This mural is really unique.  The outline of each species is formed by the letters and are drawn to scale.  

 
It teemed rain all night and most of today here in Chattanooga, TN.  We slept late this morning and after lunch braved the rain to visit the Tennessee Aquarium which is very close to where we're docked.  We were so impressed.  It is housed in two buildings, one contains salt water exhibits and the other fresh water.  Both sections are laid out so they logically flow into each other.  The aquarium is a must see -- it is nothing short of spectacular.  I took a gazillion photos and will be hard pressed to choose only a few to post here.

After visiting the aquarium we boarded the free CARTA electric shuttle and rode uptown to the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel.  The station has been preserved and is comprised of nostalgic shops and restaurants.  My impression was that it was a little shabby and not what I expected, but it is October, after all, and it was a rainy day.  The gardens are lovely and the preservation and restoration is nicely done.  I wandered about on my own and the Captain was happy to sit on a bench and catch up on his email -- glad to not be dragged around to another "museum" of sorts.

We took the CARTA shuttle back downtown and had pizza -- the "house special" at the "Mellow Mushroom" which was delicious -- loaded with everything you can think of but NOT anchovies (or "eyebrows") which I don't like at all.  If a visit to Chattanooga is in your plans, be sure to visit the Tennessee Aquarium, the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel and have a pizza at the Mellow Mushroom.

It's raining again as I write this and is expected to continue through early tomorrow morning, then it is expected to be clear for the next 10 days, or so they say.  Tomorrow we're heading downbound on  the Tennessee River the way we came, only this time the current will be with us. Because the Tennessee River is so twisty, the directional calls are upbound and downbound not north or south.

Below are some photos from today's outing:

Very unusual seahorses and a starfish

All kinds of turtles in exhibit

Unusual frogs

I can't remember the species of this big fish

A ray

This is the shell of the world's largest known turtle

Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel

Entering the grounds of the station

The Captain opted to sit this one out!

Chattanooga Choo Choo Station

 I remember these fortune tellers from amusement parks

More shops in the station

This dining car features singing waiters.  It wasn't open today.

More shops and the Captain at another location checking his email

The beautiful gardens at the station

In the summer this garden must be magnificent

This little girl sculpture is delightful

Mmmm....the house specialty at Mellow Mushroom

The service was good and the pizza was excellent

The Tennessee Aquarium

Tonight's back yard -- the dock at the bluffs, Chattanooga, TN

Divers in the shark tank, Tennessee Aquarium

The diver with the PVC pipe contraption keeps the sharks away from the air supply and microphone of  diver who is speaking to the audience

The aquarium has several of these "bubbles" in their exhibits,that  allow children to pop up in the middle of the exhibit.  Very clever and the kids love it.  This little boy is "in" the tank with a giant crab.

This poor little fish looks like he ran into the glass

Doesn't this look like Professor Dumbledore pointing out something amazing with this umbrella??

This is a little penguin swimming along

The penguin exhibit. They are so adorable

These are upside down jellyfish

Seahorses all different colors and sizes

There is an orange seahorse in the plants that matches its body

These are potbelly seahorses

Corn snake