Atlanta, Continued!

   It was the first sunny day that we felt like shedding our winter jackets! And, what a fun and filled day it was.
    Dennis, Mark R and I started out with a trip in the Tesla to Starbuck's.

Interior of Mark's Tesla

    Later, we went to a place called Murphy's where we met Mahmoud, our friend who we met in Costa Rica. It was lovely to see Mahmoud and catch up with him. His wife, Nadia, was working, so, sadly, we did not see her. We loved listening to Mahmoud talk about the medical apps that he has been working on. Besides his fulltime job, he is also finishing up an MBA at Georgia Tech so that he can work his way into management. When Nadia does her residency, we hope that they move closer to us so that they can come visit us someday.

Dennis, Mark, Mahmoud, Mark

Mahmoud and Mark

     After that, we went to Ponce City Mall, a new multi-purpose shopping center in mid-town Atlanta. It is connected by Atlanta's beltline, a 22-mile walking/biking path that circles part of the city. It will eventually also have a trolley line. It was a very impressive place - great shops, restaurants, but also businesses and residences. It was such a warm and sunny day that people were out in droves along the belt line walking and biking. People are so ready for warmth and being outside.

Mark and Mark at Beltline outside Ponce City Mall

     Then we went back to Ansley Park. Dennis, Mark R and I drove around looking at the huge variety of architecture in their neighborhood. Mark W stayed home and read. (He's deep into Salman Rushdi's book Two Years, 8 Months and 28 Days) Mark and Dennis also painted swatches on their house as they are narrowing their color choices.
     Then, we went to a thank you to fund raisers for Lambda Legal, an organization that supports lawyers to fight for LGBT rights. It was at the new Civil Rights Museum in downtown Atlanta which has only been open for a few months. Mark borrowed a sports jacket from Dennis as it was a rather elegant affair. The participants were an interesting and eclectic group and we had great conversations. And, the museum was open to us to wander. The first floor is about the Civil Rights Movement and is an effective and interesting place. We sat at a lunch counter, for example, put on headphones, closed our eyes and were transported back to the hateful sounds that the sit-in participants were subjected to. It was awful. For me, the breath in my ears was very unnerving.
    Upstairs it was more about Universal Human Rights and more powerful exhibits with focus on the violators and the heroes. Evocative and effective.

At Lambda Legal Event

Dennis and Barbara at Civil Rights Museum Exhibit

Looking at  photos of the arrested Freedom Riders

     Afterwards we went to Tamarind Seed, a Thai restaurant where we've been before with Dennis and Mark. Very good.
     The next day, January 31st, we had a leisurely start to our day and then drove about 5 1/2 hours, all on interstates, to Jacksonville.