July 12-18, 2008: Chattanooga
The last destination on my overseas journey was - bizarrely - Chattanooga, Tennessee. Not an obvious stop-over after traversing the UK, perhaps, but again it was work commitments that brought me there. And if the town of Chattanooga reminds you of a certain song , perhaps you can share a gaffaw at my accommodation - the Holiday Inn Chattanooga Choo Choo ! The Chattanooga train station serviced passengers from 1909 through to 1970, and was then converted into a holiday complex. The terminal station is now the grand lobby of the hotel. Guests can stay in renovated train carriage rooms or the more ordinary hotel building at the far end of the old train platforms. The platforms stretch as paths from lobby to hotel, and the lines have been filled in as pretty manicured gardens. Downtown Chattanooga can be pretty lifeless. There's a small zone of family-friendly restaurants surrounding an IMAX and an aquarium but that's it. There are blocks and blocks of tall grey buildings and ...