TOURING SANANNAH

The City if Savannah has been on my list of places to travel to for quite a long time.  And the City did not disappoint me in the least.  I would have liked to have stayed longer and toured some of the estates, but I did get a good sense of the place and will return one day.......hopefully!

There are many ways to see the City but being limited time wise, we could chose from 3 different trolleys, 2 types of horse drawn carriages and a most unusual tour in a Hearse......( but that tour takes place at night and covers all of the haunted houses and ghostly tales).  The BEST way to see Savannah is a walking tour, but time and old age did not allow for that choice, unfortunately.

 This tour looked rather uncomfortable and slow.

 This tour looked very comfortable, private and more personalized but it was too costly.

 This was the one we decided on because of the price, comfort and wide open window spaces for taking photos.

 The "Savannah Tours" was an option also but did not provide the on and off feature of the "Old Town Trolley".

 And finally, the "Oglethorpe Trolley".....would have been good as well but the green and orange trolley arrived first so we took it.

The formidable "Hearse Ghost Tour"......interesting,.....but unfortunately a night tour was no go because Alistair goes to bed at 7pm every night.   (just joking honey:o))

Each of the Tours provided the visitor with the history of Savannah as well as some added interesting stories and legends.  The first settlers, were sent to this new spot along the Savannah River, by King George III, from England.  Headed by a man named James Edward Oglethorpe, this group of British settlers first formed a plan of their new Royal Colony.  They built Savannah in 1754 and by 1773 this colony became the State Capital.

The plan for Savannah, was to layout the city in a grid of streets running at right angles to one another with Squares or Parks at so many intervals that each small 2 block area would have a green space for gathering together, visiting and enjoying quiet times.  There were (are) 24 Squares in total with 3 much larger Parks as well.  Large old trees, various colourful flowers and shrubs still adorn these squares today, with benches and monuments, plaques and fountains for people to enjoy and find solace in.  A truly beautiful and unique way to plan out a city and it has been maintained this way for centuries.

Every Square is named after a prominent towns person such as Oglethorpe himself along with many others.....Ellis, Franklin, Johnson, Warren, Madison, Chatham, Whitefield, etc.  These men owned the majestic mansions that faced each square named for them.

One of the most interesting notes about this settlement was that Oglethorpe and his fellow settlers made 3 demands known to the residents of Savannah.  These "rules" or demands were as follows:

                                                    1) NO HARD SPIRITS....(LIQUOR)
                                                    2) NO CATHOLICS
                                                    3) NO LAWYERS

Alistair says "well, that's it......what a stupid place to want to live",    ( but only about the first rule:o)

These "Rules" were to be followed and were...........for awhile..........but by the 1800's only 2 of the 3 applied any longer. :o)  And of course abandoned altogether in present day.  Give the founding fathers there due.....they tried.  But realistically, rules like these...........not likely!!

Savannah is today one of the largest heritage districts in the United States with a noticeable Pride in it's History and gorgeous Colonial Mansions and Public Buildings. Grand homes still grace the streets and have been up kept through both the American Revolution and the American Civil War.  A special preservation of the area, that gives visitors to Savannah a sense that they have just stepped back in time.

 Beautiful large Live Oaks line almost all of the Savannah streets and are found in parks and squares all around the city.  They are called "Living Oaks" because they remain the same all year round.  Their leaves do not change colour and fall to the ground.  They remain green all year long.  And of course, the Oaks are draped in Spanish Moss (of which it is neither), adding a mystic, enchanted look to the city.  And also a bonus for film makers to use to their advantage.  Many movies have been partially or entirely shot here in Savannah.  "Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil" being one, and also the park bench scene from "Forest Gump".

The "Independent Presbyterian" Church spirals up above the large oaks as well as many other lovely churches in the down town area.  Even some Catholic Churches!!!! :o)))

Now onto a quick look at some of the more famous and stately manors and beautifully landscaped squares with fountains, monuments and plaques.

Just a quiet, pleasant place to relax and reflect..........

The Telfair Family Mansion, built in 1818was later donated by the family to SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design. 

Another view of Telfair Mansion.

Johnson Square.

There are so many monuments I could not recall what each one was memorializing.  Usually a famous person, ( probably deceased)...... or to honour war veterans from many American conflicts or various movements.  The founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, was born in Savannah and lived in one of the large Mansions that faced Oglethorpe Square.  Unfortunately ......I missed that photo shot.

This one I remember because it was one of the oldest monuments.  It marks the contribution of a very famous Scottish Poet.....Robert Burns, dated 1745 and it reads......."Tyrants Fall in Every Foe, Liberties in Every Blow". 

Must be some famous American but he will remain nameless for now.

Not Paul Revere waiting to see if the British were coming by land or Sea.....but some other dude who did something important.

The Andrew Low House facing Lafayette Square.

 The "Old City Bell Exchange".  All that remains of the Exchange House that was used along with the Cotton Exchange Buildings that line the Savannah River docks.  Used when cotton was the main staple in trading for the southern plantations and growers.

