Springtime in Savannah

     Although there was a thick coastal fog when we got up this morning, the rain had stopped and the weather warmed as the fog burned off.   It was a beautiful day for touring historic old Savannah.  The azaelias are in full bloom in twenty beautiful city squares around which Savannah was built.  We took a guided trolley tour which told us about the history and architecture of the well preserved and restored old homes, churches, schools and businesses.  Savannah has the largest National Historic Landmark District in the U.S.

    The buildings cover many eras of architecture from a stone buiding on the riverfront which was built in Colonial times to classic Federal style, Gothic and Greek Revival, Regency and Romanesque.  I couldn't identify all the styles but could certainly see the amazing craftsmanship and details on the buildings.  In the late 1800's one measure of wealth in Savannah was the amount of ironwork on a home.  Many of them have beautiful scrolled balconies, stair railings, window guards, and fences. 

    Our tour was a hop on - hop off ticket, so we hopped off at the riverfront and strolled along the line of restaurants and shops located in restored old warehouses.  Some of the streets in this area are paved with 200 year old cobblestones using ballast stones discarded by the early ships after they made port and loaded up with American goods.  Lunch was at Barracuda Bobs for fried grouper and crab cakes!  Delicious.

     We finished the tour and then drove to the edge of town to Savannah's most famous and beautiful cemetery.  It was featured in the book and movie. "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."  Huge, ancient live oaks dripping with Spanish Moss give the cemetery a spooky aura even in full daylight.  Night tours of the cemetery are offered and Connie thought it would be interesting.  Too creepy for me.

     We walked around the grounds of Fort McAllister enjoying the warm sunshine and then relaxed on our front porch with some books and beers.  It was a perfect way to welcome Spring.