Passion 2017, a Spooky Walk Underground, and Other Atlanta Adventures (Part 2)

Wednesday we didn't end up going to the conference at all, but instead spent time with Justus and Priscilla because they were going to leave for the frozen state of MN to "catch" a wedding (Not their's. Don't worry. I would have informed you of that. ;) ). So our first destination was Underground Atlanta. Let me just say first off: Don't go! We walked from the hotel to the Underground Atlanta as the wind threatened to carry the eight of us away. It slapped it's icy fingers at our faces as if to try and turn us back from our dark destination. We didn't heed the warning, though, and so entered Underground "Forgotten". At the entrance a security guard informed us it wouldn't open for another four minutes. Yes, we know, but there was no place to really "open" so we just started walking around all scattered about. I walked along and peeked into a clothing store displaying unusual-styled attire and then looked down a dark and forgotten stairway leading down into the deeper secrets of the earth. Another such stairway went to a set of dark, dirty, and dejected windows. Spiderwebs, afraid of the light, clung helplessly to the corners of pitch-black doorways. The smell of a musty basement landed on our noses. Overhead were thousands of pipes making the sort of noises pipes and pluming make and covering up the noise of vehicles zipping over unknowingly outside and above ground. I peered into one store, which had old manikins dressed in outdated and dusty clothes. The manikins, along with stacks of high-heels and other dressy footwear, were positioned right in front of the locked glass doors as if to somehow ward of the burglars. Shopkeepers opened up their little displays, hoping to get some business however small. People walked aimlessly around the place. We finally walked into a fudge and candy shop, where it was not so depressing and we chatted with the owner of the shop. We were able to find out a little of why the place was in such disrepair. Apparently the city had owned it, but eventually let it become as it was now. Currently the locals are trying to buy it from the city and make it a more happy place. Good for them! Local individuals have a lot more motivation then the city. We thanked the man and finally escaped the dreadful black hole of a place ( Okay, slight exaggeration. But let's just say I wasn't fond of the place and wouldn't recommend it). Next we wandered around outside and tried to keep as warm as possible with the icy wind. The temperature had also dropped plenty.
We brought Priscilla and Justus to the airport and bid them goodbye and then started our homeward journey. We had dinner at Steak N' Shake and then played the "Guess Who" game ( ask yes or no questions about a person someone is thinking of) in the car. We did everyone from old friends to Justin Bieber (um..., yeah, that would be me who did him). We finally got home and so ended another Leake and Co. trip.
Adios, until we meet again!

It really wasn't as bad as I described. Though, it was rather disappointing for what I had heard about Underground Atlanta as a really neat place. 

One of the shops

This is underground but barely.

A dark stairway

The pipes

The best place in the underground: the fudge and candy shop.

The entrance to Underground Atlanta

Same stairway taken with flash

Another stairway

This sculpture was donated by S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, to the city of Atalanta.