Beignets Square Donuts

Sunday June 23, 1991

We're up at 8:30 to get ready, pack and leave about 10:30. We drive around Atlanta--lots of black areas. We find some old large homes in an area of about one square mile. We drive up and down all the streets. Most of the homes have been restored and are lovely.

We wander into a nice white area and find a restaurant called Huey's. It is like New Orleans and serves beignets, the square donut from New Orleans. We have omelettes and eggs benedict--Great!

We head for the airport stopping for gas and turn in the car. We arrive at the airport 2 hours early. Frank still feels lousy with his cold. Leaving Atlanta at 4:50 we change planes, running at Dallas and arrive Burbank at 8 p.m. We are not tired, though it is 11 p.m. Atlanta time. We clean up Smokey's messes and head for bed at 12:00.

A beignet (pronounced [bε.ɲε], which is the French word for fried dough) refers to a pastry made from deep-fried dough and sprinkled with confectioner's sugar. It is a kind of French doughnut made popular in New Orleans.

Atlanta has a population of over 1/2 million with almost 60% of them being black.

Smokey was their long-haired cat who tended to become a bit destructive when he felt he was not getting attention.

Atlanta, GA

Saturday June 22, 1991

Left Fairfield at 7:30 for Atlanta, Ga. Arrived Atlanta 12:30, stopping at the Welcome Center where we got a coupon for Travel Lodge downtown $37.95--real cheap. Had lunch in a roadside rest area.

The motel is between the 85 freeway and the Hilton Hotel. The Marriott is across the street. Our place is clean and fine. It offers continental breakfast.

We walk 4 blocks to catch MARTA, the underground rail. Tokens are $1. We get off at the first stop "Atlanta Underground." It's a maze of shops, food, and restaurants. Also, entertainment everywhere. We pay to see the Heritage, which is the history of Atlanta. The Coca-Cola building where Coke got its start is across the street, but we decide we don't care to wait in line 2 hours. Costs $2.50. We have a great Japanese dinner for $4.95 in the food court.

We walk through all the big hotels on the way back. We are in our room at 8:30, tired. Frank still fighting a cold. I feel great.

During the 1920's, construction of concrete viaducts elevated the street system one level to permit a better flow of traffic. Merchants moved their operations to the second floor, leaving the old fronts for storage and service, thus giving birth to what is now Underground Atlanta.

In 1968, the Atlanta Board of Aldermen declared the five-block area of the original downtown a historic site. Many significant architectural features survived from original storefronts, including ornate marble, granite archways, cast iron pilasters, decorative brickwork, and hand-carved wood posts and panels. One-year later, Underground Atlanta opened as a retail and entertainment center.

In 1980, the construction of the MARTA rapid transit line and other factors led to the closing of the original Underground Atlanta. Upon its closing, civic and business leaders succeeded in having Underground Atlanta placed on the National Register of Historic Places and leaders vowed to reopen the area.

In 1989 Underground Atlanta was reopened, at a cost of $142 million, through a joint venture between the City of Atlanta and private industry. It was redesigned to be one of the major projects aimed at preserving and revitalizing the center of Atlanta. Today, Underground offers retail shops, specialty and gift shops, fast food in the Old Alabama Eatery, unique features and entertainment, special events and fine restaurants.

Lake Lure Cruise Rained Out

Friday June 21, 1991 (First Day of Summer, Longest Day of the Year)

We sleep in til 8. Rise and shine and off for breakfast buffet at Bald Mountain Restaurant. Later we drive to Bat Cave for some more shopping. We decide to leave tomorrow early and spend the night in Atlanta, GA so we'll have more time for all the sightseeing there.

At 4:00 we board the pontoon boat for the lemonade cruise. After the first 1/2 hour it begins to thunder and lightning and our driver heads back--fast! Before we get back we are quite damp. Back at the dock we make a mad dash for the restaurant. We finally hitch a ride to the lower parking lot where our car is parked. We are soaked to the skin when we get home. Frank takes a jacuzzi and I get dry and relax.

Later we go to dinner at Azaleas. We use our $25 gift certificate. Come home and pack. Frank's cold is better today. I feel great.

As I reflect back on their week in North Carolina, the theme I see over and over is "Life is an Adventure". Mom really enjoyed travelling and fortunately she found a partner who enjoyed it too. Her grandmother travelled to the United States from Sweden as a teenage girl in the early 1900s. My Grandma Helen loved to travel as well. She and her husband Al had a small truck and camper that they used to travel all over the United States and Canada. There must be something about the Scandinavian blood that gives us wanderlust, because I love to travel as well. My husband and I bought a new Fifth Wheel trailer when I retired in 2008 and when our boys are older (they are 14 and 17 now) we hope to travel throughout the United States. We have already visited at least half the states so far. There is such a thrill in discovering a new place, taking a hike in a National Park, boating on a newly discovered lake, and viewing the wildlife.

Fairfield Mountain Resort at Lake Lure, NC

Sunday June 16, 1991

Alarm goes off at 4:00. By 5:30 we are out the door, off to Burbank Airport. Our plane lifts off at 6:50 a.m. We change planes in Dallas 2-1/2 hours later. We land in Atlanta, GA at 3:30 their time. We got our power walk going from the gate to baggage, 20 minutes fast.

Picking up our rental car, we head out for Ashville, NC. It's a beautiful drive but further than we'd expected. It's 12:00 midnight when we finally arrive at Fairfield Mountain at Lake Lure. We drove through pouring rain for one hour and had dinner at McDonalds on the way.

Our condo is lovely as usual. All the Fairfields have been first class. Plenty of space for another couple. The living room is upstairs. Kitchen, jacuzzi room, bedroom and bath downstairs. Two TVs.

Fell into bed about 1:00--not sleepy. Only 10 p.m. L.A. time.

It may have been 10:00 Pacific time, but mom got up at 4:00 in the morning after only 5 hours sleep the night before. I can't believe she wasn't exhausted. What a long day they had! I am anxious to hear about the week they spent at Lake Lure, as we purchased a timeshare in Alexandria, VA a few years ago which is a Fairfield Resort, and we can use our week at any Fairfield Resort. I have never been to North Carolina except for a brief visit to Kitty Hawk on the coast.