Monday, March 28, 2016

March 28, 2016

Today we headed for the Georgia State Capitol, our 31st tour.  At the top of the dome is the Freedom Lady Freedom

 The Legislature ended up their business last week.  A look at the Senate Chambers

 

 The Grand staircase

 We tried to get into the House chamber but the door was locked.  A young lady told us that it was trashed on the last day of the session and was still being cleaned up.  After a little digging, could this be the reason why?  Gov Deal Veto


 A field trip for the kids.  Some were doing scavenger hunt things while others were jotting things down that impressed them.

 Rep Taylor Bennett got a cheer when he announced a resolution passed concerning school recesses.

 The 1976 Olympic torch
In the afternoon we took a stroll around the Olympic Centennial Park.  Centennial Park

 Plenty of blossoms to go around.

 Tomorrow, we leave Georgia for the hills of Tennessee to visit friends.

March 27, 2016

 Hi everyone.
Today we headed into the big city of Atlanta where there are often 7 or even 8 lanes of traffic on I-75 but what is worse is trying to cross the street  with 6 or more lanes.

Our focus today was the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and the Jimmy Carter Center and Museum.

Out first stop was the King Center...on Easter Sunday no less.  When we made the final turn, the parking was free...bonus.  If only there were any spaces available.  When we got inside the Visitor's Center, all the time slots for a tour of his boyhood home were gone.  MLK Jr Center

 The center was great and did a wonderful job on his life story.  Below is the carriage for his casket.

 The Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached, often with his Dad who also was a preacher.

 This location is just up the street from the from the church where his service was held.  It is the beginning of the Freedom Trail that winds through neighborhoods, a distance of about 1.5 miles to the Jimmy Carter Center.

A little further up the same street is the home where MLK Jr grew up.  It was many years ago part of a segregated white neighborhood.  Over the years it became a black neighborhood with businesses that supported the black people.

Out next stop was the Jimmy Carter Center that contained his library and museum.  The grounds were beautiful.

President Jimmy Carter didn't start out as a politician but after giving more thought about what his dad did, after his dad Earl's death, he decided to get into politics.  This is a model of the USS Jimmy Carter, named for the only president ever to become an officer and serving on a submarine. He studied at Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology before entering the United States Naval Academy. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy in 1946. After serving on conventional submarines in both the Atlantic and Pacific, Carter joined the Navy's pioneering nuclear submarine program. After graduate studies in nuclear physics at Union College in Schenectady, New York, Carter was selected by Admiral Hyman Rickover to serve as engineering officer of the Sea Wolf, America's second nuclear submarine.

 A mockup of President Carter's oval Office
President Carter after office has continued to do things that have helped the world community, more in particular in the underprivileged peoples of the African continent.  For his efforts,he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
 At the age of 91,he is still working for the poor people of the world.  River Blindness



 Tom remembered a class trip to the Maine Capitol building in the 5th grade.He and 2 other students were finally found in the then Hall of Flags.  Grammie wandered into the President Carter's Office.

Presented to Jimmy Carter for his nomination in 1976



Friday, March 25, 2016

March 25, 2016



This is the old Capitol building in Tallahassee Florida that was vacated in 1977 when the new one was completed directly behind this one.

Florida is much smaller now. 

Just had to take this pic.  So true.

Look what was found in the Old Capitol building.

 Tomorrow leaving Florida and on to Atlanta.

March 14, 2016

Down the road a bit in Lake Wales we had heard about the Bok Tower and decided to visit. The tower is very tall and contains Carillon Bells.  Bok Tower
The bells are played daily.

This gives you an idea of the size of the largest of the bells.

In the same location are the Bok gardens.

The tower contains 60 bells weighing 16 pounds to 12 tons.

The 205 foot tower is located on one of the highest points of land in Florida.  Edward Bok was laid to rest at the base of the tower. 

 Also on the property is also a viewing area by a pond that has a one way window to view the birds around the pond.
 

March 10, 2016


Time for some catching up again.

After leaving South Carolina, we traveled to the west coast of Florida to meet up with Maine friends on Anna Maria Island.

Naturally after a days drive it was time for a meal.  Not approved by the family nurse.


We were going to eat at Owen's Fish Camp.  We heard the food was very good but the lines were too long.  Owen waited a little too long!

We took a waterboat ride on the waters of the Myakka.  On the opposite bank were plenty of gators sunning themselves.

We thought we could hear this gator growling "Where's Grammie
 Spoonbill

 Ginnys and Jane E's Cafe for breakfast.

 Plenty to look at while waiting for breakfast.

 Sunset on the west side of the island.  

 Got to see a ball game at the Pirates field vs the Red Sox. Sox won 6-2