At the beginning of the month, with winter still monopolizing the weather in New York, my family and I were looking forward to flying south to Atlanta, Georgia. We excitedly packed luggage and daypacks for our first out-of-state trip since summer of 2017. Books, snacks, sketch pads, ipads, earphones for the plane. Pants and sweatshirts for cooler days; shorts and bathing suits to will warm days to come.
As the Delta jet fueled us into the sky from Newark, I could feel the pre-trip tasks of cleaning out the fridge, boarding the dog, and ensuring that all of our medical and health supplies were packed... falling away and settling. Contained in the narrow metal cabin, I could be idle and read. The book I brought was Black Spring, Henry Miller's 2nd novel; while I enjoyed the Whitman-esque sentences and nostalgic details about sooty Brooklyn streets, I found the narrator overly self-absorbed and chauvinistic.
Happily, our journey in Atlanta was much more interesting than the book I was reading. This city was filled with colorful murals, clean sidewalks, green parks, historical museums, and global food. And what made it even more enjoyable was spending time with friends who were also visiting from New York and friends who lived in town. Having others to socialize with made the kids more excited and open to new experiences and put less pressure on the parents to ensure the kids were engaged and content.
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, a neofuturistic building opened in 1967. The elevators are like glass pods that move you up and down the 22 floors through the center atrium. Our room was comfortable and clean with a balcony overlooking the busy street. The main restaurant, Sway, had delicious breakfasts; a bowl of cheesy grits and eggs sustained me for several hours of walking and wandering. At the top of the hotel is Polaris, a blue domed rotating bar/lounge that we did not personally experience; on our last night, my husband, our friend since college, Sonya, who lives in the city, and I tried to go but there was an hour and a half wait without a reservation so we ended up talking and having drinks in the lobby restaurant. Next time we will not underestimate the popularity of Polaris and will make a reservation in advance.
Hyatt Regency
Sway restaurant with Sonya
Getting around Atlanta was simple and affordable. On our first day, we rode the streetcar which makes a loop in the area where we stayed and stops at many popular destinations; an all-day pass was $3 with one ride at $1. We took the streetcar to Sweet Auburn Curb Market which reminded me of Essex St. Market in Manhattan with its various indoor eateries, butchers, and bakeries. My son had a Vietnamese tofu and rice bowl from Dua II Go while the rest of us had arepas from Arepa Mia. Sean and I agreed that these were the best arepas we had ever had, including the ones we had eaten in Venezuela in the late 1990's. The arepas fit comfortably between two hands, had the perfect balance of crunch and softness, and were stuffed with flavorful vegetables, cheese, and sauces.
Vegetarian arepa at Arepa Mia
Our next stop on the streetcar was the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. It was April 4th, the 50-year anniversary of King's death, which added deeper perspective to our visit. We waited on a long line and took a silent walk through the 2-story house where he was born and lived in for twelve years. The house was spacious and the furnished rooms preserved its past familial life. It was a tangible representation of a loving, close-knit family; the comfortable and orderly rooms were probably a warm refuge from the harsh realities of the segregated south.
We also visited Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King and his father were ministers. We sat in the pews, the lively voices of children and families all around us. Nearby was the memorial to Dr. and Mrs. King; a long, bright blue fountain with "Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream" in white print along the upper steps that create a waterfall that empties into a large pool. Within the lower part of the fountain is a small concrete island where the King tombs lie. Several inspiring quotes line the surrounding walls, including the Six Steps of Nonviolent Social Change. Finally, we walked through the exhibitions at the Visitor Center which highlighted King's childhood, education, influences, and his role in the Civil Rights Movement. The exhibit "Children of Courage" showed how young people participated in nonviolent action and conveyed the message that young children can stand up for what is right and help fight injustice.
MLK Jr's Birthplace
Ebenezer Baptist Church
MLK Jr. and Coretta Scott King's tomb
Exhibit at Visitor Center
As the Delta jet fueled us into the sky from Newark, I could feel the pre-trip tasks of cleaning out the fridge, boarding the dog, and ensuring that all of our medical and health supplies were packed... falling away and settling. Contained in the narrow metal cabin, I could be idle and read. The book I brought was Black Spring, Henry Miller's 2nd novel; while I enjoyed the Whitman-esque sentences and nostalgic details about sooty Brooklyn streets, I found the narrator overly self-absorbed and chauvinistic.
Happily, our journey in Atlanta was much more interesting than the book I was reading. This city was filled with colorful murals, clean sidewalks, green parks, historical museums, and global food. And what made it even more enjoyable was spending time with friends who were also visiting from New York and friends who lived in town. Having others to socialize with made the kids more excited and open to new experiences and put less pressure on the parents to ensure the kids were engaged and content.
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, a neofuturistic building opened in 1967. The elevators are like glass pods that move you up and down the 22 floors through the center atrium. Our room was comfortable and clean with a balcony overlooking the busy street. The main restaurant, Sway, had delicious breakfasts; a bowl of cheesy grits and eggs sustained me for several hours of walking and wandering. At the top of the hotel is Polaris, a blue domed rotating bar/lounge that we did not personally experience; on our last night, my husband, our friend since college, Sonya, who lives in the city, and I tried to go but there was an hour and a half wait without a reservation so we ended up talking and having drinks in the lobby restaurant. Next time we will not underestimate the popularity of Polaris and will make a reservation in advance.
Getting around Atlanta was simple and affordable. On our first day, we rode the streetcar which makes a loop in the area where we stayed and stops at many popular destinations; an all-day pass was $3 with one ride at $1. We took the streetcar to Sweet Auburn Curb Market which reminded me of Essex St. Market in Manhattan with its various indoor eateries, butchers, and bakeries. My son had a Vietnamese tofu and rice bowl from Dua II Go while the rest of us had arepas from Arepa Mia. Sean and I agreed that these were the best arepas we had ever had, including the ones we had eaten in Venezuela in the late 1990's. The arepas fit comfortably between two hands, had the perfect balance of crunch and softness, and were stuffed with flavorful vegetables, cheese, and sauces.
Vegetarian arepa at Arepa Mia
Our next stop on the streetcar was the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. It was April 4th, the 50-year anniversary of King's death, which added deeper perspective to our visit. We waited on a long line and took a silent walk through the 2-story house where he was born and lived in for twelve years. The house was spacious and the furnished rooms preserved its past familial life. It was a tangible representation of a loving, close-knit family; the comfortable and orderly rooms were probably a warm refuge from the harsh realities of the segregated south.
We also visited Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King and his father were ministers. We sat in the pews, the lively voices of children and families all around us. Nearby was the memorial to Dr. and Mrs. King; a long, bright blue fountain with "Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream" in white print along the upper steps that create a waterfall that empties into a large pool. Within the lower part of the fountain is a small concrete island where the King tombs lie. Several inspiring quotes line the surrounding walls, including the Six Steps of Nonviolent Social Change. Finally, we walked through the exhibitions at the Visitor Center which highlighted King's childhood, education, influences, and his role in the Civil Rights Movement. The exhibit "Children of Courage" showed how young people participated in nonviolent action and conveyed the message that young children can stand up for what is right and help fight injustice.
MLK Jr's Birthplace
Ebenezer Baptist Church
MLK Jr. and Coretta Scott King's tomb
Exhibit at Visitor Center
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