Don’t you just hate it when you have everything almost done and your computer decides to change the screen and you have to start over… I hope this version sounds as fresh as the original did.  One more time!

On Wednesday, January 14th we had an evening flight to Tucson flying out of Atlanta. We had to go back to get the Suburban and trailer and drive them back home to Georgia. We rented a car to go to the airport so we didn’t have to go back through Atlanta and pick up our vehicle. We rented a Chevy Sonic.  Cute little car with lots of room. We only had 2 issues with it: 1) the seats were really uncomfortable. After an hour ride in the car our legs started to cramp. So I do not recommend one of these for long rides.  2) We could not find the little one in the parking garage at the World of Coke. I am going to have to find a way to mark our cars in parking garages. I think that it maybe an age thing, not the cars fault.

Roy had taken the whole day off, so we wouldn’t get stuck in traffic in Atlanta. We hear the traffic around the airport is terrible. I guess we got there at the right time. We spent the time going up trying to decide how we were going to spend our day in Atlanta. There is so much to do. We decided the World of Coke would be great since I am a Diet Coke addict.

We found the World of Coke easily, which is right next to the Aquarium. We would really like to see the Aquarium but that will be another trip. We park at the Aquarium (it’s all the same) and walk over to the World of Coke. For all the military folks, you get in free, all others general admission is $16.00. I will tell you, at the end you get a free 8 oz souvenir bottle of Coke.

After the tickets are purchased, you have to go through security, just like at the airport. The first room you walk into has these big coke bottles all decorated and you can have your picture taken with , for a fee. We declined this. There is a short wait till the next tour begins.

Your first view is of this room filled with all the Coca-Cola artifacts and advertisements.  If anyone knows who the little white guy is in the first picture I would love to know more. All they told us is that they were advertisements in diners to let people know they could get a coke there. I really thought he was cute. I wish my pictures had come out better. Too much glare in the room, which is why they let you take pictures.  After the introduction, they send you into a theatre where you will see what they call a “Happy Movie” Guaranteed to make you smile. I smiled but I also cried. They had a soldier coming home and that always makes me cry. I purposely do not watch videos of soldiers coming home because I always cry. After the “Happy Movie” you are on a self guided tour, you can have your picture taken with the Coca-Cola bear, go to the vault, go watch commercials or look at more Coke artifacts.  We went to the vault to try to get the secret formula. Seriously, why would you make coke, when you can go to the store and buy it so cheap. I will say when Coke first came out it was a nickel and it stayed at that price for years and then they raised the price to six cents. I can just imagine the screaming that caused. I remember when it went to $3.00 for a 12 pack.  I thought I can’t afford that but I buy it anyway.

So, back to the vault. Before you go in they take your picture on one of those video screens like they use at major sporting events. I don’t think they got a good picture of me. That’s ok, they got one of Roy. We go in and they have all these interactive things to do. Supposedly the ingredients are on the wall and you have to try to figure out which ones are in coke. Then they have this thing to decide how sweet and spicy to make the coke, I failed on that too. There are recipes and coke imposters all on display and then you get to this game. The game is interactive with your image on the screen where you have to find the coke recipe in the bank but then the recipe is moved by train and you have to throw the luggage out of the train. Then the group has to pull these levers and it opens the door to the vault. One guy didn’t pull his lever but they opened the door to reveal the vault, where the real recipe is locked up. If you cross this line an alarm will sound and you will probably not get your free coke at the end of the self guided tour.

The next room had Coke artifacts from all over the world. Cars from Argentina. Coke machines from Germany. All the different labels from all the different products coke has. It was really interesting. As you follow the pathway around there is the sports memorabilia, after the soccer balls and jerseys, there were all the torches from the Olympics hanging on the wall. An employee asked if I wanted to hold the torch and I said “yes”  It was heavy. I can’t imagine running with it, much less running with it in the air. Your shoulders would just wear out. You would have to build up to carrying that for any distance. My one chance at Olympic history. LOL

Next Roy and I walked into this empty theatre. The seats were red in the swishing style of the coke label. We sat down and commercials from all around the world played. We really enjoyed our time just watching these coke ads. Our favorite is the one from Russia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51oF_hgx9aA. If the link doesn’t work go to youtube Coke BRRR commercial. I am unable to brrrr, maybe it’s because I drink Diet Coke.

We went upstairs and there they have Coke in Art, a 3D movie, the tasting room along with the gift shop.  We went in the Coke in Art room and enjoyed making our own coke bottle designs. Ok, mine didn’t work out but Roy’s looked really nice. In the art room there were letters from this guy who all he did was coke art and write letters to coke to tell them how much he loved coke.  Also in the art room was a red and white leather coke couch. Really awesome, thought it would look great in the trailer . Tthere was Coke Santa and the variations of Santa through the years. Lots to look at and enjoy. Here is an Atlanta Braves coke bottle. I took this picture for my mom who is a major Braves fan.

On to the testing room. They have soda from all over the world and I recommend trying all of them but BEVERLY…yuk.

(Beverly is a carbonated soft drink marketed as a non-alcoholic apéritif, that was produced by The Coca-Cola Company for the Italian market.^[1] Following ongoing product consolidation in the Italian market, Beverly was discontinued in 2009.  The bitter taste of Beverly has become familiar to many Americans after trying it at Coca-Cola tasting stations at the World of Coca-Cola museums in Atlanta, Georgia, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Club Cool at Epcot in Orlando, Florida.)

 

After Beverly, I had to find the Diet Coke to get that taste out of my mouth. It was hiding in the corner where all the other Coke drinkers were. The Diet Coke was so cold out of this really cool machine that it gave me brain freeze but…ahhhh it tasted to good. I had been looking for that Diet Coke since we walked in the door.  After a quick trip to the restroom from all of our taste testing on to the gift shop.

Roy and I tried on hats. We love doing that. I took pictures of him but those are for just us to giggle at. We only purchased a few things, we bought a couple of magnets for the fridge..ok the bedroom door, I got a Coca Cola penguin with headphones on (earmuffs). Roy got a truck for his collection. I wish I remembered what else he wanted, so I could get it for him for Valentines day.

We wandered around the grounds outside and had my picture taken with the inventor of Coke, John Pemberton.  Roy has those pictures. We headed back to the car and we knew we parked on level 3 but finding that car took some back tracking. I remembered seeing a license plate, which sent us into the right direction. We got to the car and had to open our free Cokes because you can’t take it on the plane with you. I poured mine into the ice I had left in the car and Roy drank it hot. If there is such a thing when the temperature outside is so damn cold. We had a great time and will probably go back. We recommend it to everyone.

More of the trip to Tucson and back home to tell you later this week. Plus Myrtle Beach…