Hey y'all!

For our second annual sister trip we headed to Savannah, Georgia. Many years ago Jen and I read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" and fell in love with the romanticized south (thanks to author John Berendt). Ever since we have wanted to see the tree lined streets and hear the drawl for ourselves. We were not disappointed!

We arrived in Savannah (via Obama crazed Washington) on Saturday around lunch time. Joe the taxi driver was first in line at the airport and seemed rather tickled to have a couple of Canadians in his car! He asked if he could pick us up when we were heading home. It was a little early for check-in so we explored the "City Market" which was just behind the hotel. Lots of great shops, galleries and restaurants. It was such a beautiful day that we spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool.

Sunday we went for a brunch cruise on the Savannah River Queen. Jen had her first taste of grits (yuck) and we got a mini history on the shipping industry on the river. We did some more exploring along historic River Street - cobblestones and all - and had dinner at a big old mansion called "The Pink House". It was originally a red brick building that was covered in white stucco - the red from the brick turned the stucco pink, hence the name. We were seated in what was once a grand ballroom and it certainly was worthy of it's name. I read later that this house is thought to have "spirits" roaming about, I'm just glad I didn't run into any!

Monday was the day to finally see "the house". That is, the house where Jim Williams, subject of "the book", lived. Being inside Mercer House was somewhat surreal. Filled with antiques and art it looks more like a movie set than an actual residence. Mr. Williams' sister still lives in the house but graciously allows the public in to tour the main floor for a glimpse into the life of her infamous brother - that's southern hospitality for you! We stood in the room where Mr. Williams shot Danny Hansford - supposedly in self defense (he was finally acquitted after 4 trials) and walked the foyer where he ultimately died of heart failure in 1990.

After walking through many of Savannah's squares and streets we had dinner at "The Lady & Sons" which is Paula Deen's restaurant. You may have seen Paula on the Food Network - she's famous for her southern fried food and not cutting the fat out of anything! Dinner was pretty typical southern fare - fried chicken, cajun pork, collard greens, mac and cheese - mmmmm. But getting into the restaurant is actually more entertaining than once you are seated. First of all you have to line up on the street the morning you want a reservation. I'm talking 9:00 am in the rain. If you are lucky enough to get your desired time slot you are advised to arrive at least 15 minutes early and check in with the host. So like the brown nosing students we've always been, we arrived in plenty of time for our 5:00 pm reservation. We were then instructed to go across the street to wait for someone who would come out and ring the dinner bell about 5 minutes before. Oh, and there were hundreds of us on the sidewalk, seriously. After the dinner bell is rung a host in front of the restaurant starts yelling out names and when your name is called you must get your butt over there (watch out for traffic and other diners) to obtain some sort of card that says which floor you are seated on. We were the last ones and getting kind of peeved. Some idiot wrote "Vev G" instead of Bev C. Anyway, we finally got a table and filled our faces - which apparently everyone there does - best quote from the trip comes courtesey of a tour bus driving Grandmother of 10 who told us "Ain't no Miss Americas in Savannah. And if there is they's just visitin'".

Tuesday morning promptly at 9:30 Joe arrived to take us back to the airport. He was full of more colourful insight and stories as well as parting gifts! Knowing we were Canadian he asked "Y'all heard of Anne Murray?" then presented us each with a mixed cassette of her music that he made for us even though his "little" wife had told him we probably wouldn't have a cassette player! Very sweet!

The trip home was via Chicago and seemed a lot longer. Must have been because we were sad to leave. Savannah is a beautiful city with some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I know I'll be back some day. I wonder where we'll go next year....