We had already had a long day of travelling before we even got on the plane to Atlanta. We dragged our luggage to the local bus and into the train station at Solihull to catch a train to Reading. Then a coach got us to our terminal at Heathrow Airport.
Great Rail Journeys welcome us and deal with checking in for us; which is fantastic. My seat is an aisle at the back of the plane and Alan's seat is at the front of economy class. Our GRJ group have been put into alphabetical order and our names are different so we are not together. It appears this has happened to quite a few of us, so the tour manager swoops us round trying to put us together. Finally, we get aisle seats one behind the other.
I find it hard to sleep on a plane and only cat-nap while watching films. Going out I watched The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Age of Adaline and Woman in Gold.
Wednesday, 14 October 2015
Atlanta 9.10.15
Today we go to see Margaret Mitchell's house, where she wrote 'Gone with the Wind'. I have looked forward to this all though the holiday. I imagine she lives in a fairly large house in the country. Not quite as grand as Tara perhaps but a nice pile nevertheless.
First we tour Atlanta on the coach. Shaw House is a large grand house in the country; but it is not Margaret's. It is a 1928 copy of a Georgian Manor built by a Cotton Merchant. Inside 'servants' show us the house as it would have been. A butler greets us at the door and a maid dusts the drawing room. The 'lady of the house' plays the piano in the morning room and 'permanent house guest/architect' shows us his basement flat with his fabulous collection of pottery. The site has a small working farm, a gift shop, restaurant and a museum with a Cocoa Cola bar (a cafe with Coke not tea and coffee). Cocoa Cola's global organisation is based in Atlanta.
Finally, we see Margaret Mitchell's house. The house is not as grand as I thought it would be, but it was large; I really should have googled it. As we entered - her accommodation was labelled Appartment 1. It was only then that I realised it was not her house. Margaret Mitchell Marsh and her husband rented the ground floor flat. The whole house with a considerable extention on the back and a separate movie building in the side garden was now a museum devoted to Margaret Mitchell and her book. Although I was disappointed I still enjoyed the house and my time in it.
Margaret Mitchell wrote lots of short stories and plays in her youth some of which were published. 1926, when she was in her mid-twenties, living with her husband in the small apartment, she broke her ankle and had to rest at home for months. She was bored and decided to do a project and wrote a few chapters of a massive book. Over the next 3 years she wrote most of the book and spent until 1935 re-reading and editing it. The project was never intended to be published or even read by anyone else in its entirety. She did tell friends that she was writing a book. One of these friends, Louise, told a publisher friend of hers at Macmillan, who came to see Margaret. Margaret denied there was a book and sent him away, fortunately she changed her mind and took the manuscript to his hotel just as he was leaving Atlanta. The manuscript is so big he has to purchase a new case to carry it. He read a few chapters on the train and decided to send it back to his publishing house to a reader. He was not due back for a while and it would be read while he was on the road. The reader confirmed it was good enough to publish and after many edits it was out by June 1936. 1 million copies were purchased within 3 months of publication and by 1965 it followed the bible, being the second most purchased book in the world. Margaret received 500 dollars advance and the family still receive 10% of sales. The film followed the book closely but some characters and stories were left out as it was too long. Margaret was happy with the film.
First we tour Atlanta on the coach. Shaw House is a large grand house in the country; but it is not Margaret's. It is a 1928 copy of a Georgian Manor built by a Cotton Merchant. Inside 'servants' show us the house as it would have been. A butler greets us at the door and a maid dusts the drawing room. The 'lady of the house' plays the piano in the morning room and 'permanent house guest/architect' shows us his basement flat with his fabulous collection of pottery. The site has a small working farm, a gift shop, restaurant and a museum with a Cocoa Cola bar (a cafe with Coke not tea and coffee). Cocoa Cola's global organisation is based in Atlanta.
