So, after finally getting a couple of hours sleep in an actual bed, we decided we might as well head into Atlanta to have a look around. We did a quick shop at a local 'TJMaxx' to buy a few clothes to change into and then off we went for a 'bonus adventure'! 

It turned out that we had been quite lucky to end up in Sandy Springs, it was quite an attractive business district with a handy station that would get us right into Atlanta city centre for peanuts! 20150411-DSCF0592

I love the idea of a drive-thru bank. Wish we had them here in the UK! 20150411-DSCF0593 20150411-DSCF0594 20150411-DSCF0595

The sun followed us from Florida to Georgia... it was a very hot and sunny day! 20150411-DSCF0596 20150411-DSCF0599 20150411-DSCF0601

We needed cash for the Metro but of course didn't have any... we had a bit of trouble locating this ATM but eventually found it, rather strangely, right in the middle of a car park! 20150411-IMG_1905

Got there eventually though!

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We hopped on to the Metro and decided to get off at Five Points, as this was recommended by one of the hotel staff. She did also warn us to be very careful in the centre. When we got there we realised she really wasn't kidding. We got out of the tube station, turned to our right and found ourselves in the most dodgy place I think I have ever had the displeasure to visit (other than Atlanta Airport earlier that morning!) When I was approached by a street seller selling tasers we decided that we definitely needed to change direction and head somewhere else... and fast! It was not a nice experience! 20150411-IMG_1908

We felt on edge most of the time we were in the city centre after this! I don't think we had made a very positive start with locations and the fact that we were existing on very little sleep probably did nothing to enhance our abilities to cope! We headed to the Olympic Park, where admittedly a huge amount of investment had clearly gone in to making the place presentable... but we still weren't entirely comfortable! I did quite enjoy taking a few photos though, especially of the water fountains which had hoards of children running in and out and having a great time in!

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I hadn't realised that the headquarters of CNN are based in Atlanta. There was a high police presence around this area... perhaps a little unsurprisingly! 20150411-IMG_1915 20150411-DSCF0603 20150411-DSCF0604 20150411-DSCF0606 20150411-DSCF0611

It was fun to watch children having such fun in the fountains on a hot day!  20150411-DSCF0614 20150411-DSCF0617 20150411-DSCF0619 20150411-DSCF0622 20150411-DSCF0628 20150411-DSCF0632 20150411-DSCF0640 20150411-DSCF0647 20150411-DSCF0648 20150411-DSCF0650 20150411-DSCF0651 20150411-IMG_1918 20150411-DSCF0655 20150411-DSCF0657

The park had many nice features and the area had obviously benefitted from a large injection of cash when Atlanta hosted the Olympics in 1996. 20150411-DSCF0659 20150411-DSCF0663 20150411-DSCF0664 20150411-DSCF0666 20150411-DSCF0668

I didn't realise at the time, but there is a shrapnel scar on this sculpture from the pipe bomb that went off during the Olympics here... it's diagonally down and to the left of the central figure's foot. A haunting reminder of a horrible event - the imprint of one of the nails contained in the pipe bomb is clearly evident when viewed close up. 20150411-DSCF0670 20150411-DSCF0671 20150411-DSCF0674 20150411-DSCF0676

We walked on a couple more blocks and found an area containing shops and restaurants. It felt much more genial around here and we started to feel a little more relaxed!

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There was a comic convention going on somewhere close by (either that or the locals have some strange dress sense at weekends!)... 20150411-DSCF0687 He's giving me a shifty look yet he's the one who appears to be having lunch with a fox!! 20150411-DSCF0694

We headed back to Sandy Spring (to our great relief!) and had a lovely meal in a steakhouse local to our hotel. Once again, enormous portions of food but at least we were starting to feel human again!   20150411-DSCF0695

A lovely sunset accompanied us whilst we ate. It had been an interesting day... and in some ways good to see a city that I don't suppose I would ever have been likely to visit in any other circumstance!