As an overview, our trip to ATL (9JUL04 to 11JUL04) was planned to go see Joel Osteen in the Philips Center.  Using priceline.com (Thanks Capt. Kirk) we got a great deal on the 4-star Marriot near the airport.  We arrived in the afternoon, and went to screw off for a little while.  As we got near the Arena, we found out that (on top of the 17,000 perople plus to see Joel) they were having a festival down town across the street from the road. That meant we came into the arena at 7:30 for the 7:30 show.  The Fire Marshall had long since closed the building.  Carmita had sent in an RSVP, so she was HOT, we began going around to every door and guard and begging, which finally got us into the arena to watch him on TV!!  Later, we snuck into the building and got seats.  Later, on the way to the room, we found only one place still open to eat - the McDonalds next to the Airport.  So we got in line with the other 17'000 people from the Philips Arena.  We asked the guy at the window if it was always this busy.  He said something about him and the two trainees they left with him, and something about Friday night next to one of the busiest airports in the United States working in the world's most popular resturant and OF COURSE it was always this busy and could we please send help. 

The next day, we went to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and the High Art Museum.  We wanted to go to the Botanical Gardens especially because there was displays by an artist who does blown glass.  When we got there, we found that they were having an Asian American Festival also.  As you can see by the pictures, we saw orchids galore, asian dancers, ate asian food, saw beautiful glasswork, many frogs, and listened to live asian music. 

The art museum was great too.  Not much to say, except I almost got arrested for taking pictures inside without a permit.  (might want to put that little note in all Caps next time),

The next day, our objective was to go to the zoo, the museum of natual history, and a tea room.  Overall: zoo - pretty cool (Baby Panda Bear), museum - pretty lame (seen better high school projects),...the there was the tea room.  The tea room that we planed to go to was actually a diner.  Carmita wanted a tea room - little old ladys in hats sipping hot tea and eating cucumber sandwiches.  Well, Roswell had a historic district withtea rooms.  Our torist map even said so.  It could have added that it takes over an hour to get there - and that everyplace closes extra early on Sundays.  We get to the town, and we now need to find a tea room.  The civic center is surrounded by cars, so I figure - hey, somebody's got to know where the tea room's at.  As I am walking up to the building, I notice several Indian's (Asian) in the parking lot.  I go inside and everyone is Indian, to include traditional dress, shines to multi-armed gods with elephant faces, etc.  So I went across the street to the library (which is still open at nearly five on a Sunday afternoon).  The reference section was very helpful after they looked it up on the internet (no, thay had never heard of a tea room in town).  The even printed up a map with the street I need to find circled.  So, we drive for fifteen minutes to find this road.  The road is only a few blocks long, no tea room, and is in a diferent little town.  On the way back, we notice the street that we were looking for, across the steet from the library!!  The brainy library myth is just that.