First Impressions and Images of Savannah
Our first full day in Savannah was warm and overcast. Luckily, the rain held off and we were able to spend the afternoon sniffing out the city.
We were on slow, rickety bikes which were colorful and full of character; in their way, perfectly embodying the essence of Savannah. A sleek black, expensive mountain bike would be laughably out of place here… but ambling along the wide streets at 8mph on these quirky old things, we blended right in.
Over the course the day, I gathered the same impressions of Savannah which must strike every newcomer to the city. The haunting beauty of the Spanish Moss. The crowded riverside promenade with its shops and tour boats. The incredible Victorian architecture. The parks and squares, and their monuments to Savannah’s rich history. I’ve always felt that large buildings and houses evince an air of mystery — old, spacious mansions, with their innumerable rooms and hidden spaces, simply beg an imagination to run wild. And Savannah has hundreds of such houses! Biking around them, especially on a dreary day, was enough to send shivers down my spine.
But what impressed us most of all was the people, and the relaxed way of life which seems to reign here. Nearly everyone was smiling, happy to stop and chat. Savannah boasts an eclectic populace, with proper old ladies, panhandlers and flannel-clad students sharing the same squares. It’s an old city, but with a vital infusion of youth to keep things fresh. Thanks to SCAD, the Savannah College of Art & Design, I think this city must have a higher percentage of hipsters than even Williamsburg.
We’ll be writing in detail about the specific squares, shops and restaurants we encounter, as well as aspects of the city’s history. And I’ll be interested to see how my perspectives on Savannah evolve over the coming months. Or perhaps: how I evolve. An afternoon spent in the rocking chair on the front porch, sipping sweet tea, is already sounding mighty good…
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November 4, 2010 at 3:41 pm
November 4, 2010 at 4:47 pmBrad Powell
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Simply wonderful 1st impression pics and comments ! Congrats, y’all! Keep it up, you’ll have Savannah in the Top 10 Cities to Visit. Was that an Irish cross? Besides the spooky Moss, find any footprints from Espana, or The Fatherland? Can’t wait to visit !
November 5, 2010 at 12:23 pmDave
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How cool – 91 days in my fave city. Be sure to have some Tutti Frutti ice cream at Leopold’s and a Fried Pork Chop at The Pink House.
November 6, 2010 at 7:30 amheadbang8
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Mike & Jürgen,
Perhaps I haven’t been paying attention to your blog, lads, but this is a surprise. Savannah! A gorgeous city, but why Savannah in particular? A job? Friends? The scenery? House-swapping?
And does 91 days (as opposed to merely 90) this mean that certain European spouses have solved a visa dilemma?
Looking forward to plenty of amazing pictures.
November 8, 2010 at 8:14 pmJuergen
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headbang8,
yeah after Valencia – Oviedo and now Savannah! Why? Good question
But Mike and I haven’t been living back in the US for 9 years now. So it was about time, so picked a city in the US.
Savannah or in general the south neither one of us is very familiar with – it’s not too cold in the winter and not too many people outside the US know about this little Georgian gem. It’s gorgeous.
91 just had a better ring to it and yes – most travel visas are for 3 month – that’s why we are going for 3 month at a time.
Thank you for catching up. How are things for you?
November 17, 2010 at 11:48 pmCaleb
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Really cool idea guys, I am really looking forward to the updates and the progression.
I have had a liking for Savannah for a while, and it is cool to see someone taking it in the way you are. Never been there, but feel more familiar with it now than looking at pages of tourist sites.