As I have stated before in my Day 2 Water World, water is incredibly important to the success of a community. Not only is it a necessity of life, but it is also a viable means of transportation. While the advent of motorized vehicles made travel over land easier, it is still more efficient when shipping large amounts of goods to use waterways. No man-made transportation system, even trains, can transport such a large amount of goods on one vessel. This is why so many of the larger cities in the world, especially those of industry, are built upon waterways that can support this sort of transportation. The city of Savannah was built upon the banks of the Savannah River for this very purpose and the river was used for trade, and still is today. The exchange of goods isn’t the only thing that rivers provide: it is also an exchange of cultures, and sometimes the very founding blocks of a city’s soul.
Savannah was the starting place for the colony of Georgia, beginning in 1733. James Oglethorpe arrived on the British galley “Anne” in this year, in Charleston, SC with 144 colonists and supplies to set up a port on the southern banks of the Savannah River. The city was built upon his design, the streets in a grid pattern with plenty of space for public buildings.
Cotton was Savannah’s main export, and during the time it boasted the badge of being the top cotton export of the Atlantic, and the 2nd of the entire world. Over 2 million bales of cotton were moved through the port of Savannah every year during cotton’s peak. The port was used heavily throughout the 18th cenury, and in the 19th century they decided to put all of those cobbles used as ballasts in ships to good use. The urban geology (click here for my definition of urban geology) of Savannah is thus varied, having stones from all over the world incorporated into the streets and retaining walls. They come from places like the American Northeastern coast, Maritime Canada, Portugal, Spain, France, Madeira and more. A mix of many different rock types from the igneous (Basalt, Granite) to the sedimentary (sandstone, chert, limestone and more).
Today Savannah is still a major port, shipping out large amounts of goods on a regular basis. The ships are HUGE, it almost seems unnatural to see them floating through the river. While exports are still important, tourism is the Savannah prosperity of today, with thousands of visitors flocking to explore the beautiful city every day.
Savannah has a wide selection of excellent restaurants, everything from seafood to Italian. I went to “Vic’s on the River” as recommended by the lady who checked me into my hotel. The food was fantastic, the service was great, and the view from the balcony was beautiful. A quick storm passed through while I ate and enjoyed a half-bottle of wine, and afterward the sun came back out and a rainbow appeared. A sign of good fortune to me.
The meals run between 20 and 30, so a little more pricey than I usually dine at, but the portions are large and the chef’s creations are wonderful. When you are eating at a restaurant like this, don’t insult the chef: order as it is described in the menu and don’t season until you’ve tasted. It always irks me when I am in a nice restaurant and a customer wants to order it without this and with this…it’s an insult. At a restaurant like this the chefs work hard to create a recipe that tastes just right. Enjoy it as it is. I enjoyed a large fillet of local flounder, breaded in Georgia pecans, with a citrus butter glaze atop potatoes and sausage. It was…delicious!!!
There are plenty of unique shops to explore, and although shopping isn’t quite my thing I found a few inexpensive trinkets, like a decorated mask and some earrings. There was also a shop that had everything made from bee products (the honey and the wax). It was quite an interesting store, and they have a large variety of different honey to sample and purchase. Many honey farms restrict their bees to certain areas of flowers (I.E. citrus, the tupelo plant, clover, etc) and it gives the honey a distinct flavor, texture and color. For more information, visit their website www.savannahbee.com
While I prefer to camp for several reasons outlined previously, there are some places where it just makes more sense to stay in a hotel. Savannah is one of those places. I was able to enjoy a wonderful free breakfast in the morning, free internet, a hot tub, and a comfortable bed. I don’t always stay at hotels, but when I do I stay at Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, etc). They have the best breakfasts, decent rates, and they even have a free points card to redeem free nights. It is usually best, if you choose to travel via hotel, to pick a chain you like and stick to it so you can earn free nights. It is the best value you can get while staying in a hotel and you know what to expect at each location.
Savannah is a great place to visit, but tomorrow it is time to head towards the University of Georgia to see what the area has to offer. I’m starting my journey towards the northeast, just when I became used to seeing spanish moss draping from large oaks and large swampy area. I will have to say goodbye to the deep south, but I will not be saying goodbye to the river ways. Each river city has its own distinct culture, based upon their own goods for trade. I can’t recall right now which river is next along my journey, but for now it’s time to head towards the Carolinas and enjoy my last day in Georgia. See you all soon-
Nicole
