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Gatlingburg Vacation #2

By
Mortgage and Lending with George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages NMLS #65149

 

It is unbelievable how busy I have been since I returned from vacation, I have had barely enough time each evening to comment on some of the blogs that I follow.  Today was a little slower so I figured that I would take this change to post some of the pictures that took when I visited the Ripley Aquarium in Gatlinburg.

The Ripley Aquarium is a huge Aquarium containing over 2,000,000 gallons of salt water, which is the home for thousands of fish. They claim that there are more fish in this Aquarium than there are people in Gatlinburg.

There are multiple floors to the Aquarium and several rooms. Tthe area that impressed me most was a large tunnel that you go through on a conveyor that takes you from one end of the tunnel to the other.  The glass above and around you is about 8" thick but as clear as if you were looking outside your window.  While traveling through the tunnel both large and small fish are swimming around you including several large sharks and stingrays.

I tried to capture some of the fish in these pictures, but the pictures do not even come close to what it is like to be there.  I don't know what was more impressive the sharks or the look on children's faces as they watched these huge creatures swimming towards them.

If you visit Gatlinburg, the Ripley Aquarium is a must see, and an experience that you will remember for a very long time.

 

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Info about the author:

George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com

Posted by

George Souto
NMLS# 65149

C (860) 573-1308
CALL 7 Days/Wk
Fax (860) 760-6891

Email Me
About Me
My Blog

I am a Mortgage Loan Officer who can assist you with all your mortgage & refinancing needs in
CT, and RI

I can assist you with your Conventional,
FHA, CHFA, VA, USDA, & 203K loan programs.

I reside in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Haddam. E. Haddam, Higganum, Chester, Essex, Deep River.

 

Comments (21)

Valerie Osterhoudt
Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT
ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

George.. Is that a Swordfish in one of those pictures?  If so, I've never seen a *real* one.  Well.. not one that was chopped up and ready to be sold. :)

valerie osterhoudt

Sep 29, 2009 11:23 AM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

George that looks like a very interesting place to visit.  I am not surprise you are very busy, I am sure your service is in high demand.

Sep 29, 2009 11:42 AM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

WOW!!!!  That's a POWERFUL REPORT George!  I am amazed to learn about that aquarium!  AND... TWO MILLION GALLONS of salt water??????  I wonder how long it took to construct it!  And the tunnel!   The only way i can guess this happened is that they just placed the museum in the sea, rather than placing the sea in the museum!!!  Were you a little petrified seeing those gigantic fish swim toward you?  I have loads of questions... in my mind... but i won't ask you... i am motivated to go to the website on this and find out for myself... thanks to YOU!! 

Sep 29, 2009 12:11 PM
Jamie Dumaine-Russell
RE/MAX Alliance - Branford, CT

George - Been missing you but happy to hear it's due to being busy, busy, busy.  I'm so glad those sharks were behind all that glass.  I probably would have the same look on my face as the kids being that up close to those impressive large fishies. :)

Sep 29, 2009 12:19 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Ed, if you had seen the size of those sharks you would not ask that question ...... LOL 

Valerie, no that is a shark that has a nose like a saw.

Jennifer, I can't remember the last time that I have been this busy.  I am not complaining, no matter how busy it gets, I can handle it.

Diane the glass tunnel is amazing.  It isn't very high, so it feels like the fish are right on top of you.

Donna, I felt a bit like a kid myself :)

Sep 29, 2009 12:55 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

George, I am going on vacation with you, that is a very cool place you went to! I love the ocean, and seeing those fish up close and personal, well, it just sounds like too much fun! What a wonderful vacation spot you picked, who knew?

Sep 29, 2009 01:01 PM
Debbie Aldrich
The Watts Group Real Estate - Cottonwood Heights, UT
Salt Lake City Realtor - Salt Lake County, Cottonwood Heights

George, Wow, it looks like you're in the tank with them, vey cool.  It's beena long time since I've been there ,I don't think they had an aquarium.  Nice picture!!

Sep 29, 2009 02:08 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I am glad those fish are in "tanks"... the sword fish is scary.  What a cool aquarium.. looks like you had a great vacation.

Sep 29, 2009 02:12 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Andrea it was fun and I really enjoyed it :)

Debbie it did feel like I was in the tank :)

Joan, that was not a sword fish, it was a shark, but I am not sure what they call it.

Sep 29, 2009 02:27 PM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

George,

I hate to sound like a native Texan, but "2,000,000 gallons of salt water" I had just arrive here 3 days earler when the motel we were in got that much salt water. about a year ago!

Bill

Sep 29, 2009 02:53 PM
Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

George,

Looks like a great place to visit!

Thanks for sharing,

Ann

Sep 29, 2009 04:03 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

George - glad you're back. You have been conspicuously absent. Sounds like you had a great time. This looks like a terrific aquarium.

Jeff

Sep 29, 2009 06:18 PM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

THAT must have been a fabulous experience George!!!!! Awesome!!! Was waiting to see your next holiday post....congrats on being super busy, but hope you were still able to watch your Yankees success!

Sep 30, 2009 01:38 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

That's one big aquarium George....looks like you were trying to get in the picture too lol

Oct 02, 2009 07:28 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

George those fish tanks look incredible! It must have been awesome to see all those cool looking fish in one place!

Oct 03, 2009 12:17 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

George, love the photos!  And I got a little closterphobic reading about the tunnel, although I'm sure it was wonderful fun.

Oct 06, 2009 12:32 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Hey George,

I've been to a few aquariums in my day but this one looks like it's even bigger than the ones I've been to.

Oct 21, 2009 11:54 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Neal, it is pretty big, but what makes it special is the layout, and how you travel through it.

Oct 26, 2009 03:18 PM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

I love aquarium photos.  I shot several at the Memphis zoo recently and haven't gone through all of them.. Fish and water life are always so graceful and peaceful.

Thanks for sharing the photos. Gave me a much needed break to take a moment and enjoy them.

Nov 19, 2009 09:18 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Judi, I find aquariums very relaxing as well, I don't know why, but they put me at peace.

Nov 20, 2009 12:31 PM