Cowboys, Chicken and Country Music
Day 10 ~ The Sun Dial Restaurant and Flying Home
Day 10 ~ The Sun Dial Restaurant and Flying Home
We were up at 9am, got showered and dressed and loaded up the car with all our suitcases. We had seemed to have acquired 4 extra cases since we have been there, and they are all stuffed full. After flattening 2 of the back seats down and playing tetras with the cases we finally fitted everything in, just about. We checked out of the hotel at 11am we were again sad to leave as it had been a very nice hotel and the beds were so comfy and heavenly. We all loaded into the car and then headed in to Atlanta city center to the Westin Peachtree Hotel. The hotel is the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere with 72 floors , all made of glass, it was very impressive, even with half the glass missing due to a Hurricane.
A picture of the hotel in the distance, the restaurant is on the very top floor
We parked and caught the escalator up to the lobby which was huge and very plush. We went to the Sun Dial check in and were escorted in the lift to the 72nd floor where the restaurant was. The restaurant was beautiful and so light and airy. We were led to our table which was a semi-circular booth facing out to the glass windows.
The inner floor of the restaurant rotates 360 degrees showing all across Atlanta whilst the outer floor stays still and has signs on the walls saying what you can see. The view was absolutely amazing, it was so great seeing the whole city this way.
Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca Cola
Stone Mountain in the distance
The observation deck above also stays still, its really cool. Well we got some pictures and then the waitress got us some drinks, Mum and I had Margatinis and Nick had a Cappucino cocktail, all were good. We were also brought some really yummy bread rolls which were replaced with more when we had finished them.
My Magatini ~ Piggle's enjoyed it
The menu changes seasonally to reflect the season and provide fresh food and a fresh menu. For starters Dad had the warm Georgia peach soup, maytag blue cheese cream, pecan ancho chile pesto and croutons and Nick, Mum and I had the crab and asparagus Oscar salad with lump crab, crème fraiche, mustard, lemon vinaigrette and cooked egg. It was all good, Dad really loved his and although I am not usually a fish eater but it wasnt too fishy and the mustard drizzle on the side was really good. There was also caviar on the side, Mum and Nick ate it and even Sophie was brave and tried it, I passed however as I knew it would make me sick.
Our crab salad
Sophie trying the caviar
For mains Mum and I had the grilled bistro filet with truffle parmesan potatoes, baby arugula and red wine demi-glace, Nick and Dad had the all angus beef western cheeseburger with Tillamook cheddar, fried onions, lettuce, tomato and house made bbq sauce with shoestring fries and Sophie had spaghetti with marinara sauce, obviously these are the restaurant descriptions. It was all really, really good. The steak was so tender and tasty, it was delicious, and everyone agreed.
The bistro filet
All angus cheeseburger
For dessert Dad had a cappuccino, Nick and I had cappucinos and vanilla bean crème brulees with fresh berries on. It was so, so good, the berries worked so well.
It had been a lovely last lunch, the food was all delicious, the service had been really good and the views were amazing. And it was not overly expensive either at $195 which was good considering the quality and great location. We paid the bill and I gave Mum her final present of the holiday, which she loved.
A few last pictures
Then we all went and took a few more photos from the observation deck. We found out that the scenic elevator which goes all the way to the top of the building was out of service due to a hurricane a while ago which had also ripped out lots of the glass panels on the building. Anyway we then went to the hotels gift shop and brought a few souvenirs, Nick got a Starbucks from the lobby and then we drove to the airport.
We dropped the car off at the Thrifty rental office and after loading our 8 cases and 8 bits of hand luggage into the airport bus we headed to the airport. We then had to join the Quick bag drop queue which actually took forever. The man helping to get everyone checked in was very nice but a family with so many suitcases had just got there and it was taking forever to process their luggage. Finally we were checked in and we headed through security and on the monorail to concourse E. We had a few hours to spare so got a final Starbucks and then browsed the shops. The main duty free shop was pretty poor with a very limited supply so we had a look around the other shops, which were pretty small and boring too. I did get a really nice beige cuddle blanket from Brookstone, we had seen them at Perimeter Mall, they were so soft and cuddley I couldnt resist. We still had lots of time to wait so we went and sat in the food court and waited for the others. There were lots of food places here, a TGIs, McDonalds, China Express, a Mexican, a fresh food place, it was quite good for an airport. We met up with Mum, Dad and Sophie and got a few cocktails from the bar to pass the time.
Just before 6pm we went to our gate and about 5 minutes later we boarded. We seemed to be sitting there for ages before we took off, I had pretty much read one of my magazines. Once up we were brought drinks pretty quickly, followed by dinner which had to be stopped for a bit due to the turbulence. When dinner service resumed it was brought round by hand, I chose the chicken meal which came in a sauce with mash and vegetables along with the usual salad, bread roll, a mini crunchie and cheesecake, with a bottle of water and wine, it was pretty good. The 2 people in front had ordered chicken but they only had salmon left so were given a free bottle of champagne each, I was impressed with the service on BA again. I watched Dont Mess With the Zohan and then a film with Helen Hunt, Colin Firth and Bet Midler in, both were good. After that I tried to get some sleep, I slept on and off for a bit and when I woke up we only had 90 minutes t go and breakfast was being served. We were given orange juice, cheese and turkey croissants, muffins and tea or coffee which was pretty good and when we had finished it was nearly time to land. Typically our country was pouring with rain and as we came down we got caught in a storm. All you could see outside was cloud so when we finally hit the ground it was with a huge bump.
We got off pretty quickly, got through security and then managed to get all our cases pretty soon too. We had to wait about 10 minutes to get a transfer bus as one had just left and then it was pretty full. We managed to squeeze on with all our luggage but thanks to heavy traffic it took about 40 minutes to get to the car park. Our car was waiting but it was so wet and we had to load the roof rack. Us girls jumped in the car and left the boys to do the work, and then we had a 2 hour drive home, with lots of luggage cramped into the back with us. Finally we were home, although we werent glad to be back we were glad to be greeted by our 2 gorgeous kittens. We unloaded and then got some well needed sleep, dreaming about the wonderful holiday we had just had and how after all the planning and excitement, it was now all over
. Well at least there is next year 
. 
You guys were brave to have lunch up so high!! I think I might be weirded out being up there! 
