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!

Well, tomorrow we bid farewell to Charleston and head to Savannah, GA.  We'll be there a week and then headed into Florida.  Today we ate lunch at the Tomato Shed Restaurant, a little market restaurant run by farmers who use all fresh ingredients.  We had tomato pie.. a first for both of us and VERY delicious.  We also had GREAT crab cakes (repeatedly voted the best in Charleston).  It was sunny and mid 70's today.  We've been walking a lot, checking out the historic district.  Since we didn't get a house in Springfield, we thought one of these quaint little historic Charleston houses might work.  Tell us our choice!

In addition to houses, Charleston also has beautiful, old historic churches.  The Episcopal church of St. Michael is one of those.

St. Michael's Exterior

St. Michael's Interior

Gorgeous old numbered family pews

See ya'll from Savannah!!

This post is actually a continuation of the revious post.  So, if you have not read the previous post, please do so now.  I'll wait.

OK, the last ship we visited was the USS Clamagore, SS-343.  The ship provided a great insight into the conditions under which submariners lived and worked. 

And those conditions are illustrated in this photo of the aft torpedo room.

You can see a green torpedo on the lower torpedo rack.  The upper rack is empty.  But notice above that empty torpedo rack.. the light green colored items are mattresses on the crew bunks.  Yep, you got to sleep right above the torpedoes.  Sweet dreams!

Control Station, USS Clamagore

A BLESSED THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!