School got out on Thursday and as we had dinner with our coworkers who would also be heading home that weekend the snow started coming down in loads. Luckily we made it out of Frankfurt on Friday morning, before all of the heavy snow and delays started to set in. The flight went smoothly and the only hiccup was the fact that our German Christmas Market sausages (6) were all confiscated in NYC by the customs people (shouldn't have checked the box on the customs form).
Since this post is specifically about the Atlanta leg of the trip, allow me to give you the highlights in bulleted fashion:
Top 5 Things to do While Visiting Atlanta This Christmas
1. Hanging out in the concierge lounge of the Marriott hotel with my mom, grandma and Herb, and aunt Amy............drinking free Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, and instant hot chocolate........watching the Falcons in HD..........dropping by the North Georgia Outlets for overstimulation and capitalism at its best........and hitting up classic restaurants like the Olive Garden and Cracker Barrel.
Mom, Grandma, Herb, and Amy post Cracker Barrel - look how happy we look!
2. Visiting the Georgia Aquarium with mom, Matt Davis, and Kim with a visit to the Vortex afterward. The Weeki Wachee Mermaids in the Ocean Voyager tank were impressive!
I nearly inked myself when the sharks swam by in between them and the glass. I mean, there's so much freaking room in there, why do they need to swim that close to the Weeki Wachee Mermaids?
3. Dinner party at the King's, featuring Terrapin Moo Moo Chocolate Stout and a menagerie of finger foods, compliments of Atlanta's Next Top Chef - Chris King.
Old co-workers at GTAA
Our hosts: the Kings.
4. Renewing Taco Mac Passport Membership by tasting a couple of brews over lunch with the Brazells. 200 beers on tap IS something to write home about!5. Helping my brother Jake start up his foreign money collection with a little birthday present from the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.
Atlanta: Part I was an excellent welcome home and a nice warm-up for our trip out to California for Christmas.
--Justin
