Savannah, Georgia

We arrived in Savannah early last night and checked into a hotel in the historic part of town. It was a short walk down steep, uneven steps to West River Street, which borders the Savannah River and offers many choices for food and drink. We supped at Dub’s Bar; I tried crab cakes, which many eateries claim to have the best, and was happy with my meal choice. Dennis had a terrific pulled pork sandwich.

On our way back to the hotel, we spotted the iconic power plant’s tall, illuminated twin smokestacks. The original 1912 power plant has been restored and repurposed for hotel rooms, restaurants, lounges, and meeting spaces

The following morning, we took the ”Savannah for Morons” comedy trolley tour. It was hilarious and informative, though the acoustics could have been better. The tour guides used music, costumes, and gymnastics to entertain us.

Historic Savannah is about two miles square, roughly corresponding to the pre-Civil War city limits. Within this district are 22 squares (parks), of which I visited about half, and a plethora of tourist attractions and eateries. Since drinking is legal here, many tourists and Savannahians walk around with open containers, yet the streets are pristine of litter.

I walked along the river and then through half of the squares. The blue-bird sky was spotted with clouds, and the air was in the 70s, perfect for my 10-mile walk. Afterward, we ate outdoors, where I tried cheesy grits, which I liked after seasoning with fresh ground pepper and salt.

That night, we went on a Ghost and Graveyard walking tour. The narrator was very informative, not only about the ghostly topic but also about the history of Savannah. According to him, people walk over the bones of 20,000 corpses buried under sidewalks and streets in unmarked graves. He regaled us with stories of murdered people or those who died suspiciously, about battles and the yellow fever epidemic. Among the haunted houses, we visited The Pink House, now a high-in-demand restaurant, The Mercer Williams House, the Foley House, the 432 Abercorn Street House, The Davenport House, The Marshall House, and more. Our guide, Dan, was very knowledgeable and encouraged the audience to ask questions.

Savannah surprised me with progressiveness, tolerance, and friendliness, which are uncommon in the South. There is much to do and explore in Savannah; I recommend at least a two-day visit.