Tuesday, September 17, 2013

The Park in the Road




In Emory Village there sits a small area in the middle of the road with a few benches, a fountain, and plants.



Everything about this place is hot. The air is hot, the bench is hot: the heat here is unavoidable. The cooling wind that blows every so often is the only thing that makes the heat this afternoon bearable.










The benches are metal and black; sitting on them burns a person’s backside at first touch.










In the background sits Emory University’s campus, a few restaurants, stores, and a variety of cars driving steadily on the street and around the traffic circle. The people driving in the cars are mysteries, and from this special spot, no one knows their destinations. 





It is mid-afternoon and many people are walking: some on the phone, a few in groups, and some are carrying bags from their latest shop at CVS. It is a Sunday and people walk with leisure. They do not seem to be in a rush to get anywhere. The people are extremely diverse in this area and on this one particular afternoon one can overhear people speaking up to three different languages. One woman clunks her way down the stairs while talking on the phone. She is dressed in a skirt and nice blazer; her manner and attire seem out of place. Two men pass wearing pants, which also seems unfitting for Atlanta’s extremely hot weather. Many of the younger people that pass have backpacks on and are headed back towards the campus entrance. Some people walk, but there are others who ride their bicycles. Two people ride by that appear to be a couple in their matching helmets. No one chooses to stop and take in the park's beauty; it is only used as a thoroughfare.







There is a fountain on one of the sides of this enclosed area. Inside of it sits three TALL white poles that are stretched out and bent into different directions.


The water rushing can command anyone's complete attention. The sound is consistent, relaxing, and peaceful while sitting on the bench in the shade.



Every so often there is an influx of cars driving around the traffic circle. The loudest of the vehicles is one of Emory’s many Cliff shuttles trekking up the hill. Suddenly, there are sirens and an ambulance is making its way up the street. All of the other cars pull over to let it go past them. People on the street turn their heads with curiosity at the loud noise. Just as the talkative woman on the phone could catch people’s attention, this car and moment feels out of place in the park.  The change in mood is startling to everyone in the village. 





In another area of the garden two benches face a dirty, muddy pond. Compared to the fountain rushing across the patio, this little muggy-looking pond appears to serve no purpose against the beauty of the rest of the area. The pond is in an odd shape and gray stones outline it. The few bushes that are in the back of the water are dead.







In the other corners, beautiful purple and orange flowers are in bloom on bushes and it gives the area a flash of color. It compliments the uncracked and uncrumbled red-bricked floor of the patio.











After a while, it becomes easier to adjust to the heat of the black bench underneath one’s self. When the seat is comfortable and the wind is blowing, this little alcove can be quite busy for those running errands, but relaxing if someone chooses to sit down and take in the area's beauty.










Stone Mountain Adventure


Danielle Weiss
8 September 2013
“The Flaneur in Atlanta”

Stone Mountain Adventure



            We slowly approach the large stone gated entrance of Stone Mountain Park in our tiny blue car.  I am in awe of the tall green trees that tower over the sides of the streets as we wind through the park. Small pods of people swiftly move down the sidewalks in their neon colored exercise gear. Little kids sit happily in strollers being slowly guided down shaded paths by their smiling parents. I notice that the early morning sun is breaking through the small gaps in the trees, gradually lighting up the park. Focused bikers speed down the sides of the streets flying past all of the other morning joggers barely noticing them. As we make our way around the bend I see a huge, rounded, stone Mountain standing exactly at the center of the park.

The mountain is like a giant slimy gray rock and is mostly bare with no trees.  Stone mountain park is full of eager families which I see are filling up the little restaurants and amusement attractions that surround the mountain. 
            We take a sharp left turn and journey down an unpaved path toward the bank of Stone Mountain Lake. We approach the large white boathouse and groups of rowers slowly emerge from cars and make there toward the crew boats. The air is warm and white wispy steam is rising from the calm lake. The rowers yawn as they try to wake themselves up for early morning practice. 
After everything is prepared and ready to go we set out on the lake in a steady rhythm. Old fisherman are scattered on the outskirts of the lake in their beat up kayaks waiting for the fish to bite.  
Im relieved that there are green trees that tower of the lake that will provide me with spots of shade on my long row. A crowded duck boat passes loaded with tourist looking and waving at the crew team. The smell of campfire fills my senses as we approach a campsite nestled on the side of the lake. Parents surround the campfire preparing breakfast as their kids play around the lake. Multi colored tents scattered through the trees give color to the campgrounds.  I’m relieved to turn around and head back as we approach a dead end in the lake.
The morning is still very calm and quiet and I find myself falling into a steady relaxing rhythm. My mind is cleared of stress and I am only focused on moving my arms and legs in time with the person in front of me. A motorboat interuputs my inner peace as it speeds past us causing a ripple of waves that rock our boat. Little birds fly through the trees softly tweeting distracting me from how tired I am. The sun is now bright overhead causing me to squint as I look around. A flock of ducks is bunched around the dock as we pull up. The air


is extremely sticky and we quickly get our stuff together and head out of the park. The The walkers, runners, and bikers are more active now in the late morning and the sidewalks are twice as filled. The picnic tables and bar-b-que pits are filled with lively families and friends who seem to be happy to be spending time together in the fresh air. As we are leaving we are replaced with several other cars happily zipping into Stone Mountain park to enjoy the sunny summer day they still have ahead of them.
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