Coke~a~Cola

You SO aren't going to believe this. Well, those who know my mother aren't anyway. We go down to Georgia to visit Mel and Joey. That would be Dad's sister and brother in law. (Mine too I guess!)

While down there, of course we have to see George and Mom! So we call up, hey, whatcha think about going to the Coke Factory and meeting us in Atlanta. Hey! That would be great, we have to do the Underground as well. Allright! We're on it!
Since Joey knows Atlanta better than us, we put him in charge of driving and we followed. His car is full and our car is full (as usual). Would you believe that my Mom and George BEAT US THERE! My Mom hasn't been on time a day in her life. We always joke that she'll be late to her own funeral. No kidding! They were there ahead of us by almost 20 min. I was shocked. GO GEORGE! ( he is such a good influence on her.....)

After the elevator ride up there is a room with the history of Coke in it. The big picture at the top is this moving this that picks up all these bottles from around the world and moves them around, fills them with coke, caps them and moves them on. It was fascinating.

This thing here is some sort of bottle filler. I know, it looks like medical equiptment.
This here is one of the old time bottle carriers that they used. Look at the labels, they are made of paper. Coke was started as an elixer and actually had real cocaine in it. It was colored green. When it became soda pop, the beginning bottles had corks in them and it was actually drank at room temperature. When the bottles would get cold and sweat, the paper labels would fall off and you had to trust the bottle carrier that you were drinking what he gave you.

This was an example of one of the famous people that advertised coke. I have no idea what her name is but for some reason I swore to myself that I could remember. Nope. It's gone. Just like the wind.

Back then you didn't get paid for advertising. It was a "I'll scratch you back, you scratch mine." More people will recognize you cause your drinking coke, more people will recognize coke cause you are drinking it. Hmmmm, wonder how many stars would agree to that sort of deal now?

The next picture is one of the first bottle makers. So many people were trying to copy after coke and follow on thier coat tails that coke decided they needed a recognizable shaped bottle so people wouldn't be fooled by the fakers any longer.

They said that this is one of two that is left in the world. The other family wasn't willing to part with the other one just yet. It was neat because they said back then you could just reach down and tell my the feel of the bottle that you had a true Coke. This was the first time Coke was imprinted in the bottle. Still a little fat for today's standards.





Both of the above pictures are item dated back to 1915. I find it a little neat that I will actually be around (Lord willing and the creek don't rise of course) when these things will be 100 years old. Lets see, I'll be.....nope, not putting that age in here. My kids will be,......Good Gracious! Let's not look at that either! Let's just go on with the Coke factory...
Here are some of the imitators. FAKERS!!! I thought it was kinda neat to see how it has changed an adapted over the years. This wasn't the best part, however.

This wasn't the best part either, but it was quiet interesting I thought. This lady is being a soda jerk. (every time she says 'soda', you yell 'jerk') Could we use that excuse out while we are driving?
Anyway, she was showing how they made coke back in those days. (without ice of course) First she takes the 6 oz glass (that's your medium, large, supersized. that's all they had) put an ounce of syrup in it and then they gently put carbonated water on top of it. You could see the seperation of the two quiet easily. Now that was neat.

Then you take and add a bit of it real fast so it blends it all. They called them jerks cause you had to jerk the handle forward and then jerk it back.

COOL!

So then she's telling us how further on is where you can try all these coke products from around the world and there is this one from Italy that is the most tried but the least liked. Mental note: Try the nasty stuff from Italy. Okay! Next room!

Here is a picture of all different kinds of bottles and such. I thought it was neat. So did the gal that was standing in the middle of my picture. I cut her out.

So down around to the other room we go and this is the whole reason I wanted to see this place. I had seen on the Food Network how you can push this button and from across the room comes this stream of soda into your cup. (Mom can verify this for me) It used to be right into your cup and I didn't ask why (I know, amazing isn't it) but now it goes into this area and then into your cup. But all that arcing in the picture is flying soda pop. Now how cool is that?

