It is so great having wi-fi available so often. Don installed a special wi-fi antenna last year which really helps pull in the signal from a distance. Just a few years back we would have to find a Library in order to use the internet. Times are sure changing fast!
This morning "the girls" and I got an early start and climbed 145 steps to reach the 100+ year old Walnut Street Bridge, the longest pedestrian bridge over water in the world, supposedly. I took a picture of them with a sculpture called "High 4". Then we walked across the bridge which was quite busy with bicyclists, dog walkers, joggers, etc. This bridge was slated for demolition until local citizens raised millions of dollars to restore it and turn it into a walking bridge. While crossing it, I took a picture of a tug pushing a barge. Sometimes on the rivers we often pass tugs pushing up to 6 barges! 
Being without a car, we boaters really appreciate cities like Chattanooga that have excellent bus systems. Here there are free electric buses in the city. From one of those we transferred to another bus to reach St. Elmo where we took the Inclined Railway a mile up to the top of Lookout Mountain. It is pulled by cables and one car is counterbalanced by another car. The system was developed over 100 years ago and claims to be the steepest inclined railway in the world. At Point Park we learned about The Battle above the Clouds which took place here during the Civil War. In fact, I bought a book on the Civil War since we will be visiting several battlefields...and my great, great, great uncle was a Union General, General Burnside.
This entire area along the Tennessee River was home to the Cherokee Indians for thousands of years. Next to the Aquarium, leading down to the river, are a series of steps called The Passage, flanked by Cherokee symbols, and explanations. Water flows down...and it's crowded on warm weekends with kids playing in it to cool off. To most it represents The Trail of Tears that brought the Cherokees through Chattanooga on their forced exile to Oklahoma, 1838-1839.
This picture shows glass "jellies". It was part of an art exhibit at the aquarium alongside the jellyfish exhibits.
The Trail of tears is a beautiful memorial to the Cherokees & their forced march. amazing what you learn while traveling. How neat to have free electric buses in a city! Could do with those up & down our Peninsula!
ReplyDeleteI know Chatanooga well. Our Sweet Adelines stayed at the Marriott every spring for our annual competition. We always took the 'free' bus downtown to eat at Sticky Fingers (ribs) and then we would all walk back to the hotel. It is a beautiful city in the Spring with all their budding trees. Hope your weather isn't too rainy right now. Pat (and Marion)
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