Winter Escape! Day 15: Georgia On My Mind!

Our leisurely drive through the South Carolina countryside today included something new: swamps.  They are distinctly different from marshes.  "Swamps are wooded areas of standing water or saturated soil that may or may not dry up in summer.  Unlike marshes, swamps are dominated by trees and shrubs whose root systems are adapted to growing in standing water."  The swamps we saw today had blackish-looking water.  Those around the Magnolia Plantation near Charleston, South Carolina, USA, that we saw Monday, were bright lime green.  "Marshes are low-lying places covered by standing water most of the time.  Marsh plants have adapted to saturated soil, and many animal species depend on these environments for food and hiding places."  (Definitions from Field Guide to the Water's Edge, National Geographic, 2012)  We're told that usually marshes are involved with tides.

The Talmadge Bridge, high over the Savannah River, a suspension bridge.

Huge cargo ship in the river, looking east.  The river originally was 10 feet deep and is now 40 feet deep at the Port of Savannah.

Peggy and I went to the Savannah Visitors Centers and got tickets for a Trolley Tour.  We thought this was a pretty good deal because it included free parking all day.  We could get off and back on at 15 different stops in the Old City plus, the guides gave us a good history of the city.

We got off the trolley at the next stop because we were hungry!  The restaurant, "Lady and Sons," owned by renowned TV star and cook, Paula Deen, didn't look like much from the outside.  We went in and took an elevator to the third floor.  This was a former warehouse and hardware store.  The food was SO very OUTSTANDING we agreed that it probably was the BEST food we had ever eaten!  I devoured Fried Green Tomatoes, a Chicken Barbecue Sandwich, Thick Fried Potatoes and Coleslaw with Peach Cobbler for dessert.  Then we shopped at their store, adjacent to the restaurant.

Portrait of Paula Deen and Sons, in the restaurant.

Me and my friend, the Paula Deen cutout.

Peggy contemplating the menu.  She shared the Fried Green Tomato Appetizer, relished Fried Oysters, Kale Chips, Thick Fried Potatoes and Coleslaw with Peach Cobbler for dessert.

Back on the trolley, we thoroughly enjoyed the long tour of the city's prominent homes, businesses, river area, municipal buildings but especially the town Squares, 22 of them.  This particular building contains 5 townhomes.

The Squares were all beautiful mini-parks, each one different, most dedicated to a prominent person in Savannah's history.  I believe this one was the site of "Forrest Gump" sitting on the park bench in the movie of the same name's beginning.  There were tulip trees, rose bushes, and other flowers blooming.  Spring has blossomed out in Savannah!

So many beautiful homes!

At Trolley Stop #8 was the church recommended to us as the largest and most impressive in Savannah, Georgia: the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.  We found it interesting that this Cathedral, in another state, was dedicated to the same saint as that of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, South Carolina.

St. John the Baptist Cathedral has two towers, one hidden behind the tree in this photo.  The original small frame church was begun by the mostly French immigrants in 1780.  This present large building was completed in 1896, burned down in 1898, rebuilt in 1899 with the first Mass on Christmas Eve.

The Main Altar.  I judge the stained glass windows in this church to be among the most sacred and artistic of any I have ever seen.  They tell the story of much of Jesus' life and death.

Jesus ascends to his Father in heaven, surrounded by his disciples and his Blessed Mother, Mary, the lower figure in blue.

The Eighth Station of the Cross: Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem.  FYI: there are 14 Stations of the Cross which depict the condemnation, journey of Jesus carrying his cross, his crucifixion and death on the cross, his removal from the cross and the placing of his body in the sepulchre.  They are found in all Catholic churches throughout the world and help us remember what Jesus, the Son of God, did for us, to save us from our sins.  These stations in this church are the most realistic, beautiful, and holy stations I have ever seen anywhere!  They were carved in Bavaria with the background made in America.  What an inspiration! They are larger than any I've seen.

Jesus, dead on the cross, for us.  In the front of St. John the Baptist Cathedral.

I was so touched by the exquisite beauty of everything in this church, I wish I had time to post about 50 more photos of it.  But you really have to see it for yourself.  I told Peggy that it rivaled anything I had seen in Europe, Israel, or America!  Also unequaled was that during our visit there, we were treated to a 'concert' on their mighty, wonderful organ - the organist practicing, I'm sure, with great skill.

This home, we were told by our guide, was constructed by an ironworker; everything not brick or glass, even the steps, is made of iron.

The Pirates' House!  Trolley Stop #10.

The riverfront district was historic with great shopping and parks.  There is a statue of a lady waving a scarf. Apparently, as a young woman, her love left her as a sailor on a boat.  With every ship that came in, she was there looking for her love.  She watched for 44 years, he never returned, and she died of a broken heart.  There are so many tales in Savannah, so much intrigue, many countries fought for the city!

The west side of the Savannah River.

Back over the Talmadge Bridge again, after a fine day in a fine city!  It is quite a long bridge: after one mile there is a sign welcoming us back to South Carolina.  If you would like to be properly welcomed, I recommend you visit the South, United States of America!