Helen and ATL fireworks

After watching Yakshagana on July 4th, we had planned to meet my hubby’s graduate school friends at a restaurant for dinner and later go watch fireworks. I had met them when I got married and came to southeast US. Our conversations took me back to July 4th, 2010 when we were still in southeast US town.

We (hubby and I with HB, HR and AK) went to a place called Helen (http://www.helenga.org/) which is a small town built in German Style. It is a northeastern Georgia village and nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Chattahoochee river. The evolution began in 1968 when few local businessmen decided to revitalize their town and so approached a nearby friend who was an artist and had been in Germany. He sketched the building giving an Alpine look to it.

View from Brasstown Bald

Parking Lot seen from Brasstown Bald

It was pretty crowded that day as it was a long weekend and American flags were hoisted everywhere on account of independence day. We spent sometime in downtown Helen roaming around visitor center, shops. We could see the difference in the buildings designed in German style.We then went to Brasstown Bald which is Georgia’s highest mountain. The drive way was excellent and the roads were zigzag with huge trees on both the sides. Brasstown Bald is 4,784 feet above the sea level. We climbed half a km to reach it’s peak where we could view the beautiful mountain range spreading across the land everywhere. This scene reminded me of Coonoor near Ooty,Karnataka where there is one such view point. We could see the South and North Carolina, Tennessee and nearly half the state of Georgia. After climbing down to the car we all ate Upma that I had taken .

Trail to Anna-Ruby Falls

Anna-Ruby falls

Anna-Ruby falls

Later we drove to Anna-Ruby falls which lies in the heart of Chattahoochee National forest. The falls lies in the middle of the woods and we had to walk again for half a km to reach the falls. But the path was so beautifully made that we felt as if we are walking in the real forest. The deafening silence of the forest is broken by the thundering sound of water. It seems the falls was named after Colonel Nichols daughter. Having finished a small hike here, we headed back to Atlanta to have some snacks and wait for firework. We got stuck in traffic on our way back for there was single lane narrow road and slow moving vehicles due to many visitors. To come out  Helen it took half an hour(the distance would have been just a mile or so).

By the time we reached Atlanta it was 6 in the evening and we waited to watch the fire works in the city which is supposed to be the biggest in Southeast. We had some refreshments (Bhel puri, Samosa and tea) and sat in the park chit-chatting and waiting for the firework to begin. Thousands and thousands of people had flocked together in the park with barbecues. Some were lying on the ground and some on beach chairs. At around 9:30 p.m. it got completely dark and at 9:38 the spectacular firework started with background music. For twenty minutes the crackers outshone the brightest of the brightest stars in the sky. The rockets danced to the music with perfect synchronization.

 Firework is not new for any Indian. Every year we have fireworks for almost a week on Deepavali (Diwali) festival. Night sky looks decorated with colors and designs.Every house has it’s own firework. This was different since all fireworks were burst together in one place. With music it has double the effect!

This was yet another memorable one day trip with hubby and his friends.