Finally, we see Margaret Mitchell's house. The house is not as grand as I thought it would be, but it was large; I really should have googled it. As we entered - her accommodation was labelled Appartment 1. It was only then that I realised it was not her house. Margaret Mitchell Marsh and her husband rented the ground floor flat. The whole house with a considerable extention on the back and a separate movie building in the side garden was now a museum devoted to Margaret Mitchell and her book. Although I was disappointed I still enjoyed the house and my time in it.
Margaret Mitchell wrote lots of short stories and plays in her youth some of which were published. 1926, when she was in her mid-twenties, living with her husband in the small apartment, she broke her ankle and had to rest at home for months. She was bored and decided to do a project and wrote a few chapters of a massive book. Over the next 3 years she wrote most of the book and spent until 1935 re-reading and editing it. The project was never intended to be published or even read by anyone else in its entirety. She did tell friends that she was writing a book. One of these friends, Louise, told a publisher friend of hers at Macmillan, who came to see Margaret. Margaret denied there was a book and sent him away, fortunately she changed her mind and took the manuscript to his hotel just as he was leaving Atlanta. The manuscript is so big he has to purchase a new case to carry it. He read a few chapters on the train and decided to send it back to his publishing house to a reader. He was not due back for a while and it would be read while he was on the road. The reader confirmed it was good enough to publish and after many edits it was out by June 1936. 1 million copies were purchased within 3 months of publication and by 1965 it followed the bible, being the second most purchased book in the world. Margaret received 500 dollars advance and the family still receive 10% of sales. The film followed the book closely but some characters and stories were left out as it was too long. Margaret was happy with the film.
Saturday, 10 October 2015
Going Home
Soon we will be off to catch the plane home. Most people are looking forward to going home now. It has been a hectic holiday of packing and unpacking, trips round cities on the route, finding places to entertain ourselves and of course seeking out restaurants.
As I said before I can't sleep properly on a plane so I watch films. On the way back I watched, A Night Out - which is very good, about what happened on VE Day when Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret leave the palace. Also watched Amy, about Amy Winehouse and finally 45 years with Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtney. I was still waiting for that film to start when the cast rolled up.
As I said before I can't sleep properly on a plane so I watch films. On the way back I watched, A Night Out - which is very good, about what happened on VE Day when Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret leave the palace. Also watched Amy, about Amy Winehouse and finally 45 years with Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtney. I was still waiting for that film to start when the cast rolled up.
Tupelo - Elvis's Birthplace 2.10.15
Afternoon 2nd October
Following our splendid lunch at Casey's, we all got back on the coach to head for Tupelo - Elvis's birthplace. Tupelo did not disappoint. We saw Elvis's two roomed (shotgun, as we were to learn later) house that his father and uncles built before he was born. Vernon Priestley borrowed 180 dollars from his employer and bought the wood to built the house on his employer's farmland. Unfortunately, Vernon was having difficulty repaying his employer by the time Elvis was born and toddling about and he got himself into a little trouble. Vernon raised a pig and sold it for 4 dollars but, as the buyer had negotiated down Vernon thought that too cheap; so he made the mistake of changing the cheque from 4 to 14 dollars. This was fraud and Vernon went to jail. He only served 8 months of his 2 year sentence because people spoke up for him, still during the 8 months he lost his job and his home. The family had to move in with relatives until he managed to get other accommodation.
Elvis's mother, Gladys always watched over Elvis hoping to keep him safe. She had lost his twin in childbirth and always blamed herself and did not want to lose Elvis.
The site also included a museum with lots of Elvis momentos, a restaurant where they do marriages and the Church where Elvis attended and first sang. A few years after he became famous Elvis heard that his old house and some land around it were for sale. He arranged for Tupelo to buy the property and he contributed his earnings from two Tupelo Dairy Fairs towards it's upkeep as a museum. He once sang at a Tupelo Dairy Fair in his early days, so they were pleased to get him back as a star.
