Savannah GA March 24-27 2013

This was my second time taking Amtrak and I was disappointed. It was slow. Turns out they expect delays for the next year.

 

One of the stations we passed.

We made it in to Savannah GA close to 11pm. We waited for cabs, which were scant and eventually I decided to call one as the cabs kept getting bomb rushed. Finally we got in and headed to the Marriott where we were staying. The drive was informative, we saw palm trees, sand and generally flat landscape. It made me happy that I was getting close to the ocean. The check in process was smooth and the next morning we had a really good breakfast. There were fresh fruits and single serve yogurts that we could take with us as well as a waffle maker, actual eggs and not that powdered mess most hotels inflict on you, a selection of teas and o much more food. Color me impressed. We decided to make our first stop the Savannah Visitor Center. 

 

With information in hand, we decided to take the free shuttle from the Visitor's Center to Tybee Island. Unfortunately I was wearing my cat in all my pictures because I had expected it to be warmer than New York but it wasn't warm enough to be without a coat. I felt silly in that long coat though because most people had on short light coats or hoodies.

Tybee Island also has a lighthouse that we did not know about until we were driving past it on our way back. It did have a nice little street with food, we ate Subway for lunch, and what looked like little inns leading down to the beach.

Tybee Island

The beach itself was damp and had hard packed sand, none of that powdery stuff.  The beach seemed about a 1/4 mile wide to me and we were below sea level which creeped (seriously spell check just said 'creeped' is not a word! That's crazy! Further research on the subject here) me out as I felt like Tsunami bait. We hung out for  while and then went back into Savannah.

Savannah was beautiful. The old architecture, the trees, the graveyard, the history, the fact that the old town was completely walkable, and the fact that they have an open container law. We did the Savannah Belle walking tour that I bought a Groupon for. The tour leader is a third generation historian and s was perfect. Mostly history but also a few jokes to keep us interested. It was such an easy walk and we saw places such as the house of the founder of the Girl Scouts and the Girl Scouts headquarters. I think a family would have so much fun here.

There are almost too many things to cover here. We had lunch at an amazing spot called Fire Street Food which we just happened to be walking by. My friend visited a few months later, and without us talking about it tried it as well and loved it.
We also ate at Lady and Sons one day.We were disappointed with the food as my chicken pot pie did not taste homey.
I tried a mint julep for the first time-I always imagined myself on a porch sipping one-and I hated it but I don't blame the bartender, I just didn't like it.
We went into SCAD's gift shop (Savannah College of Arts and Design) and I bought a handmade postcard from a student there.
We went into a cute fabric store and a cute bookstore, we rode the boat over to the Westin but then got scared that armed guards wold ask for proof that we were staying there, s we just stayed n the ferry back to RiverStreet. I think the aim was to see the lights at night from the river-oh well, next time.
We took a tour of the fist African American church built in that area by slaves who built at night and was a part of the Underground Railroad. We saw holes in the ground made so that the slaves hiding down there could get air. We learned how the holes were made in the shapes of arrows which had specific meaning in their African ancestry. That was moving.
We did not do a ghost tour but we did walk through this cemetery on our own.

Our last night we ate at 17Hundred90. The food was absolutely delicious. The service was impeccable. The room was a bit dark but I suppose age is to blame. I just checked their website and they have definitely upgraded things. I imagine it must be sublime now.
Then we stumbled on Royal pains being filmed in City Market where we had done some shopping and some pecan tasting which was yum yum yum. Savannah has been featured in so many films. Of course I also have a few pictures of the famous Forrest Gump bench and diner.
Popular TV show Royal Pains being filmed. Paulo Costanzo is in the white jacket.

City Market

 

Railroad Museum

First Cruise November 2012

This was a whirlwind adventure, and I was the worst travel companion. I tried to do everything. I mean, if I heard that pots were banging I would be there on my eyelid. Apparently you are supposed to stay on the ship and relax. I did the opposite. I ran myself tired, and hated the experience. The first stop was St. Thomas. One of the most beautiful islands I have ever seen, and as of the cruise, I've seen a few. The taxis are open buses called safaris. This picture is not mine-I can't find mine so I went to the Virgin Islands This Week magazine for a pic. If there is an accident, your goose cook. I felt safe because they weren't going as fast as Jamaican taxis but still God forbid, if something happens, you chances of survival must be pretty low.

This was the beginning of the best one day trip ever. We spent good money going to the Amber museum, and up steps to the Inn at Blackbeard's Castle. The pool, the waterfall, the bar, the tour and rum tasting, the view, perfection. I could go back right now.

