A few weeks ago, I went on a trip to Savannah, Georgia, with my mom, my sister, and my nieces. Savannah has long been my favorite place on this earth, and if I had my choice in the matter, it would be precisely where I would call home. I have always loved the architecture, the history, the cobblestone streets, but most of all, I love the way that they treat those who are less fortunate than themselves.

Our little weekend trip started on Bay Street. The hotel was so much nicer than anything I could have imagined staying at years ago. As much as I would have loved to have stayed right on River Street, that was still a bit out of budget. I am a teacher after all, and I don’t quite have River Street money.

The best part of being on Bay Street, though, is that I was able to get up for two fantastic sunrise walks on River Street without being too far away. I very much enjoyed watching the sun rise over the water, monuments, and buildings that have stood the test of time, weather, and war.

Savannah Roses

Something that I have always loved about River Street is that there is no shortage of Savannah Roses to purchase. Gail, pictured above, has been on River Street selling Savannah Roses, made from palm leaves, for many years now.

I remember reading (or being told) years ago that people experiencing homelessness in Savannah were taught to make these roses to help them earn money for essentials (food, water, shelter, and more). Unfortunately, I cannot find an article to back this claim up at this time, so I am not sure if my brain is making this up now or what. I do know, however, that Savannah’s homeless numbers have been trending downward over the years, so I feel as if this claim is at least close to correct.

Something else that I found intriguing this trip was the number of homeless people who had nice, new bicycles, and the fact that most of these bicycles looked alike. The New Standard Cycles program serves people who need safe, affordable, and reliable transportation to get to work, to school, and to other important destinations. This program accepts donated bicycles (and parts) and reconditions them. You can see one of these bicycles pictured behind Gail.

Can you imagine what our world might be like if more cities treated their homeless with the compassion and respect that Savannah does?

Tours

We took two very different tours while in Savannah. This gentleman, by far, gave the most interesting and fun sightseeing tour that I have ever been on. He was from the Olde Town Trolley tour and kept everyone engaged, laughing, and learning throughout the ride. Unfortunately, his shift ended shortly before our tour did, and our new driver and tour guide left a lot to be desired as he sounded a lot like Charlie Brown’s teacher.

Our second, and equally fun, tour was a horse-drawn carriage ghost tour. I completely forgot to get a photo of our tour guide, but this beautiful horse received lots of love from our travel companions and me.

If you can swing it, I highly recommend both tours, for the entertainment and the knowledge acquired.

Food

I have wanted to eat at The Olde Pink House since my very first trip to Savannah years ago, but have always been stopped either by lack of time, funds, or a reservation. This trip changed, and I could not be happier. It was EXPENSIVE, but oh-so-worth it!

There really are no wrong places to eat in Savannah. I imagine that the costs of operation on River Street and in the historic district are astronomical, so the restaurants have to be amazing in order to be able to last.

Of course, my favorite thing on earth to do is to get gelato from the Savannah Candy Company (red velvet is a dream come true), but there are lots of “real food” options that are fabulous and affordable.

Bye for now…

A weekend is hardly long enough to spend in such a beautiful city, but any time is better than none at all.

Bye for now Savannah, I am already planning a trip for next year.