Friday, August 29, 2008

From Yankee Territory to the Deep South in 14 Hours: NYC to Savannah, GA


The Eastern Seaboard holds some of the most interesting cities and people in the United States, but we're on a schedule, and places like Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, and Richmond, VA will have to wait for our next trek cross-country. As it is, we have time for New York, and Savannah, about as different as two cities only a few hundred miles apart can be.
We hauled into the muggy, storm-heated city around 3 am, and slept heartily until 11am, seeking out food and sights. We noshed on shrimp and baked potatoes at Wild Wing Cafe, only a few blocks from the hotel.

The sky opened up several times as we ate, so, having finished and dashed back to the hotel, we drove the short distance down a dozen blocks to the heart of the historic downtown district, replete with mossy-tree lined parks, stately homes and cobblestone roads.
Colonial Park Cemetary, the oldest and now full cemetary in Savannah is nestled amongst handsome townhouses, red brick and white metal lace fillagree completing the antebellum image.









We drove around downtown, which is practically spotted with small parks and avenues, taking in the essence of the South that emenates so thickly from the buildings and grounds in Savannah.
We saw the Mercer-Williams House, made so famous by the book and movie of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, a veritable boon to the tourist industry in this sleepy city.
Not far from there, we found Forsyth Park, the lagest and southern most of Savannah's city parks. The fountain, oft photographed or found in the background of southern films, and the fragrant garden maintained by Ladies Trustee Garden's Club are the highlights, which we got to enjoy nearly alone in the wake of the storms following "Fay".









Having spent the day exploring the charm and beauty of downtown, we met up with Lindsay (a high school friend of Andy's) and her boyfriend Evan, both spending the weekend in Savannah from their home in Fayetteville, NC at Lady & Sons, Paula Deen's (of the Food Network) restaurant. Having stuffed ourselves with the like of crab cakes, steak, chicken pot pie (to die for, Evan said) and the famous buffet, we toddled down to Molly Macpherson's Scottish Pub to join the Haunted Pub crawl.















3 comments:

Andy's Auntie said...

Wow...I want to hear more about the Mercer-Williams house!!

As always, great photo! I love the ones of the Spanish moss!

Anonymous said...

The park looks beautiful after the rain. The wet brick and moss. i just wish i could smell the gardens after a summer southern rain. They are really into the headstones down there. Thats so great you guys got to catch up with Lindsy. Its almost like you guys are taking a Food Network tour across America. Maybe you should have asked for a show?

Jessica Murray said...

As always, great to speak with you guys! As you're off to Austin, I have a recommendation: The Harry Ransom center on the UT campus. Though 'On the road with the beats' exhibit is now gone (I did the research) the place is fantastic. For further inquiries, here is the link to the exhibit: http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/2008/beats/ I hope you find it of interest. I wish you guys a great adventure through Texas and the remaining segment of the country. I look forward to talking with you soon. Love, Jess