Hotlanta Part 1

I had a long weekend off and I wanted to make the most of it. It's Summer and I was craving a weekend away. Luckily flights seemed pretty open and we got seats to Montreal. Unluckily, the flight canceled and we went back home. Try again the next day, only this time we'd be heading south. Atlanta, here we come!

So tired

We landed at ATL at 230am local time. So we managed to get downtown and get a few hours of sleep before a full day the next morning. Starting bright and early with breakfast at Prime Meridian.

Peach and pecan waffles with bacon and orange juice

 Fried green tomato Eggs Benedict with hash

After a very filling breakfast we walked across the street to Centennial Olympic Park. Atlanta was the host of the 2008 Summer Olympics and the park commemorating that event was beautiful. On a nice sunny day, I couldn't find a better way to be outside.

Next to Centennial Park are some key attractions in downtown Atlanta. First up, World of Coca Cola. I've never been to the Vegas one, because there are so many other things to do in Vegas, and I'm not much of a soda drinker. But when in Atlanta, drink Coke. I probably had too much fun in the tasting room, thanks to all the sugar.

Cheers to the inventor of Coca Cola, Mr. Pemberton

Soda jerk

The original bottle at top, classic bottle at the bottom

Vintage fridges

Olympic torches

Vault of the secret formula

The tasting room, over 100 flavors from around the world

Flavors from Africa

Flavors from Asia

Classic Coke flavors

Souvenir bottle to-go

Koka-Kora

Polar bear hats

My new baby, drinking my Coke

After the World of Coca Cola, we walked down Peachtree Ave and came across White Oak Kitchen and Cocktails. It looked beautiful with a very modern and fun menu. Lunch was light, only two appetizers, but very flavorful and indulgent. 

Berry lemonade for me, Blue Sky cocktail for Bryan

Pork belly with Carolina Gold rice, corn, black eyed peas and mushrooms

Pork meatballs with collard green kimchi and blue cheese

Supreme Court passes marriage equality, btw

Next, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Although they were in refurbishment, it was very pretty. Maybe not worth what they charged for cover, but pretty enough. A part of me was getting tired and the humidity was starting not to agree with us, but the air conditioned Uber ride from downtown to the gardens got us in a better mood.

Canopy

Iron throne

My new bus stop buddy

Sitting on a swinging porch in the afternoon

Fiber-optic plastic bottle sculpture

Tropical conservatory

Only about half the day is done at this time, approximately 4pm. We were tired, but still on our Coke tasting room high. One more major stop to go, my prime reason for visiting Atlanta, coming up next.

-Akemi-chan