Blessed Reformation Day

And Happy Day

We had our first Fondue of the season.

With a chocolate-and-chestnut(Marroni) cream-with-Meringues dessert. 

And Winter is coming. Snow soon. 

More on Road Trip coming.

American Road Trip 4

Atlanta

The reason for the trip. While the young people were inside getting their pictures taken and paperwork done, we took a stroll in the area for the flavor of the place.

Big and tall. Some police action was going on across the road.

With green space and water, and a policeman in the bushes.

We did not stay here.

Because water is a renewable resource, or something. 

Planned graffiti on a construction barrier. I liked it. 

A preserved piece of history.

And onward….

American Road Trip 3

Stone Mountain

The purpose of the trip was to go to Atlanta to the Swiss Embassy. But we like to stay at scenic places, so our Tour Organizer got us places at the Stone Mountain Memorial Park. (Thanks, Kat.) This is where an enormous deep relief sculpture of Southern heroes is carved into the face of an outcropping of granite. It is bigger than Mount Rushmore, they say, with full figures on horses. This is one Southern memorial that nobody can take down, but some are doing their best to let it “go back to nature” so it isn’t very visible. But it is still very impressive.

Some of the family (well, all except me, who was not well and slept for 24 hours), climbed the arduous trail (with baby and small people) to the top of the Stone Mountain, and took the Swiss cable car back down.

Finally, TREES. Getting to Georgia.

A park and playground stop on the way.

The pond had a collection of Muscovy and Muscovy-cross ducks, and very large broods of ducklings. This hen had about 16, as near as we could count when they were all together. 

Stone Mountain Lodge (a Motel)

Stone Mountain, with a pumpkin pyramid of some enormous pumpkins. It was very quiet, with nothing happening while we were there, but sundry events are held on occasion. Note the carving on the Rock face. And the cable car lines.

Three mounted figures: Jefferson Davis, and Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. 

Carved area is 3 acres, 400 feet above the ground, the figures are 90 x 190 feet, recessed 42 feet into the mountain. 

It is the biggest deep relief sculpture in the world. 
The carving was initially started by the sculptor who later did Mt. Rushmore, but there was a dispute and the small part he had started got blasted away. The original idea was for seven mounted figures and a huge army. The concept started at the beginning of the 1900’s, but it ran into various difficulties, and several people worked on it, until it was finally finished in 1972. For a size comparison, a worker could stand IN a horse’s mouth, if a rain shower came along. It was originally on private property, but now belongs to the state of Georgia. 

At another time, we took a hike to see and hear the Carillon. The park has a number of attractions, not all of which we could visit. 

The path to get there. You can sort of see it in the upper middle in the trees.

While we approached, and when we got there, it played “Ode to Joy,” “Edelwiess,” and “Danny Boy,” among similar pieces. 

In the trees in a pavilion along the way was an organ that probably is connected to the Carillon, but it hasn’t been used in seemingly a long time. 

Next: Atlanta. 

American Road Trip 2

The Pyramid

Obviously I did not get anymore posts done on the trip. WE WERE BUSY.  And I got sick for a bit - from so many changes; one’s body says STOP; so I rested one day (20 hours of sleep) and was mostly better thereafter. So, to follow are some pictures of this and that, that we saw. (We are Home now.)

Eventually we got to 

…which is also known to have an enormous pyramid sportsman’s center. Our gents wanted to go there.

It was quite impressive inside.

Murals on the wall panels. 

Full size trees and wildlife and ponds and rock walls

And an aquarium 

One could take an elevator to the peak. We did not. 

We did look at the sportsmen’s delights. Note the unusual racks above (some with firearms and some on heads).

There was a store amongst all the nature re-creations.

And some living alligators. 

Then onward….

American Road Trip

Heading East

We are traveling with son and family of little ones to the eastern states, in two vehicles. Being flexible is key. Finding playgrounds is crucial. Having food is vital. And having enough big people hands for little people hands is essential. 

It doesn’t look like Switzerland. Prairie lands. Colorado. 

Places to let little ones expend energy.

The first day had vehicle problems - resolved with expert help from son in Switzerland via phone, and a run to Walmart. 

The second day had other problems, but today has been “smooth sailing.” 

Huge American community parks, with acres of mown lawns. 

Kansas. Any different? No. More prairie. 

It is quite remarkable how many FedEx trucks are on the cross country highways conveying goods hither and yon. Probably everyone wants her Things, Now. 

Oklahoma.Any different? No. Still prairie, flat, dry, and brown. 

With quaint old towns. This one is Fort Smith, across the border.

Beautiful historic churches. 

And traffic signs to warm a man’s heart. 

Coming up: The Pyramid.

Arrived

Long Day

We left in the early morning, heading off to see grandchildren and family. Bye, Switzerland.

Hello, England.

With a window seat we could see London on our arrival. 

Note London Bridge over the Thames. 

Parliament 

In Heathrow

Then, Hello Denver. 

Uh, it was there somewhere. 

Sun glare made it hard to see…. 😁

Safe arrival, and all is well.