The coach travelled on to Memphis and an orientation tour passed Beale Street, which is where it all happens apparently. Later in the evening Alan and I walked down Beale Street and shared a plate of ribs, chips and coleslaw with a live band playing in the background. A great place which my hairdresser recommended. Although I don't like crowds, particularly at night and drinking, Beale Street was closed to traffic on Friday and Saturday nights and police cars were parked at each junction; which had the effect of making the street feel safe.
No train schedule suitable for this segment of the journey. Amtrak only run one service on each track per day.
Following our splendid lunch at Casey's, we all got back on the coach to head for Tupelo - Elvis's birthplace. Tupelo did not disappoint. We saw Elvis's two roomed (shotgun, as we were to learn later) house that his father and uncles built before he was born. Vernon Priestley borrowed 180 dollars from his employer and bought the wood to built the house on his employer's farmland. Unfortunately, Vernon was having difficulty repaying his employer by the time Elvis was born and toddling about and he got himself into a little trouble. Vernon raised a pig and sold it for 4 dollars but, as the buyer had negotiated down Vernon thought that too cheap; so he made the mistake of changing the cheque from 4 to 14 dollars. This was fraud and Vernon went to jail. He only served 8 months of his 2 year sentence because people spoke up for him, still during the 8 months he lost his job and his home. The family had to move in with relatives until he managed to get other accommodation.
Elvis's mother, Gladys always watched over Elvis hoping to keep him safe. She had lost his twin in childbirth and always blamed herself and did not want to lose Elvis.
The site also included a museum with lots of Elvis momentos, a restaurant where they do marriages and the Church where Elvis attended and first sang. A few years after he became famous Elvis heard that his old house and some land around it were for sale. He arranged for Tupelo to buy the property and he contributed his earnings from two Tupelo Dairy Fairs towards it's upkeep as a museum. He once sang at a Tupelo Dairy Fair in his early days, so they were pleased to get him back as a star.
The coach travelled on to Memphis and an orientation tour passed Beale Street, which is where it all happens apparently. Later in the evening Alan and I walked down Beale Street and shared a plate of ribs, chips and coleslaw with a live band playing in the background. A great place which my hairdresser recommended. Although I don't like crowds, particularly at night and drinking, Beale Street was closed to traffic on Friday and Saturday nights and police cars were parked at each junction; which had the effect of making the street feel safe.
No train schedule suitable for this segment of the journey. Amtrak only run one service on each track per day.
Last day Saturday 10th October 2015
Saturday 10th October
Last day today. We are having our final complimentary breakfast at Omni Hotel Resort, Atlanta. We were lucky enough to get a complimentary breakfast for both mornings of our stay here because we had to swop hotels. We should have stayed at the Marriott in Atlanta but they were having a refurb so Great Rail Journey arranged a sudden swop to the Omni. It is better apparently and we get free WIFI and breakfast, so we forgive them. We are definitely on a winner because the buffet breakfast here costs 26 dollars and has everything; cereals, pancakes, full English, loads of fruit, grits (yuk), porridge (no thanks, not the thick grey slop of America) rest is good though. A saving of 102 dollars; I do like a bargain!
Yesterday (Friday 9th October) we went on the great big wheel they have here in Atlanta. I was terrified and held on for grime death. I was ok when I could see the structure besides us, but as you go up high over the top you lose that inner view and appear to be swinging in the air with no visible means of support. Alan was too busy taking photos of the view to be scared. At one stage he moved to get a different view and I screamed, at that point I could easily have dropped to the floor of the car, as a way of feeling safe. Each time we passed the start I pleaded to be let off. The car in front of us had a small boy in it, with his father, the boy was in floods of tears which did not stop until he got off; his Dad was trying to distract him, pointing to the park and skyscraper views but the boy was having none of it. I identified, felt the same and was relieved to get off. Thank goodness they take the photo first.
We have a few hours to kill before our 6pm coach to the airport for our 10 pm flight from Atlanta. We decided to visit Underground Atlanta, which we rath assumed was an actual Underground. It wasn't!
It was a place under Carter Street overpass. There were some permanent shops but a lot were in the form of stalls similar to our Birmingham markets back home.
