A TRIP TO SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

Last year, a group of my Elementary/High School friends took a vacation together to CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA area to do some WINE-TASTING and to learn a little about the history in the area. ANNA bought burgundy t-shirts for each of us that had BIG, BOLD LETTERS across the front - WINE WENCH - which we wore with pride.

This year, the same group +1 traveled SOUTH to SAVANNAH, GA and BEAUFORT, SC. We had a busy itinerary planned and every day seemed even better than the previous one.

Our first evening we "dined" at THE OLDE PINK HOUSE, one of the finest restaurants in the city, located in one of the oldest buildings. I loved their basement bar, where I photographed the spectacular dog sculpture below. 

Dinner was typical SOUTHERN COOKING - most of us had SHRIMP AND CHEESE GRITS - EXCELLENT. We were also serenaded........

The next day we took a FOOD WALKING TOUR with SAVANNAH TASTE EXPERIENCE, which was so much fun. We enjoyed small tastes at 7 restaurants as John shared tidbits of history and local gossip while we walked. A GREAT/YUMMY way to get an overview of any city that offers this.

 We started with SEAFOOD CHOWDER.

A little SAVANNAH HISTORY.........

SHRIMP and GRITS with BACON and CHIVES at our next stop, TANDEE'S TAVERN.........

THE ORDINARY PUB made us PORK SLIDERS, CABBAGE and CORN SLAW and a spot of KEY LIME PIE over a berry compote..........

SHEPHERD'S PIE at MOLLY MACPHERSON'S SCOTTISH PUB.........

A COOKIE tasting.........

And a nibble of SAUSAGE PIE at the PIE SOCIETY

A WHOLE BUTTERCREAM CUPCAKE at MABEL'S CUPCAKE EMPORIUM....... yes, we each ate the WHOLE thing........

And an extraordinary "HONEY TASTING" at the SAVANNAH BEE CO.

In anticipation of the trip I asked my HS BOOK CLUB this month to read "MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL". So, naturally we toured the MERCER-WILLIAMS HOUSE, originally owned by JOHNNY MERCER and later purchased by JIM WILLIAMS. We could easily imagine all of the parties Jim hosted there. I LOVED this house tour and must now watch the movie again! If you haven't seen it, KEVIN SPACEY does a killer job of portraying JIM WILLIAMS - and from the photos we saw, looks so much like him.

Next, we HAD to visit JOHNNY MERCER'S grave-site in BONAVENTURE CEMETERY. The family grave-site was beautiful. 

There is a MARBLE BENCH in the corner with inscriptions of JOHNNY MERCER'S song lyrics.

And THEN, the most UNBELIEVABLE THING HAPPENED!!!!!  Marianne took a picture.......... you MUST read my NEXT BLOG POST to find out the specifics! I DO believe in SPIRITS, but NEVER IN MY LIFE DID I EXPECT THIS...........

JOAN