Atlanta Icons

 

Once David had finished work yesterday in Atlanta we decided to take a walk (rather a warm one as it turned out) to visit two locations which are quite famous - one locally and one nationally and internationally.

 

Varsity is a single storey fast food restaurant and Drive-In which opened its doors in 1928 and is still operating very close to its original sight.  It has seating for 800 inside plus drive up spaces for perhaps 20-30 cars outside.

 

We have seen it before from the outside but this time we decided to join the queue at the very busy and noisy counter inside.  

 

It was really more of a throng than a queue - maybe we hit a busy time.  Varsity is popular with students at Georgia Tech University and with spectators at the adjacent stadium.  Its signature fare is hot dogs and hamburgers with either chili or slaw; fries or hand cut onion rings.  Not exactly health food but tasty enough.  No photos of the food I am afraid!

 

In need of walking off our indulgence we set off on a 30 minute and 30C walk to Centennial Park and beyond to have a look at the CNN building.

 

This is the global headquarters of the CNN news agency, although with crowds of people and multiple food outlets on the ground floor, you could be forgiven for thinking that it was a shopping mall.

 

Our original plan was to take a guided 'Behind the Scenes' tour but we were pipped to the post by swarms of school children on summer term trips and there were no slots available in the time that we had prior to returning to the airport.  

So, after watching the daily White House News Briefing and some lively discussion to follow on an improbably large TV screen, it was out into the heat again for another 30 minute walk back to the hotel!