Savannah, GA
“You know, Savanna is the perfect place for good mystery. There’s the Spanish moss, the cobblestone streets, and the history… It’s like the past is always present here. “ - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
When you dream of a city and it doesn't disappoint...
I've traveled to several places around the world, including Asia and the Azores, but Savannah was always a city I longed to visit.
I often dreamed of the city I'd read about in so many novels, imagining its beauty. It was described as both grand and quaint.
So, when the opportunity arose, I grabbed my sister, packed the car, and headed straight for the city I loved, yet had never seen, hoping it would be everything I had imagined.
And boy, was it ever. With its ancient trees and 22 squares, I found a sense of peace in a city that, anywhere else, might have caused me great anxiety.
We had 2 and half days to see the city, and we did the best we could to see it all, knowing we barely scratched the surface.
On our first day in Savannah, we decided to take a trolley tour. We originally planned to use it as a mobile base for our butts, hopping on and off at various spots. But the moment we stepped onto the Old Savannah Tour Bus, we knew we were in for the full ride. Our guide and driver, "Mr. Komedy," whom we now affectionately call "Kuz," delivered an in-depth, 90-minute masterclass on Savannah's history. Kuz and his crew were not just informative—they were hilarious and incredibly welcoming.
One of the highlights? Kuz debunked a common myth: it wasn't Eli Whitney who invented the cotton gin. It was actually his wife, Catherine Greene. But because women in the 1700s couldn't own patents, he took the credit.
Throughout the late morning, he took us past every single site, square and stop, filling our souls with southern charm, history and information, until our hearts were about to burst.
We learned about pirates, the cotton prices (loan sharks) and where "Keeping up with the Jones's" originated from.
PLUS, he rattled off every single movie he could think of that had been filmed in that 2.5 mile radius alone. Including the most recognizable Forest Gump.
The Pirate King giving us his sob story....
(Taken with phone). We stayed at the TYRP by Wyndam. A perfect little hotel nesteled in the center of the historic city, right near the Welcome Center. Where it is placed in retrospect to the "tourist" attractions, allows for you to be in the center of it all without feeling like you are in the middle of chaos. There was a peace and quite I valued and the staff was INCREDIBLY sweet and helpful.
(taken with phone). While we ate at many different places to eat in the city, I have to take a moment to talk about some of the best PHO I have ever had. Unfortunately we sat down right before they closed for lunch, but the staff at The Flying Monk Noodle Bar were kind enough to serve us anyway, and boy, am I grateful.
The burst of flavor and warmth of the broth was a warm welcome to these tired bones, after walking from our hotel down towards the riverfront. So if you are in the area, definitely stop by. You won't regret it.
After the tour we strolled down towards the riverfront. Weaving our way down to Broughton st, where we ate lunch, and took in the most populated street we had seen since we arrived. Then, we made our way to the river where we took in the cobblestone street, old alleyways and shops built perfectly for tourists.
We finished the day with dinner at the Sixpence Pub where the famous "Something to Talk About Movie" scene was filmed. It was the scene here Julia Roberts caught Dennis Quaid having dinner with another woman. If you've seen it, you will remember exactly what it looked like. If not, check out my phone pics.
And then, we began the very long walk back to the hotel with a plan to tackle the other part of the city the next day.
And that we did. Starting with a brunch at Betty Bombers, nestled in the old (and still functioning) American Legion, with a stroll in the famous Forsyth Park. A park that is synonymous with Savannah and near and dear to the hearts of many readers.
But this day was a little more about catching the last minute things with a trip on the Georgia Queen river boat and a rooftop dinner that was made by the chef gods. It took up most of the rest of the day, but we were ok with it, because we knew, this wasn't our last time in my new favorite place.
I could go on and on and on about this city...
I could go on and on about this amazing city. The slow pace in which everyone toured, allowing us to feel as if we didn't need to rush to get around. Or how kind everyone was, even though we were obviously tourists taking over their city. Or how about the most infectious laugh I have ever heard by the woman who ran the Peanut Shop of Savannah. Her laugh was so warm and welcoming, she had strangers coming off the street begging her to laugh more because they loved it so much.
But I will let these photos speak for themselves. Yes, you will see a very different vibe from the phone photos to the camera photos. With my phone, I captured everything as a tourist. With my camera, I tried to see the city in a different way. Looking for the things you wouldn't normally look for. It was still beautiful, and sometimes sad, but it all is what makes up this important place, and I had to capture as much as I could, as fast as I could.
