Benefit of the doubt: Atlanta

Feeling really sorry for me, Rania, a woman I met though SecondLife not all that very long ago (what is it now, a year? Half a year? I forget) wanted to show me that Atlanta is not all about racism and seedy people glaring at you.

First thing that happened was that poor Rania thought a plane was going to crash into her car as she came to pick me up. The driveway is in an upward slope, and the plane comes in at an angle so I don't blame her. I was scared myself when I first saw how close the planes come. If you were stand on the roof of the hotel you could reach out and touch the planes as they come by.

We then headed out to a really good family owned Persian restaurant where I got to see what real Hummus should taste like. Also, I learned that kebob is nothing like the kebab we're used to in Sweden. It was so good and so tender I still tremble at the memory of the taste. Then we went on impulse to the Atlanta Aquarium.

Of all the indoor aquariums I've seen so far in my trip, this one was really the best. They got beluga whales, whale sharks, manta rays and otters! This place was amazing and really awe-inspiring. If you go to Atlanta, this is really the place to be.

After that we went to Der Beirgarten where I finally got to have a taste of good beer. German beer, yes, but good beer. I've been missing good beer ever since I got to America. Just as I've been missing good coffee ever since I left Kristina and Carla. I even got to show off a bit by pronouncing Pilsner Urquell correctly.

When all is said and done, I had a lot of fun with Rania yesterday, and I'm only sad I didn't have the chance to meet her husband and make use of their guestroom. But, what the heck, the jet engines passing over the hotel got a soothing quality seen from the right light... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Atlanta

A room with a view.

So, as my facebook friends already know, I am safe and sound in Atlanta. It was a bit scary getting here though. The Greyhound was interesting to say the least. I didn't much mind the transportation or the seats. It was quite a comfy ride, to be honest. However someone decided to smoke weed in the bathroom of the bus which prompted the driver to stop at a rest stop and call the police. No one was caught, and we all got to fill in witness testimonies.

As I arrived at 9pm in Atlanta, I tried to figure out if I should go by cab or train towards where I was headed. A guy came up to me and said "Hey, man, I just got out of jail. And I need some cash for the train home". That made me make up my mind rather quickly.

There was a long row of cabs waiting at the street opposite the road, but all were empty. I walked up them one by one and peeked inside until I see a cab where there is a person hovering and talking to the cabbie. I ask "Hey, sorry to bother, is this cab free?". And the driver says in his thick Jamaican accent
- Free? Where are you from?
- Uhm, Sweden?
- Tell me, do you have cabs there?
- Yes, of course.
- Do you get to ride the cabs for free in Switzerland?

That guy did not get my business. Not sure if he was a smartass, racist or just an idiot. Anyhow, now I'm stashed away at my hotelroom. And I made another tactical error. In thinking "close to the airport, that must mean easy transportation" I was all wrong. I can get to and from the airport. But yesterday I walked two hours up the road and found nothing. No stores, no resturants, no nothing. Today I walked two hours down the road and found a bad neighbourhood. The sort of place who eat white people and spit out their bones.

I've come to two conclusions:
1) I don't like Atlanta
2) Atanta is very racist. Whites hates blacks. Blacks hate whites. Both hate hispanics. Florida was better in that sense. There everyone just hated the Cubans.