"Hiding my candy"

John and I play a game when we travel called "could we live here?".  Until today we've answered that question "yes" in only one city, New Orleans.  Today we also said "yes" in Savannah.  It's a beautiful, fascinating, walkable city.   How could one not love a town that is home to Flannery O'Connor and the setting for "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"?  

Two reasons not to live here?  It's in Georgia, the most gun-happy state in the union, and it's HOT!  It was 88 degrees today and it's only April.

We started out the day driving to St. Simons Island and Fort Frederica.  We were eaten alive by black flies so we didn't stay long. 

We then drove to the gate at Sea Island but were turned back after being informed that only registered guests of The Cloister were allowed on the island, and nobody driving a 30 year old vw van could possibly be a guest of The Cloister.

So back on highway 17 to Savannah.    We noticed they love their American flags BIG here.  I saw a couple flags flying on poles at least 40 feet high and the flags would have covered half a football field.  Size does matter in Georgia, at least for flags, and it's always helpful to be reminded which country one is in.

Savannah is an absolute delight.  

We started our tour of Savannah at Mercer House, setting for "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".  Sadly Lady Chablis did not greet us.

We saw lots of the squares Savannah is famous for, and they are beautiful.  Oglethorpe planned the city around the squares- public spaces. Today's cities, sadly, are planned around private spaces (gated developments).  I'll take Oglethorpe's plan any day.

Here is our new vet clinic.  Check out the sign.

Our hotel is on Forsyth Park, the largest of Oglethorpe's squares.  

First the fountain in the park:

And then our hotel:

There was a sidewalk chalk art contest in the park. This one was my favorite, but it didn't win a prize. I call it "Hiding My Candy".

Small private gardens are everywhere. 

The architecture is stunning...

as is the history. ..

And we stopped by Flannery O'Connors house too. 

Tonight we are having dinner at The Firefly Cafe (appropriate after last night) on Troup Square, a lovely walk from the hotel. 

We love Savannah.  This is one of their tour buses:

What's not to love?