Later I persuaded Alan to go on the CNN tour (Cable News Network). Their global organisation is run from CNN building in Atlanta. Luckily, it just happens be in the same complex as our Hotel Omni. The tour was quite informative. Explaining about auto-cue and green screen; we had heard of these things but it was well illustrated.
First, you ride on the longest escalator ever into a large globe of the world, where they take a photo of you sitting at a desk 'reading' the news. We did not do that as we have had several professional photos on the trip. We were taken into a news room and they explain how broadcaster sees lots of screens and choose which goes live. When 'live' appears above CNN on screen it is live. Next a volunteer does a news item, reading the auto-cue; she was very good. Then another volunteer stands in front of the Green Screen and we see a map of the world's weather appear behind her. She also holds a green cape and illustrates how Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility works. Eventually, we come back down to the ground floor and are deposited in the enevitable gift shop.
When we were getting a Pizza snack we met up with Sue and Brian again. Before long it was time to go to the Motor Lobby for our cases and the airport coach.
Last day today. We are having our final complimentary breakfast at Omni Hotel Resort, Atlanta. We were lucky enough to get a complimentary breakfast for both mornings of our stay here because we had to swop hotels. We should have stayed at the Marriott in Atlanta but they were having a refurb so Great Rail Journey arranged a sudden swop to the Omni. It is better apparently and we get free WIFI and breakfast, so we forgive them. We are definitely on a winner because the buffet breakfast here costs 26 dollars and has everything; cereals, pancakes, full English, loads of fruit, grits (yuk), porridge (no thanks, not the thick grey slop of America) rest is good though. A saving of 102 dollars; I do like a bargain!
Yesterday (Friday 9th October) we went on the great big wheel they have here in Atlanta. I was terrified and held on for grime death. I was ok when I could see the structure besides us, but as you go up high over the top you lose that inner view and appear to be swinging in the air with no visible means of support. Alan was too busy taking photos of the view to be scared. At one stage he moved to get a different view and I screamed, at that point I could easily have dropped to the floor of the car, as a way of feeling safe. Each time we passed the start I pleaded to be let off. The car in front of us had a small boy in it, with his father, the boy was in floods of tears which did not stop until he got off; his Dad was trying to distract him, pointing to the park and skyscraper views but the boy was having none of it. I identified, felt the same and was relieved to get off. Thank goodness they take the photo first.
We have a few hours to kill before our 6pm coach to the airport for our 10 pm flight from Atlanta. We decided to visit Underground Atlanta, which we rath assumed was an actual Underground. It wasn't!
It was a place under Carter Street overpass. There were some permanent shops but a lot were in the form of stalls similar to our Birmingham markets back home.
Later I persuaded Alan to go on the CNN tour (Cable News Network). Their global organisation is run from CNN building in Atlanta. Luckily, it just happens be in the same complex as our Hotel Omni. The tour was quite informative. Explaining about auto-cue and green screen; we had heard of these things but it was well illustrated.
First, you ride on the longest escalator ever into a large globe of the world, where they take a photo of you sitting at a desk 'reading' the news. We did not do that as we have had several professional photos on the trip. We were taken into a news room and they explain how broadcaster sees lots of screens and choose which goes live. When 'live' appears above CNN on screen it is live. Next a volunteer does a news item, reading the auto-cue; she was very good. Then another volunteer stands in front of the Green Screen and we see a map of the world's weather appear behind her. She also holds a green cape and illustrates how Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility works. Eventually, we come back down to the ground floor and are deposited in the enevitable gift shop.
When we were getting a Pizza snack we met up with Sue and Brian again. Before long it was time to go to the Motor Lobby for our cases and the airport coach.
Thursday, 8 October 2015
Marching Bands have been sighted!
The highlight of New Orleans for me (Jean) was seeing a marching band on Bourbon Street. We enjoyed the music scene. Derek and I came for the music and we haven't been disappointed. A really great group of fellow travellers.
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