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DONNA ON THE SIDE AT MOBILE
Part 1
- Mobile Old and New - relaxing before the meet
Part 2 - The Scene and MVP
awards
Part 3 - Running Village
Part 4 - Jumping Lane
Part 5 - PV Corner and Throwers Circle
Part 6 - Relays
Part 7 - Casual Corner and Worker Bees
by Donna Dye
This year the Meet of Champions has a tenth year anniversary to
celebrate--ten years of providing competition at the high school
level for athletes in the costal area. Through the years the meet
and the competition has gotten bigger and better. This year the
field is deep and talented. Meet Director, Steve Schoenewald, his
partner Mike Cambre and all of the athletes put together an exciting
10 year celebration.
Another anniversary celebration is going on, the Mobile Tricentennial.
Mobile was founded in 1702 making this year the 300th anniversary
year of the city. The city was named after the Mauvilla Indians
who lived in the area. Because of location, its history is connected
to international trade and defense.
While not obvious if you're out at the Meet Hotel on I-65 and Airport
road, Mobile is a city influenced by contributions from the Spanish,
French, British, African and Creole cultures. A great deal of the
old French and Spanish city was burned in fires, but rebuilt in
the 1850's and 60's when the city flourished as an affluent cotton-shipping
port. Downtown Mobile still displays some of the influence of its
diverse background in the architecture with the French balconies
and iron lace rails; the French Fort Condé which now houses
the Mobile Visitor Welcome Center; and the Statue of Alonzo Alvarez
de Pineda in the Spanish Plaza.
Views In and Around the Spanish Plaza
Arches of Friendship-presented by the
City of Malaga, Spain, Sister City of Mobile
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Bench decorated with ceramic tiles,
one of many provided by the City of Malaga, Spain
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Bernardo De Galvez
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Malaga Inn on the Spanish Plaza
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The Fish Monger-a replica of the original
in Malaga, Spain
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Living on the edge ofthe Spanish Plaza
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A Live Oak on the Spanish Plaza
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Later as the area was influenced by more trade, other areas out
further from downtown developed. There is Oakleigh Garden District,
Old Dauphin Way, an area built by merchants to house themselves
and their servants, and Spring Hill, an area developed as a summer
retreat and used especially when the city was plagued by yellow
fever.  While
Mobile was very important in the Civil War, little remains of that
period. For more recent history, there is the USS Alabama Batleship
Memorial Park.The main attraction is the USS Alabama and the submarine
USS Drum. Both vesels were important in World War II sea battles.
As for the influence of these cultures on food, you can find plenty
of bar-b-que, seafood, red beans and rice and hush puppies.
For getting around downtown, the Moda! bus is the best bet.
Scenes from Downtown old and new!
Fountain in Bienville Square
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In memorium of Jean Baptiste Le Moyne
Sier de Bienville, founder of Mobile-Presented by the Colonial
Dames in 1906.
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Bienville Square
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Gazebo in Bienville Square
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Downtown Mobile
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Mobile Government Complex
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Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center
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Mobile Visitor Welcome Center in Fort
Condé with modern modern Mobile in the background.
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Port of Alabama in Action
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While visiting downtown, we lunched at Drayton Place on Dauphin
Street--a terrific restoration of the first floor Van Antwerp building
pharmacy into a modern lovely restaurant with very good food. The
whole building is slated for a renovation into luxury condomiums
including a penthouse with terrific views of the city and harbor.
The ceiling was hand done by Italian
artisans.
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The pharmacy counter now
functions as the bar.
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The 10 floor Van Antwerp Building was the oldest skyscraper of
Alabama and the Southeast in the early 20th century. It was designed
to provide a new home for the family operated Drug Store which had
occupied this corner since 1884. It is now registered on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Now on to the Meet of Champions 2002!
Relaxing Before the Meet
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The rather chilly morning doesn't stop
the Collins Hill Georgia Team
from relaxing at poolside.
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Here for some southern hospitality, sunshine
and competition are the Guys from Klamath, Oregon: (From left)
Kevin Bellegrino, Coach Rob Coffman and Jacob Gomez who will
be running the invitational 2mile.
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Video Games help to get Memphis TN's
Cordova Team mentally ready.
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DONNA ON THE SIDE AT MOBILE
Part 1
- Mobile Old and New - relaxing before the meet
Part 2 - The Scene and MVP
awards
Part 3 - Running Village
Part 4 - Jumping Lane
Part 5 - PV Corner and Throwers Circle
Part 6 - Relays
Part 7 - Casual Corner and Worker Bees
Mobile Meet of Champions
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