Voodoo Country..

One of the many city sqaures in Savannah
see all photos »

Savannah is right in the heart of the South, and also, apparantly, where the Voodoo religion is alive and well.

We arrived here after a nice short train journy from Charleston, early on Wednesday morning. First impressions were wet ones, it had been raining on and off all through the train journey and Savannah was soaked.

where the Voodoo religion is alive and well...

Once again, we had a lovely B&B, in one of the beautiful leafy squares for which Savannah is famous. Despite getting there early we landed right into a nice hot breakfast and a chat with a guy from New Jersey, and a cop from south Carolina about individual and politcal responsibility in todays changing world. Just what we were looking for.

The Savannah riverfront
see all photos »

Given the weather, we had a quiet day, lazing around and wandering the squares and streets. We toured the Savannah museum which details its confederate roots and history and much more, and we took a city trolley tour which brought us around the major sites with an over enthusiastic tour guide.

Situated on the Savannah river, the city relys heavily on its shipping industry and river street is a bustling, busy area of the city. Filled with some nice and some tacky bars and shops, its where most of the tourists end up.

riverfront..
see all photos »

Our initial impression was that Savannah was not a patch on Charleston, where we had just left. Despite being full of the same amazingly big houses and Estates, it didnt seem to have the same charm. In saying that, the people were lovely yet again. On day 2, the weather got better, and so did our view on Savannah. Its much easier to see a city or town when you aren't trying to jump over a puddle every 2 minutes. One of our favourite things about the city are the fantastic Oak trees, covered in Spanish moss (which isnt moss, or Spanish). Every street and square is lined with these. They look great, and they give great shade!

more of the lovely architecture that we had seen in Charleston
see all photos »

We found the Savannah museum of civil rights, which was an eye opener, and very well presented. Martin Luther King said that Savannah was the South's most integrated city, and they are proud that they had integrated schools, public areas, shops and restaurants a full year before the civil rights bill of 1964. Desapite that pride, it was a unbelieveable to read, watch and listen to stories of people denied the right to buy a milkshake in a cafe, to have to sit on different buses, use different toilets and even use different enterances to department stores.

The shady tree lined streets were everywhere
see all photos »

We had a nice time in Savannah, it was very relaxing and we have had a great impression of the American people so far, especially in the South. All very friendly and accomodating. After Savannah, we head to Miami, another 12 hour train journey, by which time we will have travelled almost all of the east coast. Hard to believe how much left there is to see and do here, but our plan is to be in Vegas by the 18th. talk to you from South Beach, Miami...