Our only full day in Atlanta. We walk to Starbucks to get internet. Simply walking out of an air-conditioned house into Atlanta's June heat leaves you drenched in sweat. The morning shower felt redundant.
After Starbucks we headed off to another great institution of American big business. The Coca Cola Factory. The staff were very smiley and very enthusiastic. Great for kids. A nightmare for a bitter and cynical person such as myself. They made a half-hearted threat so that we would try all the drinks they had on offer at the end of the tour. That would come back to haunt us.
We experienced the 3D and 4D cinematic masterpieces they had on display. 4D being 3D with a special chair that does stuff to you. In America's 4D cinemas the chair always seems to hurt you. A little strange considering that causing a little discomfort to anyone here seems like it could land you in an American courtroom.
Most chilling of all in the factory was the World Cup inspired film about football (soccer). It was fine until they envisaged a match in 2025. A team of superhumans, seemingly genetically engineered by Coca Cola themselves, took on another superhuman team. If you want your child to support a successful team, switch allegiances as soon as Coca Cola FC make their debut appearance.
Then, before we left, we tried all the drinks Coca Cola sold around the world. It was disgusting. Ed and I felt sick. Do not try Coca Cola product sodas in other countries. They are not good. Ignore the warnings and drink the local water instead. You will be better off.
Then we walked to the Martin Luther King Jr. museum. You don't have to pay for entry. It was another world entirely. A fascinating world of peaceful and intelligent struggle for equality. A wonderful world where I could read about some of the civil rights movement in America's 1960's and no patronising film would tell me that I (the consumer) was the secret ingredient in Coke.
