Atlanta Trip Report - Oct 2007

I was in Atlanta for business and at the same time got to visit friends. Atlanta was quite hot and humid when I got there. 30C during the day is not the type of weather we get in Vancouver on a regular basis let alone in October. My week started out great when the rental car company gave me a Mitubushi Eclipse for the week. What a fun car to be driving in this weather.

Since NHL tickets are a premium in Canada I decided to try to catch a game while in town. Atlanta Thrashers vs Ottawa Senators. The infamous poker writer Dan Katz (dlk9s) decided to join me off we were to the game using the Atlanta transit system called Marta. Looks like they use RFID in their tickets which is pretty cool. Just as a comparison using the same time at 6pm for the same distance:

Vancouver one-way transit ticket - $4.50
Atlanta one-way transit ticket - $1.75

It's amazing that you can walk up to the gate and buy NHL tickets. I guess this isn't a hockey town by any stretch since most of the lower bowl was empty. And how can you beat $38 tickets for great seats?

I also got to experience real southern BBQ. True hickory smoked ribs which also only cost $11.99 vs over $20 we'd pay in either Toronto or Vancouver. Now that the Canadian Dollar is worth more than the US Dollar this is a big difference.

As for Atlanta tourist attractions, there are only a few. I made my way to the World of Coke where they have a museum and a tasting area where you can taste all the drinks coca-cola company sells across the world. I also had no idea coke was invented by a pharmacist in 1886.



Next stop was the Georgia Aquarium. I've been to a number of aquariums, but this one is set up really nicely. There's a huge tank where a couple of whales live. Definitely a must see. Other than that, I wasn't interested in getting a tour of the US propaganda machine also known as CNN which is headquartered in Atlanta. I did take a walk through the Olympic Park which is famous for the Olympic bombing in 1996. Very nice park in the middle of downtown.

Atlanta was great, but I'm not sure I'd want to spend another 7h flying back just yet. Thanks to dlk9s for the hospitality. I'll return the favour should you find yourself in Vancouver.