Best Western Monticello Inn Montgomery

Who knew I'd enjoy Montgomery, AL as much as I did...

It all began when we pulled into our hotel. I've come to expect a very standard room by now, but when we got to our floor and opened the door, I was pleasantly greeted by a really nice room. They had recently renovated the hotel, and clearly hired some sort of Feng Shui decorator. I loved it. Everything was crisp and clean, but with warm touches ...

... the Civil Rights Memorial that was created by Maya Lin (the same woman that designed the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC). The memorial is a large round disk that is engraved with a time line of the of the most significant events of the civil rights movement. Black granite with dates and memories of struggle, prejudice, sacrifice, resistance and deaths, persecution and changes in our legal system were there in a dramatic, yet subtle ...

... works at Tucker Pecan Company as he completes his education as a history major. We loved getting to know these kids who are working hard to balance their lives and make a positive difference in the world. I am proud to be part of such an enterprising and close knit family!!!
Andy and I were filled with family warmth, good Italian food and tired from a long day of Montgomery life. We slept as the Alabama River quietly rolled by and great tall live oaks sheltered us from the drizzling rain.

I believe I have been sufficiently fortified by sunshine, sand and fresh fish to give these Alabama entries the time and attention they deserve. Getting together with the Alabama vonGals was as gracious and heartwarming as it was educational. It was also like a marathon or a rally event. We were back and forth between the sisters as they arranged their busy schedules to accommodate our visit with one entertainment to the next. To do justice to all of the parts of ...

... on a two lane road at the time and didn't want to take any chances. I pulled over into a closed gas station that had an over hang that looked like it was about to fall over. At the moment it was all I had to take cover.

I rode until about 830pm local time and headed up getting a hotel in Meridian, Miss. Its a tiny town with a lot of hotels. I took my time this morning. In fact I slept in until about 10am. After a 15 hour day I really needed the sleep.

... her to willingly join us in the water. So that meant I had to pull her in. This was not an easy task and she scurried out as quickly as she could.

In the afternoon, my cousin Frankie saddled up some of the horses and Alex got to go for a little ride. Then there was more swimming and even time to hold one of Uncle D's new baby ducks...a father's day gift from his daughters.

We had a very peaceful and relaxing visit and can't wait to go back again.

... Oreo cookie and cream cheese balls dipped in chocolate...decadence. While Jackie was cooking, we walked down to the barn so Alex could help feed the horses. Tori & Bella were very intrigued with these new creatures and weren't quite sure how to approach them. It was a funny site.

... to fall forward exposing emptiness behind. Immediately post leaving the town square is ghetto. It was late and weird. We cross the Chattahoochee at Eufaula into Alabama and (passing Batesville which Ted says is the home to Norman Bates' hotel from Psycho) continued on to the State capital Montgomery where, after waking the nice lady manager out of deep slumber, we found a near empty field/RV park. Day 27, May 29th We arranged a ...

... locals actually tried to make carpooling illegal so that the folks would have to get back on the buses. They actually tried to arrest people for NOT riding the buses! It sounds so absurd. After our visit with the Rosa Parks story, we hop in the car and make our way across town to the Civil Rights Memorial. The memorial itself has been in place since 1989 and was designed by Maya Lin, the same young architect that designed the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D ...

... old Dixie to pick it up and drive it back. Which I did, and now I'm back. But this isn't the good news, only a bit more of the story of the good news, and I'll tell you how it relates, right after this anecdote. In between selling my car and picking up the new one, I had one week without a vehicle. And I've got to say, it was really refreshing. Without the pressure of driving, without the expense, etc., it was just a ...