Texas Two Step - Day 5 -13 July -Tampa to Atlanta

It was definitely a short nap. The alarm was set for 2:15. That was brutal. I am glad that I repacked my carryon so that it was all I had to worry about it. The group was all on the coach and ready to leave promptly. 

We got to the Tampa Airports quickly and since we had no luggage to check in, headed right for security. At 4 a.m. it was still bustling. We were a bit disappointed that our boarding passes were not TSA PreCheck. We had submitted our number to the tour company, but somehow it didn’t get recorded. 

Our flight left right on time at 5:55. Southwest Airlines boarding is pretty much like herding cattle. 

The flight wasn’t full so we were able to have a row to ourselves. The sun rise was beautiful. After a short hour we landed and wound our way through the Atlanta airport to meet our coach for the day. 

We had a couple of hours before the gates opened at Truist Field. Our first stop was the Martin Luther King Historical site. What a beautiful tribute to the man. We walked along the reflecting pool where Martin and Coretta Scott King are laid to rest. The tomb is right across from the eternal flame. 

Just a couple of blocks up the street is the home where King was born and grew up. It is a large home and tours are offered. We didn’t have time to do that, but did download a video to see the interior of the house. 

The house was quite large,

Across the street are row houses and just down the street is the Ebeneezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King, Sr.was the minister. 

Then about a 15 minute drive to the wall of Fulton County Stadium where Hank Aaron hit his 715th record breaking home run. There is a nice tribute area as well as the wall surrounding the huge parking lot where the stadium once was. 

Our coach driver then took as around Centennial Park and some of the other hightlights of the Atlanta scene.

The Atlanta Falcon

It was then to The Battery which is a number of streets of restaurants and shops. We hadn’t had breakfast so food was a priority. The place was packed, but we got a table fairly quickly at Goldberg. I had some delicious French toast with a strawberry compote and Earle had a country omelet with potato latkes and biscuits. 

Ballpark #24 -It was just a block to enter the Truist Park and once inside we couldn’t believe what a mob scene it was. There must have been 150 people waiting to get into the Team Store so I didn’t get my passport stamped. :-(. Thanks to Terry M.for the pictures!

The Sid Bream Slide

 It was also uncomfortably hot, but at least we were under the overhang and in the shade, That was the good news. The bad was the fact that we couldn’t see the scoreboard or the batter at home plate. It really was a frustrating afternoon. I finally gave up trying to keep score, which I never do, but it wasn’t really possible without seeing what was going on. I know people like to be close to the field, but give me our high up seats at PNC Park any day!

After the game back on the coach to go to the hotel in Fairburn, about an hour from the stadium. Once in the room, we reorganized from the last few days and in preparation for the next few. 

Being exhausted, we really didn’t want to venture out in the heat for food, so we GrubHubbed it from Zaxby’s. Good Cobb salad for me and a chicken sandwich for Earle.

Blogging and watching the Pirates before hitting the much anticipated bed.