Myrtle Beach, SC

Just came back from Myrtle Beach and it was soooo relaxing! I've been talking about moving somewhere warm for a while and SC appeals to me except for the tornado/hurricane issues. We stayed at Compass Cove hotel, and their condos were great. Oceanfront balcony and the master bedroom faced the ocean as well and had it's own bathroom. We even had a washing machine and drier but the drier did not work. The clothes got warm but stayed wet, not damp, but wet! Needless to say, the laundry room had super hot driers that you had to PAY to use. We tried making pasta one night and the water never got to boiling point! It was ridiculous. Other than that, the place was clean and well kept. I fell in love with the covered pools, lazy river and Jacuzzi which we used the first few days when the weather was bad. The beach was also kept clean. We would see dead jelly fish on our early morning walks but they would be cleaned up by mid morning. Everyone was searching for sea glass, I'm not sure if that is a new fad but I had never heard of it. The last person I mentioned it to suggested this book for my reading pleasure
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 actually now I don't even know if this is the book 




 ,
 ugh, I hate when people write books with the same titles! Now I'm going to have to do some research...
But back to Myrtle Beach, it was like Atlantic City and Coney Island but with clean water. The beach went on for miles but they would charge you $2 and up to walk a pier.Meh. I had some great food at this really top notch restaurant called Golden Corral hehehe. Ok I jest, but I do love that place. The Sea Captains House with oceanfront dining, and Captain George's restaurant were delightful. I would go back in a hearbeat!

Edmonton Surprise Birthday for Donovan

Came back from Edmonton last week. Visited my bro and sis in law. Awesome.It snowed 4 out of the 5 days I was there-bummer. Beautiful though. My brother was so surprised to see me kudos to Taiesha :)

Lyfe Jennings, Regina Belle, Jennifer Hudson

This Saturday was my first Saturday off in months that I spent in the city, not running ragged as I usually do, off to some island or country, ha ha. I went to the Circle of Sisters 2008 held at the Jacob Javitz Center. I got there late, around 7:30 because all I wanted to see was the concert. Sue me.I was promptly told that the venue was full, and I could see the exhibit, what was left of it that is, but I wouldn't get inside the concert venue. Now I was very upset, I had payed $11.00 online for my ticket and I saw disgruntled women being allowed inside the exhibit without a ticket. WBLS may in the future rent a bigger hall if they plan on asking big time performers to show up. Seriously people, Jennifer Hudson, Lyfe Jennings, Regina Belle, Deborah Cox! These are legends, we are going to turn up for $11.00 to see these people. Eventually a man turned up, did not give his name, and told us that he could give us tickets for the next day, I had work, so that didn't help me. Then he threw up his hands, put on his 'there is nothing I can do' face and told us that the 'rangers' currently keeping us out of the hall, would move and let us inside. We eventually pooled around the sides and the back doors listening and seeing as much as we could. I couldn't do much with my camera, which I plan to return to Target by the way, as it refuses to take decent night-time pictures. I missed Deborah Cox, but by the time Lyfe came on I ran up to the front like a hooligan and began screaming with everyone else. One of my goals this year was to go to a concert, and this might just fulfill that desire. I was happy, to say the least. Jennifer did her new hit "Spotlight" and managed, even with a numero uno fan crying, to give a great performance of other songs as well.
I hate to say that I was not happy with the management, and I still have my ticket, as the guy let me inside the exhibition hall without a ticket. He also let in the guy I was with for free. I would like a free ticket for next year please.
I also met new and upcoming R&B artist GWhizz from Nannyville JA. Hope his career takes off in the United States.Visit him on MySpace.

G.Whizz

Learning Spanish

I did try to learn Spanish for the trip to San Juan, but I suffer from the disease procrastination. Now on my iGoogle page I have a feed of one Spanish word per day. I still haven't learned anything. I somehow got by on "Hola, habla engles?" and many hand gestures. Quite frankly today I see three words instead of one, on my iGoogle page, and I don't know if that is because I haven't figured out how to get rid of things that I read already or they are actually-shockingly-giving me more than one word a day! So anyway, my GF and I are planning -platonic GF that is-a trip to Europe, and hope to visit all the countries that require a schengen visa. So now I need to learn Spanish, French, Dutch and German, and so on. Needless to say I intend to practice on you, dear reader. Hola, a veces mi madre reganar mi. Like when she found out that I went to San Juan for the weekend without telling her. Feel free to let me know if I just cursed in Spanish. I don't mind hearing the truth.