Georgia

ATLANTA
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Atlanta, Georgia

	Since we only had one day in Atlanta, we decided to pack as much in as possible. Although we intended to get an early start, we did not get out of the house until 12 noon, which was in part due to the fact that we did not arrive at Mark (“Sloth”) and Kelly Morgenstein’s until 3:00 am the night (well morning) before.   Thankfully, when we arrived, Mark was coincidentally up feeding their adorable (and very tall – if he keeps growing like he is, he will be a basketball player for sure!) two month old, Zachary.   

	Once we finally got out of the house, we met Bruce King for lunch at Taqueria del Sol.  Although we were hoping to see Tricia and meet their little girl, Jamie, who is essentially six weeks old and apparently doing great, circumstances were not having it this time (so next time it is!).  Either way, it was great seeing Bruce, not to mention the food was very good and cheap.  And, he suggested several neighborhoods – Decatur and Virginia/Highlands – to walk around.  Although supposedly very cute and artsy, we did not get to check out these two areas this trip due to time constraints.  We will check them out next time (along with Jamie!).

	After lunch, we drove downtown to go to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, operated by the National Park Service since 1980.  If you are in Atlanta, you should definitely make time to visit this historic area.  Not only will you be reminded of the immense struggle that Martin Luther King (“MLK”), his family, and those who fought for civil rights underwent in order to guarantee certain inherent freedoms which many of us take for granted today (and some regrettably still do not enjoy), but you will also likely leave with a greater appreciation of the enormity of this struggle, and the invaluable contribution MLK, and those like him, gave to this country and its people.  

	As for the site, it includes a visitor center/museum, the home where MLK was born (which has been restored to look as it did when he and his family lived there), Ebenezer Baptist Church (where MLK’s grandfather, father – Daddy King – MLK and his brother, A.D., were all pastors at one point, and where they still play MLK’s sermons, which you can sit and listen to), the oldest firehouse in Atlanta (which is now closed, but functions as a museum and book store), and about 25 homes (including a number of row houses across the street from MLK’s birth place), which the park service has purchased, restored, and rented out to private residents in order to preserve the “Sweet Auburn” neighborhood as it was when MLK was a child.  By way of background, when Atlanta was still segregated, Sweet Auburn was a thriving African American community.  There were a large number of successful black owned and operated businesses, including a hospital, schools, churches, barber shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, funeral homes, among other businesses.  Also located on Auburn Avenue (just opposite the visitor center and next door to the Ebenezer Baptist Church) is the King Center, a private foundation run by the King family.  Along with various exhibits, the King Center is where MLK’s tomb rests, in a reflecting pool, just outside the main building.  Again, the site is definitely worth a visit.

	Because Ruthie’s friend Mark works at CNN, we were also spoiled with a tour of its headquarters.  We “almost” made the news and got to see how and where it all happens.  We were like kids in a candy store – it was awesome, although talk about sensory overload - there were tons of images flashing on tiny monitors throughout the entire building.  Very cool – thanks Mark! Just across from CNN is the Centennial Olympic Park (where the bomb went off during the 1996 Atlantic Olympic Games), so we checked that out too.  After a great dinner with Mark and Kelly at Intermetso Café, which is located somewhere near the northern central Perimeter of Atlanta, we watched the Apprentice, featuring UCLA Law School grad, Kelly Perdew, and then hit the sack, hoping to get another “early start” (yeah right) the following morning.
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