Thursday night I travelled to Atlanta, where I stayed with one of the sweetest couples I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I was put in touch with Elin and Angie by a Chicago friend, and although when I left the UK I wasn't sure I would stop off in Atlanta I am SO glad I did. Elin and Angie had never heard of me two weeks ago, but they made me feel so welcome in their beautiful home.
When I arrived Elin pointed me in the direction of 'Thumbs Up' a fabulous diner where I experienced my first serving of 'grits', hmm, ok but I won't be trying to replicte it at home !!!I was advised by a guy in the diner to go to an art exhibition being held at a private home up the road. This trip is all about saying yes to that kind of thing, so after a quick trip round the Martin Luther King Memorial I headed to 'Made in the shade'. A beautiful garden was filled with all sorts of quircky art work, photography, sculpture, textiles, pottery, jewellery, iron work. Jazz played in the back ground, water trickled from fountins and I listened to the strong southern accents of the other visitors. Every section of the garden was turne into an artistic haven, it was one of the most beautiful things I have seen.
I was having coffee later when I realied, the elections have been going on back in England !!!! My dad is voting by proxy for me so my bit has been done, its incredible how far away from things like that I feel ! Am I pleased with the result ? Well lets just say it wasn't unexpected .
Friday evening Elin and Angie took me out for a meal and we went for drinks in various funky neighbourhoods, saw a fantastic exhibition of work by Cartoon Network artists, discovered that they have drive through ATM's (cash machines for those back home) - I'm also told you can find drive in liquor stores - give me a break ! The three of us talked and talked and it was a wonderful evening.
Saturday: after brunch at the 'Flying Biscuit' - where I became a devoted fan of the southern biscuit we headed over to Piedmont park where the UK took on the US in a game of Boci (I think its called, kind of like boules), I can't remember who won but for the sake of argument lets say it was the UK !!!! That evening took us to a bbq int he neighbourhood where I was introduced to the sticky delight that is schmores (no idea how you spell it, but its marshmallow cooked over an open fire then sandwiched, with chocolate between biscuits), no wonder its an american institution. It was a fun night where the conversation went from politics, to travel tovomiting in your hands and concealing it in your coat pocket (not me by the way), it was a classy evening !
I loved what I saw of Atlanta, but would recommend visiting if you know people to show you around.
Angie, a committed and passionate Buddhist will probably be in the UK for a festival later this year, I'm hoping we'll be able to hook up. Either way these are two special people I'm keen to meet up with again.
posted by KP @ 11:41 AM
1 Comments:
Can't wait to see the pix, Kate! Lovely to meet you. I sincerely hope to make it to Manchester this summer.
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