 The Davenport House, facing Columbia Square.  This Mansion was used as the house where the murder and suicide took place in the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".

Another view of Columbia Square and surrounding homes.

As you can tell by the volume of photos that I have included in this blog, I took a ton of pictures of the down town area because of its historical beauty.  I had so many good pics to choose from that it was extremely hard to do so.  Every turn in the road was another good photo op.

But we finally had to hop off the trolley for awhile.......lunch time......... and when we saw "Pirates'  House", (restaurant) how could I resist!!

 The Pirates' House first opened in 1753 as an inn for seafarers and fast became a meeting point for blood-thirsty (more likely..RUM THIRSTY) pirates and sailors from the Seven Seas.  We were served by male and female pirates and the place was packed.  Aye it was grrrrreat!!!!!
 

 Quite a large place and the first smallest area of the structure is actually the oldest house in Savannah still standing today.  See the photo below.
                                             
                       
                       

                                                                "AARRGH"

                                                    ( and the food was tasty too!)

Leaving Florida enroute to Savannah, Georgia

We had a great time touring and seeing the Florida Keys.  The only down side for me was the humidity.  Loved the food, scenery (esp. Key West and the Tortugas), and the history of the area.  Now we are heading to Georgia and the city of Savannah.  A place I have always wanted to see ever since I saw "Gone With The Wind".  I found out from our tour guide, that when Sherman made his infamous "March to the Sea" at the end of the American Civil War......when he burned everything from Atlanta to the Atlantic ocean.......that he spared Savannah.  This was due to some quick thinking on the part the people of Savannah who offered Sherman a large, very beautiful piece of property on the ocean in exchange for his sparing the city........and Sherman agreed.

Starting at mile "0" in Key West, Highway 1, is a masterpiece of construction.  Built over the Ocean to join all the Keys with the mainland.

All along the highway, were shops selling a large assortment of yard decorations and novelties.  Some very beautiful hand carved wood pieces and ceramics  that were one of a kind.

 Loved the pelican statues, but the prices were high.

 I think the Yeti buys his shoes here.

Alistair wanted to buy the large lizard (looks like a Gila Monster), but we have no room in our RV.

Once again......more mail boxes......and if I have posted the same type before....sorry!!!  Just the onset of "Oldtimers".

 This one is a "one of a kind"!!  A Manatee in a hula skirt,............some one has a  good sense of humour.

My favourite...... Joe Cool and a cool one!

 This Manatee has a suckling baby.....so not quite the same as I posted before.

                                                         "CATCH YOU LATER"  

 More garden decorations.

 My personal favourite.........:o)))))))))))

 A last look at the Keys.

 Leaving "Key Largo"

 Back into the EVERGLADES..

 Plenty of "Air Boats" available to cruse through the Glades.

Lots of Gators in the ditches and swampy areas as we drove through "ALLIGATOR ALLEY"



We stopped at a bridge to watch them in the river below.



Looks like Tom, Dick and Harry.....at the pool swim-up bar!!!



Busy sunning. But when they decide to move......they are sooo fast!!



Either this one was panting or yawning.......or getting ready to grab lunch!

Mommy (or Daddy) with gator junior!!



Interesting grass hopper.  Lots of bugs in Florida......(duh)....not a place I would want to live.



A type of Comoran.......we think.   It dove for food in the stream with the alligators.  I guess they have a co-habitat agreement of sorts.

My kind of Gator......stuffed!  We stopped at a visitor centre near the Everglades.  The unique thing about this gator was that you could unzip its belly and inside was a variety of critters that an alligator would eat.....like a little stiffed fish, frog, and snake.



The gator was part of a display for kids to teach them about Alligators....their habitat, diet, and more.





On the road again heading north to St. Petes.



This bridge, crosses Tampa Bay, to St. Petersburg.  The original bridge bridge was built in 1950, then replaced with this  newer one in 1987 called the "Sunshine Sky Way".  I happened across Larry, Moe and Curly sitting on the fence.........they did not have a lot to say but did let me take their picture.


A closer view of the bridge.
                                                                           Driving across the "Sunshine Sky Way".

Welcome to St. Petersburg, Florida!!


"Fantasy of Flight"

 Beautiful skyline of St. Petes.


Just love these adds........
 


 Pulled over at the Georgia Tourist Centre and rested awhile under the shade of some "Georgian Pines"...



Jessie pops up from her favorite "hiding while we are driving spot"......in behind the TV, to see if we are stopped for the night or just a rest stop.


Just one of the many breathtakingly  beautiful and huge Georgian Estates...


A group of Egrets, posing for a late day photo on a small lake nearby.


 Jessie again, after a rough day of travel when she knows we have stopped for the night.........             relaxing in one of her favourite corners.......She is a good little RVer, but prefers the parks where we stay put for a week or more.......me too!!!