We  headed down to Tampa, where we stayed until 12/22, then on to Sarasota.  In Tampa, we stayed at LazyDays RV Resort.  LazyDays is the largest RV dealer in the world... over 1,500 units in stock, a 126 acre complex, 200 service bays, and a 300 site campground.  No pictures from Tampa cause, to be honest, we just kicked back and relaxed.  We met some really nice people and the staff was very friendly.

Arriving in Sarasota on the 22nd, we awaited the arrival of the kids and grandkids.  One of our ventures was to "The Ringling,"  A large complex encompassing the circus museum, mansion, and several art museums.

Visited the Ringling Museum while waiting for the kids arrival

Old Circus Wagon.  Beautiful Woodworking!

The Ringling Mansion

Ringling Mansion Interior

Ringling Mansion Patio Overlooking Sarasota Bay

The definite high point of visiting Tampa was hooking up for dinner with an old (literally) flight buddy of mine from Vietnam.   Flying out of Camp Evans for 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in 1970-71, were the two studly pilots shown below, Rick Wray & Juan Torres, a/k/a/ Thunder 25 and Thunder 13, respectfully.  Juan and I had not seen each other for 44 years!!  We shared a telephone call with Thunder 33, Terry Vraniak, who now lives in Alaska, and the years slipped away!  Love you guys!

Thunder 25 (L) and 13 (R) 44 years after Vietnam

We lead off a series of Savannah posts by introducing you to the Pirates' House, established in 1753. Now a popular retaurant near the river, the house was just what its name implies.  Pirates frequented the establishment, both to take their leisure and to "Shanghai" unsuspecting patrons to crew their vessels.  Legend has it that a Savannah constable was Shanghaied and it took the unfortunate three years to work his way back to Savannah.

The Pirates' House

Excavations have uncovered several tunnels between the Pirates' House and the river.  These tunnels allowed the pirates to travel in secrecy and to aid in the covert transportation of Shanghaied patrons.

An Uncovered Secret Tunnel

Savannah's River Street

Naturally, the area adjoining the Savannah River offers interesting history, as well as modern restaurants and entertainment.  The streets are comprised of "ballast stones," which were used by the ships for... you guessed it... ballast. 

Access ramp from Bay Street to River Street, still in use today

At the time of the Civil War, the price for cotton was established in two places: Savannah, GA and Liverpool, England.   Savannah, it was through the cotton exchange on Bay Street.

Note the bridge?  Bridges such as this would span the ballast stone streets below.  Brokers from the various cotton brokerage houses would stand on the bridges, examine the massive bails of cotton being transported below to waiting ships, and set the price.

The old cotton brokerage houses were in the buildings to the left

Savannah's Squares

Savannah was designed with 24 squares.  A couple have been used to construct new government buildings, but 20 or so remain.  The squares are shaded and great places to relax, read a book, or just meditate on the history that surrounds you.  Here are two in the historic district.

Lafayette Square

Thirty-acre Fosyth Park

Casimir Pulaski Monument in Savannah, or Pulaski Monument on Monterey Square, is a 19th-century monument to Casimir Pulaski, located at the Monterey Square not far from the battlefield where Pulaski lost his life during the siege of Savannah.

Sources vary with regards to when the cornerstone for the monument was placed, with either 1825, involving the presence of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayett, or 1853 being given.

Savannah's Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

One of, if not the most beautiful structure in Savannah is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.  Immigrants fleeing turmoil in Haiti and France established Savannah's first parish, the Congregation de Saint Jean-Baptiste, near the end of the 18th century.  Pope Pius IX erected the Diocese of Savannah on July 19, 1850, with the Right Reverend Francis X Gartland as the first bishop. Saint John the Baptist Church (the only Catholic church in Savannah) was repaired following hurricane damage, enlarged and named the Cathedral.

We remain in Tampa at Lazydays Campground.  Lazydays is the largest RV dealer in the country: almost 300 acres of facilities, including a 300-site RV campground.  We haven't done much sightseeing yet, just enjoying the 80+ temps and clear skies.  Tiffin Motorhomes is having a manufacturers rally which, together with the season, has the campground bustling.  Unfortunately, 300 people tying to get on the internet results in s-l-o-w wireless.  Ridiculously slow uploads is why I have not been posting any photos.  Hopefully, things will improve following the rally's conclusion on Sunday.

We drove 335 miles today to Tampa and arrived around 4:00.  82 degrees!! :-)  We've settled in and are sitting on the patio having a  cold drink.  We both had to change from our jeans into light shorts... much better now!  We will be here until 12/22, when we head to Sarasota.  Ryan, Janelle, Thomas, Jess, and Michael are all flying in on 12/26 for a slightly belated Christmas.  By the way, this blog has generated a whopping TWO comments, and one was from Janice!  C'mon guys!  Let us know what you think or what you'd like to hear about (if anything).  C U L8TR!

OK, the views on our blog have really dropped off, and we don't blame you.  We've been in Savannah, GA for a week without a blog post. And you know why?  Because this town is SO awesome, that's why!  Seriously, if you're any kind of Civil War buff... or any other kind of history buff... this place is nirvana!  (btw, if you come to Savannah, it is not "the civil war;" it is "the war of Northern aggression")  Just yesterday, I took over 500 photos walking around Savannah.  We leave here tomorrow for Tampa, and hopefully I'll have some free time there to arrange my photos and share some with you.  In the meantime, I offer the following for you fans of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.  As you know, the book and subsequent movie revolve around Savannahian Jim Williams' killing of his male lover, and Williams' subsequent death in the same room of his home in which the killing occurred. 

Williams-Mercer House

 This is the residence known today as the "Williams-Mercer House."  You will remember that Kevin Spacey explains in the movie that the house was previously owned by the grandfather of another famous Savannahian, songwriter Johnny Mercer.  And remember the lovely "Lady Chablis?"  She played herself/himself in the movie and is still performing at Savannah's Club One today... tonight, actually!

 Finally for tonight, I bring you the Savannah City Hall

 A beautiful old building that still displays

HUZZAH!  Yep... they defy political correctness by still proudly flying the "stars and bars" of the Confederacy.  Save your Confederate money, boys, the South will rise again!  See y'all from Florida!