After a few trips to the West Coast, we are finally home on the East Coast!
Having decided to fly into Atlanta, Georgia, because a) it is a direct connection from Dusseldorf and b) we had $800 left in vouchers for Delta, we’ll make our way up through the Carolinas via Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Virginia and ulitmately D.C., then back along the Coast to Atlanta.
First day in Atlanta, we decided to start the change into OH MY GOD, SUNSHINE and HEAT by slowly getting acquainted with temperature and brightness at the Atlanta Zoo. Unfortunately both the tiger cubs and the panda bears were behind glass...so pictures sucked/were impossible due to the glare. Bummer. Other than that, some really awesome sights, it's not a huge zoo, but making up quantity with quality and love for details. It's certainly a quaint, little zoo with volunteers and keepers easy to approach and fun to interact with. Two thumbs up for a great start of our vacation.
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Our first day on the road. Sunny, but the Smoky Mountains live up to their foggy name...
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Pouring rain. Poor visibility. But oodles of wild turkeys...with the occasional white-tailed deer
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Another day at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this time with fog (smoky) and sunshine!
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Not that we had much time to tour our Alma Mater, JMU, but we had enough time to snap at least a few pics of the Quad and Wilson Hall. Note the bluestone buildings, typical for JMU.
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...another stroll down memory lane. Elk Run Stable, a place especially Mel and consequently I spent a lot of time at.
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Just before we watched the game in our newly expanded stadium, we had the chance to observe the warm-up of the MRD, the Marching Royal Dukes, Virginia's Finest
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Season Opener in newly expanded stadium against Connecticut Central State University. 25.102 in attendance. AND we won. GO DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKES!
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Our first NFL game LIVE in a stadium. Naturally, we rooted for the 'Skins. Who won their season opener. Need I say more? :)
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Honestly...what would a visit to our old home, Virginia, be without going to Washington D.C.? This time, we even managed to tour the Capitol...and I got to see the statue of my favorite US President. Now...who recognizes him?
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I meant to go to the Air and Space Annex for a long, long while now...and finally I made it. It's humbling to stand next to the Enterprise I have to admit. Still, I am REALLY looking forward to her being swapped for the Discovery in Spring of 2012!
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