In early March, 2/3s of my lovely future in-laws came down for a visit for a week. It was nice getting to show them around Atlanta and do tons of touristy stuff. And eat out for a solid week. My waistline wasn’t too happy about that.
Both the fiance and I had to work (me moreso than him), so I only got to really spend time with them on the weekend. We visited the new world of coke, which is INFINITELY better than the old world of coke; no wood paneling in sight!
The new world of coke building from the aquarium walkway
Once you enter this world of coke, you get to sit through a mildly entertaining 10 minute commercial/movie that’s quite possibly one of the most bizarre wastes of money i have ever seen. The entire audience sat there with total “wtf??” faces after it was over. Then the screen lifts up and you walk into an atrium full of natural light. It’s really a beautiful space.
Wall art in the main "atrium" of the building
It still has all of the old junk from the old one, grouped in a way that makes a lot more sense.
I love old vending machines
And cute old cars! (or trucks in this case)
After the kitschy old advertising paraphenalia, you walk through a functioning bottling plant that’s running at a reduced speed. After you walk through the tasting room, you actually pick up bottles that were bottled at that plant. It’s pretty cute.
Part of the conveyor in the bottling area
This is the crazy packaging robot that puts empty bottles onto the conveyor and takes full bottles off.
I spy a barcelona chair!
After exhausting the world of coke (which takes a while. I could sit near the Europe kiosk and watch people drink Beverly all day), we headed over to the aquarium.
The aquarium. Taken from the world of coke.
crazy lighting in the main area
These little worms are the best part of the aquarium for me
I love you cuttle fish!
Jellyfish are gorgeous
I think these jellyfish tentacles kind of look like cherry blossoms. So lovely.
Reminds me of home :)
I don’t believe I’ve ever mentioned the fact that my future sister-in-law is TERRIFIED of alligators. I can’t wait until my aunt wins in her quest to bring my in-laws down to south Georgia and she loses her shit because I basically grew up in a swamp.
And here is an otter basically using another otter as toilet paper:
After future Mom #2 and sister left, fiance and I decided to use up the rest of their city passes and visit the High and the zoo. The High was really interesting because there was an exhibit on John Portman (the guy who designed Peachtree Center).
Backstory: A few years ago, I was bumming around Sea Island on my way to St. Simons and saw this crazy house. I thought for sure that it was some sort of private resort based on how… utterly insane the pool area was. I snuck onto the beach behind the house to get a better look.
Crazy house on Sea Island
Well, it turns out that this crazy house is actually John Portman’s second home, Entelechy II. I read that he had a residence on Sea Island and immediately thought “I wonder if that’s the crazy house??” and I turned the corner, revealing the scale model of none other.
After the High, we took in the zoo. It was… zoo-like. Stinky and full of animals.
wart hog!
Adorable elephant:
pensive gorilla
orangutan being personable
I think Kimodo Dragons are adorable
When I was in middle school, I played flute in band (and was first chair for the longest time). At one of the concerts we did, we played a song called “The Dragons of Kimodo”. Whenever I see Kimodo dragons, I hear that song in my head now.
naked mole rats!
You probably don’t want to watch this. This is a snapping turtle during feeding time.
Oh pandas, you are cute but I have no respect for an animal that won't fuck to save its own species
