The drive from Edisto to Savannah was no more than a couple of hours following the highway 95. My first view of the oldest city in Georgia was crossing over the stunning Talmadge Memorial bridge.
Talmadge Memorial Bridge
So, the Talmadge Memorial Bridge (dedicated to Eugene Talmadge) spans between Savannah, Georgia and Hutchinson Island. Originally, the bridge was built in 1953 and was a cantilever truss bridge (before you think I’m a bridge nerd, that info is courtesy of wiki) but, Savannah having one of the busiest seaports in the US, it became too dangerous for those huge container ships entering the Savannah Port. A replacement bridge was then built 1991 but this time the new bridge is a cable-stayed bridge (who knew?! again thanks wikepedia!) and much higher, making it safer for large ships to travel beneath.
There’s plenty to do beside the Savannah River on the famous River Street, or if you have the extra dollar you can take a boat ride on the river itself. Otherwise, grab some local cuisine, perhaps some fried chicken with red rice and biscuits (and these aren’t like dunk in your tea biscuits, they are closer to scones but a savory must-have with your typical southern meal), and head to the historic squares.
Savannah Squares
Downtown Savannah seemed to be divided into lots of tiny green squares (22 to be exact), each with their own name, each name with its own story. The oldest and largest square is the Johnson square where you find a beautiful fountain framed by the arching trees surrounding it as well as a golden sundial and obelisk dedicated to Nathaniel Green. Savannah has a lot of history, especially slave history, with one building I came by on Greene Square being the “Second Baptist Church” founded in 1802 where the newly freed slaves met together with General William T. Sherman and secretary of war, Edwin M. Stanton.
Colonial Park Cemetery
For those who enjoy a dark historical experience, here is a beautiful graveyard that you can explore. This cemetery has more than 9,000 graves, some of real historic significance such as Button Gwinnett who signed the declaration of independence. There are also family mausoleums with a feeling of united sentiment and benches are placed carefully beneath the shade of the beautiful trees, draped in beautiful grey ‘moss’, that make this space that little bit more special.
Take your time, pay your respects, and enjoy the garden.
The Meanest Man
The common theme across the deep south were these Southern Live Oak trees covered in Spanish Moss, except these hanging wisps aren’t moss at all, they are flowering plants that grow hanging from tree branches in sun and partial shade. Folklore shares a story of the Meanest Man who ever lived, a man meaner than the devil himself, who outsmarted the devil into avoiding death itself. He grew older and older, his hair growing longer and longer. He wandered throughout the south spreading his wicked ways, and his hair got long, grey and wiry, and would get caught on every tree he passed. He was so evil that berries shrivelled and water turned black, so he couldn’t eat, but he couldn’t die either. He got so skinny that one day he disappeared, and the only thing left of him was his hair.
Savannah Film Festival
Savannah is a popular location for filming movies, which is unsurprising seeing as they have the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), many students make short films and may even go on to do greater things. Forest Gump is probably the most famous movie filmed in Savannah, and one of my favourites, filmed in Savannah and Tybee Island, The Last Song.
The annual Savannah Film Festival is a whole week of celebrating film. Over 50,000 people attend this event with celebrities among the attendees, to view documentaries, short films, student films, animated works, and even Oscar contenders such as “La La Land”. So if you are a film geek, this might just be the event for you.
So that’s my whistle-stop tour of Savannah, next I’ll be heading into Savannah’s beach town; Tybee Island!