SAVANNAH GEORGIA

This is the view of the Historic District of Savannah from the bridge on Rt. 17 going over the Savannah River into the city. We drove over and around through the Historic District on Wednesday to see what kind of traffic we were up against and to find out about the Trolley Tours. We stopped for lunch at the Whistlestop Cafe' and ate out on the patio as the train dining car was full. Great food! The streets are very picturesque with the trees lining most of them as well as the many squares between the one way streets running east and west, causing you to drive around the square if traveling a north or south street. There were also tree islands between other streets . We also saw a roof top landscaped very attractively. I am anxious to take better photos of it when we are out walking.

Of course, there are many style of homes, row houses and apartment buildings that span three decades of architecture.

We intend to spend several more days spread out over the month in Savannah.

This area was first inhabited by Indians living off of the bounty of the sea along the coast. Savannah is a city that was founded by General James Oglethorpe and is the oldest city in Georgia. He devised the distinctive plan for the city as a system of squares, which are really miniature public parks. The parks played a military function as well, where citizens of the new colony could gather to defend the city. Twenty two of the original squares still remain giving the city much of it's charm. Savannah escaped being burned by Sherman's troops during the Civil War probably because it had been given to Abraham Lincoln as a Christmas gift by General Sherman.

On Thursday we returned to the city to take an Oglethorpe Tour bus around to listen to the narration about the city attractions and history. It was interesting, however, the guide was very ho-hum! It was the first time we have run into that. Oh well, you can't win them all!

After the tour we decided to begin waking some of the streets, heading to the river to work our south. After all we don't want to miss anything.

We began in an Antique store on Bay street and then decided to go down the steps to

to the cobble stone streets

between the walls made from the ballastone

brought in from England in the ships. Not the easiest to walk on, but beautiful none the less!

This south side of River Street was mostly warehouses which had fallen in to disrepair after the great period of the cotton industry until the mid 1970's when a River Street renewal project began. It was completed in 1977 at the cost of 7 million dollars, with the Bohemian Hotel restored and many little boutiques, galleries and restaurants rising out of the project.

This is the opposite view of the river which is still busy today. The river is dredged regularly to maintain it's 42 foot depth for the large ships.

This ship passed us as we were watching a lot of activity in the area.

There were buses of school children taking time out on their tour for lunch. They are sitting at the base of the statue of Florence Martus who is said to have waived to all ships passing this water front for forty-four years of her live, never having missed a ship.

As we walked back toward our Jeep to finish the day, we passed the Pink House

and the square that had the Vietnam Memorial

the city hall which boasts a dome finished with 24 carat gold leaf

and last but not least, Lady and Sons Restaurant.

However, we had lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries!

Just wanted to be sure our sons know! They would be more impressed that we did that than Lady and Sons! We WILL do Lady and Sons before leaving Savannah, though.

Check in with us again soon.