Savannah Day 1

Today was partly cloudy with a high in the low 80’s
We were on the road to the Savannah Visitors Center a little after 0900, It must be us because the attendant at the center was of little help.  We went across the street to the Old Town Trolley booth and bought our tickets. We got 2 day trolley tickets, the carriage ride, the Savannah History Museum, the Owens-Thomas and the Davenport house.  As luck would have it, we got to stop three and had to change trolleys, ours was making a squealing noise like the brakes hanging up.  We got off at stop 13, City Market, to catch the carriage ride.  After the ride we had lunch at Belford’s.  As the guide said, “Very expensive but very good”.  We then rode back to stop one and got back to the park around 1600.
If you expect to see a lot of plantation type homes you won’t. There are probably buildings of every type of architecture, but they are scattered throughout the city.  Savannah was built with 24 squares.  22 are still intact.  2 have been lost to modern buildings. 
Before we get to the pictures a couple of comments.  You will see a lot of wrought iron.  Wrought iron was a symbol of wealth.  You will see blue on some of the houses.  It was a hatian belief that blue paint would keep away evil spirits.  The original paint would have been mixed by the witch doctor.
The following pictures are in no particular order and most were taken from a moving trolley or carriage.  If I remember anything about the picture I will make a comment.

The white pillars and handrails are not wood, they are painted cast iron.















This is what is left of one of the wrought iron foundries,





You are standing 40’ above the river, Wagons loaded with cotton would be pulled under the bridge and bidders standing on the bridge would bid on the cotton.



City Hall, the dome is gold

Entrance to “Lady & Sons Restaurant”  Paula Dean

Son & Cher –Retired Amish Draft horses from Indiana







Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace – Founder of the Girl Scouts




See the sign.  This is the location of Forest Gump’s bench

See the portraits.  Each one is of a famous person of the time frame


The cast iron dolphin is placed on the downspout to direct water and demons away from the house.



This square is mainly live oaks. They are estimated to be 150 to 300 years old.  If you should happen to damage one, the fine would be $25,00000

Our lunch – Shrimp, greens and grits

One of the trolleys

Tomorrow we will tour the two houses.  We will then walk down to the Colonial Cemetery. Then it will be River Street and Lunch.
Hope your not to bored.  Catch Ya Later