A day in the mountains of Georgia

About an hour from Atlanta is a beautiful place called Amicalola Park in the mountain range of Georgia.  It's the start of the Appalachian Trail (the mountain range that runs across almost all of America) and it’s where Will, Baxter and I spent all of today. 

We were each thrilled to be out of the city, completely undeterred by either the weather forecast proclaiming a 'chance' of afternoon rain;  or by the visible gray clouds in the sky.  It turned out that we were lucky to choose this particular day since the wildlife was unusually active - scurrying about in preparation for the rain, so that we caught a glimpse of much local wildlife.

Trail at the very top of the mountain

View from trail overlooking the falls

Local wildlife at the visitor centre: 
A real vulture called "Fabio" and his handler who was a little in too love with him!



A beautiful owl... I love owls, although I felt unnerved at his proximity and also at how he kept looking at my feathers.  "They aren't owl feathers I promise!! Please don't bite me!!"



A rattle snake, found everywhere in the mountains... if you look close you can see the rattle on it's tail.  (The photo's a bit off because I took it through glass) 

At the lookout

Wills' artistic talents caught this beautiful moth...



Good for novices like me to know!



Here we are at the base of the falls

Standing literally over the fall.
Up so so high, and this is how the entire walkway was made! 



The water tower back in town



Given that Will travels so often, he always tries to make up for it by showing me something new before he goes away.  This way, the horrible gut-wrenching feeling I get at his departure is somewhat dulled by the excitement and antisipation of a new experience; and God bless him, he really puts in an effort to think up new activities or at the very least take me to one of my favourite places. 

This time, a real first for me: an authentic American gun shop. We both felt I've lived here long enough now to experience it.

Very friendly staff





I was pretty uncomfortable, but Will insisted! 

Aside from the strange and somewhat unsettled feeling I had that these weren't props but actual, real weapons meant to maine or kill; the thing that greatly un-nerved me was overhearing a sales associate as he trained a girl my age, with a baby in a pram, to use the pistol that she had just purchased!  It made me think, that since guns don't kill people; people do, maybe I'd be safer with a gun!...  Although to Will's major disappointment, we left empty handed that day. 



It's raining in the city today and I'm home from work early enough to sit by an open window and enjoy the cool air and serenity that it casts over the towers and roads, before it gets too dark to see or too cold to bear.

When I was younger I couldn't stand the rain, it always put a dent in plans or ruined my hair or make up: these days I'm neither that busy or that vain; and I am loving sitting here with Baxter curled on my lap, a warm cup of tea resting on the window pane and reflecting on my life, plans and regrets; all that seem to wash away with the rain and become clearer by the moment the clouds disperse.



14th St NE Atlanta Georgia



Discovering the Dogwood

One of the most fascinating and beautiful of all of Georgia's trees is the Dogwood.  Most unique in the shape of its flower that blooms every spring - the fable behind it is even more remarkable.  The flower that's shaped like a cross, is believed to be connected with the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ in more than just a symbolic way.

According to locals, who celebrate the Dogwood tree with it's own festival every year, the tree was once capable of growing to enormous heights, with one of the world's thickest trunks and strongest timber.  It was apparently for this reason its wood was singled out to become the cross that held Jesus Christ.  It is further said that once the Lord was Risen, this tree never grew tall or thick; and has been categorized as a shrub ever since. 

Whether you chose to believe this or not, you can't deny that the unique flowers of the Dogwood tree are some of the most beautiful you've seen.

Spring in the air

Once more Atlanta is coming back to life, as the chilly winds retreat to the tops of Stone Mountain; plants sprout buds, birds begin to chirp and bees begin to buzz.  The days are becoming longer and brighter, as the sporadic pops of the colours of spring appear atop of winter's grey canvas.