Savannah On My Mind

Sweet Savannah…
Hold gently the piece of my heart
that I lay at your feet.
Under white oaks
draped in antique moss,
cradle it as you would a child
and I beg, keep it safe.
But if you cannot bear its lovesick beat,
Make your way to the park.
The one where past lovers strolled
hand in hand
and find the garden.
That one with the pretty red roses
that smell how I imagine
a beautiful Georgia sunset would smell.
Leave it there,
among the beauty and peace.
Maybe tucked in the corner
with the others that,
with ever beat
whisper your name…

Ok, ok…that was my heartfelt declaration of love to the beautiful city of Savannah, Georgia. I truly fell a little in love with that place and with good reason…it’s absolutely charming! It is not full of skyscrapers and yellow taxis zipping up and down the streets. Instead, you can hop on a trolley or horse drawn carriage for a guided tour throughout the city. Me? Well I parked the car and just hit the streets, of course! What better way to find a place than to get lost in it first?

My first stop was the beautiful Forsyth Park. The fountain, the trees covered in moss, The Fragrant Garden, the adorable dog class they were having…how could a person not fall in love? I could have stayed there all day people watching, meeting puppies, and smelling those roses, but there was a cathedral to see. Plus, it was only fair to let someone else have my place there so they could enjoy it too.

There is no trip of mine that is complete without me visiting a cathedral or a castle. The architecture, whether simple or extravagant, always seems to blow my mind; The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist did not disappoint. The Baptismal Font when you enter welcomes you to all the beauty you are about to experience. It is just one of many things that will have you standing in awe. Along with the font, the Transparent Windows and pipe organ are truly amazing. If you are ever in Savannah, take the time to go visit this Gothic inspired beauty. And don’t be cheap. While it’s not required, the $2 donation is a fair price for what you get to observe.

For the shoppers out there, don’t think I forgot about you! There are plenty of places to pick up locally made gifts, as well as large outlets just outside of the city. I would suggest a trip to the City Market. It’s been around since the 1700’s and is packed with cafés, galleries, and shops. It is bustling and you can find a little bit of everything there. After falling on hard times, the market has risen again as part of Savannah’s revitalization project and it’s a good thing it has. I think breathing a little life into these old buildings has added a certain grace to the city, and allows travelers to enjoy a little southern charm and simplicity.

Also repurposed is River Street. It is filled with restaurants (visit Kevin Barry’s Pub) and shops all along the Savannah River. Some stores, like Harley Davidson and Life Is Good, are now housed in old cotton warehouses; and the use of that old architecture allows a person to step back in time over a hundred years. Due to my love of all things old, the renovations seems to have an endearing effect. Uneven hardwood floors, old brick walls, creaking stairs…I would never trade any of that for some flashy strip mall.

For me, Savannah is this sort of time warp. To days that were slower and simpler. This history is plentiful and the architecture exquisite. It’s almost like time stopped in this little city. The Spanish moss grew and contained it so that time left it be. I think maybe that’s why I find it so endearing. In days when we are moving so fast and building so big, this city seems to try its best to stay hidden below the canopy of moss. I’m glad that I got to peek behind its curtain.