Margaret Mitchell and where she got certain ideas for certain characters. It also motivated me to sit down and just write for the sake of writing. She had no intentions of publishing that book…she wrote it just as a hobby and just for fun. By then it was 4 pm and I was pretty tired and Craig was getting off work so I waited in Midtown for him to pick me up.
We got home and ordered pizza and tonight have been watching Season 1 of Love Boat. Which has actually been a lot of fun. We just had popcorn and pizza and chatting and watching TV…but now it is 1 am and I’m turning in for the nite.
Whew! So that is what has been up with me. What a great time and great trip… so much history and touristy things to do and so great to spend time with someone. I forgot how much I missed just having someone to hang out with, talk, go to dinner, laugh, go shopping with. It’s been the perfect blend of quality time with a friend, tourism, history, and meditative solitude!