St. Patrick's Day in Savannah

Trip Start Mar 13, 2008

Trip End Mar 29, 2008

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Flag of United States Savannah, Georgia
Monday, March 17, 2008

We made it to charming Savannah! And it REALLY is charming. We took a couple of tours to get a feel for the place. My god, but that can make you feel positively ancient! I am consistently the youngest one on these tours. I had a little problem with wearing the bright yellow "I"m On A Tour With Old People" sticker which entitles one to get on and off the tour trolleys. Actually all it said was "Monday" but I didn't wear it just the same. The whole place was full of people wearing their yellow "Monday" stickers--it's a little upsetting.

We had the trolley tour through the historic district--which, once again, is a veneration of dead rich white people's houses and military men. But the houses are truly lovely. Savannah is laid out on a grid system and incorporates 24 squares which are around 1 or 2 blocks square and planted with azaleas, dogwoods and big ol' live oak trees dripping with spanish moss--and everything is in bloom

Big Boat

. It is fabulous! We called the people taking care of the cats and dogs later in the day and were SOOOOO sad to hear that it is STILL snowing in Vermont.

The boat tour up and down the Savannah River was kind of a let down. The weather was nice and it's great being on the water, but mostly we had a tour of giant, ugly polluting industrial plants and giant ocean-going freighters and tankers being loaded or unloaded at the Port of Savannah. The highlight was the captain of our tour boat explaining the plimsel line on the boats. Little McKeeman family inside reference.

St. Patrick's Day is apparently a huge holiday around here and as the afternoon wore on the tavern area along River Street was filling up with increasing numbers of soon to be drunk 20-somethings. Everyone was wearing St. Patrick's Day "mardi gras" beads, green t-shirts and funny hats. One guy actually had on a lime green and lemon yellow plaid kilt. Saw a guy walking two Irish terriers. He was very impressed that I knew they were irish terriers, an uncommon breed. But I know my dogs!

I could be very happy spending every March in Savannah. The historic district is beautiful and has plenty of stuff going on (if the bus loads of tourists don't get out of hand), there is a beach nearby on a barrier island and it all seems laid back and gay friendly. The azaleas are spectacular and the wisteria is just about ready to bloom. What's not to like?

We might possibly reach Florida tomorrow. We'll see.

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