Sunday, April 30, 2017

Walton Spring Park and Skyview Atlanta



From Dobbs Plaza, I took the streetcar directly to Centennial Olympic Park stop. The tracks went past Walton Spring Park. Unfortunately, the park was being refurbished and the artwork was not visible. Fortunately, When I was in Atlanta, the last time, three years ago, I got some pictures of it and its artwork. The streetcars were not up and running, at that time. The streetcar stop was across the street from a new sight in Atlanta, the Skyview, a large Ferris wheel. Walton Spring Park from 2014:



Skyview Atlanta:

John Wesley Dobbs Plaza and Atlanta Streetcar Vehicle Maintenance Facility


Within several blocks is the John Wesley Dobbs Plaza. And across the street is the Streetcar Maintenance facility.

Dobbs Plaza is a open space in town, with a caste statue in the middle. Another hangout for the homeless. The stature was taken at a strange angle as a homeless man was sleeping at its base.

Across the street is the Maintenance Facility for Atlanta's streetcars. It is set under the interstate overpass.


Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site




I found the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Site, a very moving experience. I got off the streetcar, within sight of Ebeneezer Baptist Church, the home church of the Kings. I went in and up to the sanctuary. It is a beautiful space. They have recordings of King speaking. It was here that MLK did his pastoral service. Everyone remembers his "I have a dream" speech in Washington. The story that I remember is that he was not schedule to speak, that day, but it was last minute, due to the absence of one speaker. He took images from one of his old sermons and adapted from religious to political. Imagine the whole protest in Washington, without that speech and movement without him.

After a brief orientation at the Visitor's Center, after I had been visiting, on past Fire Station No. 6 to the Birth Home Block.

Next, we have the King Center: The King's grave and the Eternal Flame.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Underground Atlanta and Downtown Parks



After the Millennium Gate, I took the bus bracf the Art Center and the subway to Five Points and Underground Atlanta. I did not expect to spend much time there so a few pictures and onward:







My prospectus involved walking to Woodruff Park and Hurt Park and on to John Wesley Dobbs Plaza and to Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. I did walk through Woodruff Park and boarded the streetcar, the streetcar to Hurt Park where I stopped for a while and back to the streetcar and on to Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.

The Woodruff Park has good landscape and public art:








Hurt Park was not very interesting as the fountain was turned off. However, it, along with Woodruff Park has become a major hangout of Atlanta's homeless.


I boarded the streetcar and headed for Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

From Home to First Stop

My layover in Washington wasn't long enough to leave the station. Union Station has enough to keep a person busy for a couple of hours. The Crescent was a good as well. Part of the experience of the overnight trains is the dining car experience. The Silver Star to Washington no longer has the diner, so you get a zapped burger or hot dog. The dinner in the diner on the Crescent was excellent. What you have to get use to is the community seating. Years ago, I went into the diner and the steward seated the first two, me and another stranger. I mentioned that I was not with him and the steward ask did I have anything against him. lol. You do meet so many people at dinner and in your seat, more that on an airplane and driving your car.

Looking back at my trip log, your will notice that the Silver Star was an hour late into Washington. I had four hours, now only three. I just got a bit to eat and I did some looking around in the stores in Union Terminal. Crescent was on time and I went from there to Atlanta. We arrived the next morning, about 20 minutes late.

First stop was Millennium Gate, a modern Victory Arch design. This was not in my first prospectus. I learned of it when I was looking at things to see. In the next prospectus, it was a "if I had time" destination. It was connected with Atlantic Station, a nice development of shops and condominiums. I took the bus to Art Center MARTA Station and a bus from there to Atlantic Station. I got a free ride on the Atlantic Station Shuttle, even though I did purchase a day pass for the subway and bus.


Here is The Arch: