OK, I’ll admit it, and I’m not ashamed to do so: I am no fan of Atlanta. Sure, my company headquarters are located here, my brother Dave lives here, but if neither were the case you’d never see me here. Ever.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about the people of Atlanta, y’all. They seem nice enough. But it’s the city in general I’m talking about that seems to be missing something. Is it a soul? An identity? It’s not the traffic, I’ll tell you, there’s plenty of that!! But think about it: say Atlanta and what comes to mind? Besides being a big city and the capitol of Georgia. And William Tecumseh Sherman.
For one thing, it’s not really the South (or at least, my idea of the South like the Deep South). Well, yes, it is the South, but to me Georgia + South = Savannah, not Atlanta.
I’m just trying to figure out what the identity of this city really is. I mean, maybe it’s just that I haven’t spent enough time exploring the area. I mean, I fly into the airport, take the North Springs MARTA train to the Dunwoody section of town (the one good thing I’ll compliment Atlanta on in this post – it’s very efficient and the $4.50 round trip sure beats having to take a cab or van service), work a few days, then head back to the train and then to the airport where I find my flight back to Phoenix is delayed. Because every flight out of Atlanta is delayed. Except for those times when thunderstorms are in the area, like every afternoon between April and November 30, when every flight is either cancelled or delayed. Or when ice storms hit in December through February, when every flight is first cancelled, then delayed.
And why is that? Is there that many people who come to Atlanta to see and experience Atlanta? If so, I just don’t get it. To me, it’s more like the Northeast except for the longer summers and shorter winters.
Sports teams? Yeah, Atlanta has the Braves, the Hawks and the Falcons, but does anyone really care about them?
Food? What’s the big attraction in Atlanta? Nothing, it’s just home to every restaurant chain in existence.
What is Atlanta known for? Urban sprawl and traffic. Lots and lots and lots and lots of traffic. To me, the only thing that comes close to Atlanta in terms of sprawl and traffic is Southern California, another of my least favorite places. Here in Atlanta the traffic congestion is everywhere. It’s bizarre: I see the traffic copters hovering about, but what are they going to say? It’s a freakin’ mess down there! And it always is, Monday-Friday every week, every year. Oh, except the holiday season, where instead of just horrendous the traffic congestion turns to beyond horrendous.
Yep. I guess I’m ready to leave. I just wonder how long my flight tomorrow afternoon will be delayed.
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Pool temp: 91 degrees
Yeah, Atlanta and New Orleans are rivals on just about everything … sports, business conventions, population, etc.
Atlanta doesn’t have an ounce of New Orleans character, not an ounce. Atlanta is one of the most, if not THE most, sterile cities in America.
Comment by Rob — June 11, 2010 @ 6:48 am
Atlanta may not be for everyone, that’s fine, go home! Atlanta is my home and where I hang my heart. As for New Orleans…wasn’t too impressed myself…seems like a dirty big city crawling with perverts and rats. So if that’s what you prefer for character then so be it.
Comment by Summers — June 11, 2010 @ 10:22 am
Atlanta got “sterilized” when it was burned to the ground in the Civil war.
Comment by Jana — June 13, 2010 @ 5:36 am
I would bet very little of 2010 Atalanta is descended from 1865 Atlanta, Jana. My feeling is that 2010 Atlanta is mostly comprised of transplants like my sister and GWS’s brother. Atlanta is the city with a plastic covering over its couch.
Comment by Rob — June 13, 2010 @ 6:11 am
Compared to Atlanta, Louisville is Paris.
I’ve enjoyed these comments a lot.
Comment by The Great White Shank — June 13, 2010 @ 8:22 am
Summers, thanks for visiting in, sorry the posting of your comment was delayed, I have to approve all new commenters first. 🙂 Don’t be a stranger with your comments.
Of course, everyone has (or at least ought to) have a place they call home, and every place has its pros and cons.
In fact, I was speaking to a nice lady on the MARTA back to the airport who was taking her daughter to the Georgia Aquarium; she said I should take both it and the area around it before I go dissing Atlanta again. I promised her I would for purely journalistic purposes.
BTW, my flight to Boston was delayed for an hour due to congestion. At least the airport never fails to live down to my expectations!
Comment by The Great White Shank — June 13, 2010 @ 8:41 am
My Dad moved us down to Dunwoody when he took a logistics job there 1972-74. I liked the north ‘burbs, though the city proper was a bit of a scary place at that time. I don’t know if it was the actual murder capital of the US, but it was at least a strong contender.
The part of Dunwoody we lived in had housing that was maybe two or three years old. I bet 3/4 of the neighborhood was transplanted northerners too.
Like I said, I liked it there as a kid, but went back a number of times for business 1998-2005. As long as I could stick around the airport area it was fine. A customer visit outside that area always made me cringe though.
Rob-The plastic covering comment made me laugh. the neighbor across the street kept their living room furniture covered in plastic. I never understood the point of furniture that no one EVER used. Seemed like a waste to me, and come to think of it, it still does.
Comment by Dave E. — June 17, 2010 @ 4:23 pm