I'm gonna be honest, this is no longer in order but I'm excited, what can I say? See, David wasn't so thrilled with the place. He said it was just another way for Coke to make money. I'm not gonna argue that at all, cause he's right. I try not to argue when the man is right. (he may disagree with that statement, but he's not writing this now is he?) However, he took the boy the whole time and walked around with him so that I could explore the place and, get this, never complained once. He would come up to me and tell me, "I'm glad you getting to mark another place off your list." Awwww.....now how sweet is that???? Ladies, he's taken! All mine, mine, mine. But the good news is, if Mom can find one like George and I find one like Dave, and I'm sure Mel would want me to add she found Joey, the good ones are out there. (Just don't go after the ones taken. It can cause things to get ugly.)

Anyway, back to the factory. If you look on the picture above, real close, it says from left to right: China - Watermelon, Kenya - Citrus, Mosambique - Ginger Ale, Israel - Lemon, Germany - Orange Cola, New Guinea - Passion Fruit. I had a picture of the one with the Italy cola but it didn't turn out well cause Bubs was moving but just let me tell you. IT WAS NASTY. I should of had the camera on video because of everyone's faces drinking it. It was like taking a great big drink of Alka Selzer. GROSS! Do people really drink that?

When you went into the room with these drinks, there were these two signs there. This is the one with Coka~Cola in different languages. You can see that the wave is about the only thing similar in every country.

Here is where they show you how they advertise in different countries and how it is spelled this I thought was interesting as well. Cause there are two countries that say "Please Drink", one of those is NOT America. Maybe because manners have gone by the way side? (my opinion shall be kept silent at this venture) Hmmmm.....

And for you motorcycle buffs out there that still haven't given me a ride, I thought you may enjoy this bike right here. We had to fight Bubs from climbing on it. He just thinks he owns everything. Where does he get that from?

This is what I called Coke Bling Bling. All of these were jeweled pieces of Coke items. Prices, here, let me help you read that small sign to the left.
Coke Cap - $1,950
Pillbox - $345

So, if you are needing Christmas gifts......

It only gets better, see these collectibles. I loved that the sign was in all different languages. Wow how small the world really is. Well, until the one you love is half way around it. Thank GOD for modern communication!
Anyhow, this train right here that my darling daughter is in front of was outrageously priced. Mel and I just couldnt' believe it. They sold 'pieces' of it for like $5,000 a piece. A piece! Good heavens! Do people really spend that sort of money on things???

Then again, I bought a tiny Coke bottle the size of my pinky for $4.00. It had real Coke in it. Added it to my souvenier shelf. Gonna have to get a bigger shelf. Dad is good at working on that list of mine. Awww, he wuvs me!


We end this piece with the adorable Coke bear. I love the Coke bear. Especially the Christmas commercials where the cub slides down the snow.

See my boy walking away? Had to snap this picture quickly. From the left leg, we have Doog-Boog, Dink, cousin Bethany (doesn't she look like a fairy child? She so cute!)

Right leg we have Jeremy who Dad tormented relentlessly. The dogs name is Bonkers, but he made sure we all had our own B name for that dog the whole weekend. Poor guy. He's a good kid. Here's he and Doog-Boog looking at music videos and such on the computer. Saw my kid in a whole new light. Then B-Bug and my RunAway son.

Then, as a joke, I yell out, "Now the adults!" Would you believe that actually listened to me?

Left: George and Mom. Below that is Dad and I. Then Joey and Mel. Behind them in the shadows is thier Mom, Mary Ann and her boyfriend Frank. He's invisible right now cause of the shadows. (My oldest took the picture as well. Don't think the flash was on.)

Mel and I may have gotten a bit out of control all weekend but since no one calmed us down, we just laughed it up. I looked forward to that trip because we always have fun with those two. The boy is playing on the stairs, the three youngest girls were no where to be seen most of the time and the dog and Bubs were inseperatable - well - most of the time anyway. That's for another story though.