Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Georgia...where the peaches grow, they drink sweet tea and talk real slow

After sitting on the bus for about 15 minutes, we were transferred to a trolley. I was actually pleased we had the opportunity to take that tour as the trolley was able to go into areas where the bus could not go.


Of course, if I had a chance this would have been my personal mode of transportation. I love watching the carriages lumber through the tree laden streets.....shades of Gone with the Wind.

A few fun facts we learned while on the tour....Savannah hosts the second largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the nation. They are expecting 700,000 people this year....yikes. The day after we left they started turning all the fountains green. I would love to see it but NO way could I tolerate those crowds!!!

Savannah is also the 4th largest shipping port in the nation. It is 44' deep and can accommodate 98% of the worlds' ships.

Spanish Moss is really not Spanish or moss. It is a breathing plant and does not kill the trees. Years ago, people tried to use it to stuff their mattresses....it seemed like a good idea until the bugs that were intermingled with the moss started to bite. Hence, don't let the bedbugs bite. Henry Ford also tried to use it to stuff the seats of his early automobiles, with the same results....bringing on the first Ford Recall!
It is believed by many, that Eli Whitney did not actually invent the cotton gin. Supposedly, a WOMAN and her slaves invented it, however, due to the fact that neither a woman or slaves could obtain a patent, Whitney was asked to apply.

According to FOX news River street is the most haunted area in the nation.

Many of the streets and walls within the city are made from ballast stones. When the ships crossed the ocean they used the stones for ballast. After arriving in Savannah, they would unload the stone and then stock the ship with the exports.


Here is the famous Whistle Stop Cafe....where the movie Fried Green Tomatoes was filmed...and yes they still serve them.


This is the Telfair Hospital which was the first hospital for women only. It was owned and staffed by women and the only time men were allowed in was to visit their wives and babies.

The architecture is beautiful and much of it reminds me of the French Quarter in New Orleans.

After the tour we headed for lunch at Lady and Sons, Paula Dean's restaurant....where once again we ate too much. I told Salt I am heading back to the Island with 2 cases of Slim Fast and a new pair of running shoes!!!

After the tour we had some time to browse the city on our own. The boys got very excited when they found this bar....unfortunately, it opened after our bus left.

This is the club where the famous (or infamous) Lady Chablis, the transvestite who played a large part in the book and movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil still performs once a month. She/he played him/herself in the movie. What a cast of characters this city offers!!!

All kinds of shops along the river....this one is for you Emma, Rachael and Sarah. I know much fun you would have in this candy shop!!

Although we saw so much while we were in Savannah, our time there was way too short. It is definitely a place I want to go back to.

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