Day 23 Gatlinburg

Today we decided to succumb to lure of commercialism and check out Gatlinburg. As has been true throughout this vacation public transit is the way to go. Gatlinburg runs a trolley line, in fact six trolley lines that bring you from the Visitors Center to all areas of the county. An all day pass is $2.00 so it’s a no-brainer!



Just another of the many area attractions. I have to give them points for detail. You may not be able to see it in the picture but the house that is upside down on the other one has the roadway still attached complete with trees, fire hydrant, etc. on the ...roof?

We were charmed by southern ways before we even left the Visitors Center. We knew from our visit yesterday, to go there to buy our passes and then proceed to the upper parking lot to board the trolley. As the trolley was about the leave the driver was waved down by the elderly woman with a significant limp who was lumbering up the hill (and the hills in the Smokies are not insignificant!). She had sold us our tickets down in the Visitors Centre and David had apparently given her five $1.00 bills instead of four. She was returning the $1.00. We were incredulous as were all the other folks on the trolley. One woman quipped, “Welcome to the south!”

Once in Gatlinburg proper we decided to hop off the trolley and stroll about town. The main street is only a mile long and there is so much demanding attention in every direction! The town is a study in contrasts. You have your tourists mingling with your mountain folk. You have the commercialism of Ripley’s set against the backdrop of the Smokey Mountains. You have Tennessee moonshine mixed with a chaser of hardcore religion. The whole scene makes for an interesting cocktail. The religious flavor is an interesting thing. I have no problem with strongly held beliefs, nor even with the sharing, but the commercial exploitation of Christ make me cringe! There are shops (and I do mean plural) that are filled with trinkets claiming Christ for every child, firefighter, grandma, princess, wife and ...well you name a category of people and we have a corresponding religious souvenir!  There is a Christ museum and a biblical dinner theater!! The place is wild! I will give them a very clean and tidy town but the entertainment is hocked as you walk by!

For all of it's blatent commercialism it is a pretty, well cared for town.

If Jonathan ever did own a store, it would look like this one!

Didn't have to go inside, we couldn't believe the colors!

A "fat suit" outside Ripley's for photos. David couldn't understand why I didn't want to hop in and have my picture taken looking like that!

Awesome sign - store did not measure up though!

Having walked to the other end of town in a relativity short time we headed back on the opposite side of street to find the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair. Well you know what happened next! How could I not go? Loads of, as my friend Mary would call, CWL crafts but also some very unique finds. A lady offered to do my hair in an easy twist using her hand crafted tools – two of those doodads are still firmly holding my hair in place as I blog 12 hours later! There were also two students from the local art collage demonstrating glass blowing. We watched as they created pumpkins and were selling yesterday’s crop! Sold to the crazy lady who is very willing to support talent, creativity, education and buying memories. I will think of watching these two delightful young men every time I look at my pumpkin!

 

Glass blower creating a pumpkin patch!

Gatlinburg was the one place above all our other destinations that provided a wealth of literature when I registered on their website. One of the things that arrived in the mail last fall was a flyer from the Pancake Pantry. Tennessee’s first pancake house apparently (and there are many now) it appeared to have a Bavarian flavor and indeed we found it nestled in a little Bavarian style village in the center of town. We weren’t able to discover why the area appeared as if it belonged in the Black Forest but nonetheless it was very pretty and quaint and the restaurant was a great place to stop for lunch. When David left to find a restroom I had the chance to realize that since we arrived in Tennessee we have not seen people using cell phones in restaurants! When David came back and I pointed this out we were surprised to realize that we hadn’t noticed it before, but in Tennessee people talk to each other as they share a meal! They have cell phones. You can see them in their back pockets but they are not used near as much here (and before you say, they probably don’t have reception in the mountains – yes they do, David checked!). People talk to one another at meals and anyone using them on the street is off to the side. This is a stark contrast to everywhere else we have been!

 

Bavarian Village in Gatlinburg.

 

Walnut (local - taste completely different) Crepes.

Tennessee decor - a stuffed wild boar head on the restaurant wall!

Following lunch we went back to the Trolley stop to catch the yellow line out to the artist community in the holler. We first thought we would walk it but we were assured it was not a walk. A one hour run that covers 16 miles out and then a 16 mile loop, we enjoyed the trolley ride and will perhaps head out there with the truck again if we don’t run out of time.

Now I have seen every kind of museum!

Back into town we didn’t want to leave without first heading back to sample moonshine. Wandering around town this morning we had been offered many things, among them alligator jerky and moonshine. David wasn’t convinced we couldn’t continue to enjoy our vacation without alligator but he thought the moonshine sounded appealing! Good heavens but southern hospitality is generous. They invited us up to the bar and a little spit of a girl with energy galore led us through their offerings. They had five different kinds of moonshine from 100 proof white lightning to sweeter varieties of hooch made from blackberries and butterscotch. We were each given a shot glass (that David estimates held ½ ounce) and she poured shot after shot until we had sampled them all, then started to combine them for interesting twists. I would have taken pictures but I couldn’t focus my eyes let alone my camera! When she offered one she called apple pie she mentioned that it was great in coffee. The man standing next to me thought they wouldn’t allow that at his work. I helpfully suggested it was time he found another job! The whole experience was a hoot! While I couldn’t manage a picture to share, we are now the proud owners of three jars of moonshine so when we get home, if you want to stop by...! The trolley now seemed like a very good idea indeed since driving was not an option!

Just one of the posted recipes! Hic!

Before going home we thought we would check out the Outlet Shopping Mall just down the road from the campground. I know, I know, I hate shopping! Maybe it’s the moonshine talking but we found some great deals and we both left with arms loaded. I am set for the first day of school and David may not actually need laundry for another couple of days – yeah!

After another hot and busy day (10,000 steps by mid-afternoon!) we decided to head back to the trailer for a late dinner and a walk around the campground before bed. Tomorrow we hope to be up at sunrise to take advantage of the 11 mile route in the National Park that is closed to traffic from sunup until 10:00 on Saturday mornings so cyclists can take advantage. Early to bed!