St Augustine FL
So, most of our trips include some historic spots...it just so happened that we clumped them all together at the end of this trip! Our St. Augustine, FL tour on day 28 was perfect weather, so we hopped on the Old Town Trolley to get a view of the many spots of interest. We learned the most from a parishioner guide at the Memorial Presbyterian Church, built by oil & railroad magnate Henry Flagler in honor of his deceased wife and daughter. The same style was utilized in all of his construction ventures in this city....believe me, he spared no expense! He was an important figure in the history of Florida in the 1880's, building the rail system along the eastern coast...mostly so that the wealthy hotel guests would have a way to get to his "seasonal" hotels...the magnificent Ponce de Leon (now home to Flagler College) and the "lesser" Alcazar across the street. The many shops in the downtown old district were smartly done, and the Spanish influence is still present in many homes and businesses. The photo of Magnolia Street was taken because it has been named as one of the most beautiful streets in America, oak lined with Spanish moss dripping from the trees and it was a fun "side trip" for Bill, as he stopped on our walk to preview a home under construction and "got the skinny" from the construction manager on the comparisons of building in the south vs the north.
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| Bill's only sighting of an alligator in FL... and he was fake ! |
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| Gates to the city, fortified with brick walls to keep out the Americans! |
Tybee Island GA
Because of my decision to not over-plan, we happened to boondock 2 nights in a row (without electricity) - the first night at a Cracker Barrel which worked perfectly as we were able to visit Tybee Island: a lighthouse tour, a bike ride into the beach town district, and a full tour of Fort Pulaski...the South's main fortification to protect Savannah. The guide at the fort was both knowledgeable and funny. She gave us the historical setting..a fort painstakingly engineered after the War of 1812 in case of future attack by the British. Little did the South understand that a different war was brewing. As the ranger described the election of 1860 with a deeply divided Democratic party which then led to a deeply divided country (most of whom hated Lincoln); it was reminiscent of today's America. The key issue was one of worth and esteem...which people in the United States had worth? Were they all equal? As we look back, we can clearly see that they were not on an equal playing field. In considering the election of 2016 and its aftermath of hate, unkindness and divisiveness; I am wondering if the exact same issue is at stake...which people have worth in America today? Are we all on a level playing field, are we all equal? Are still deeply divided because of those same issues that have never been fully resolved...who is "in" and who is "out"?
Savannah, GA
Day 31 found us in one of the loveliest towns in the south (after Charleston!), after our second boondock in a Walmart parking lot close to the city. Once again we got the full view on Savannah Tours before determining what we might want to explore more fully. The restructured cotton textile factories along the river have been turned into boutiques and restaurants, the many large residential homes have now been renovated to their past glory by historical societies, and SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) has re-energized this city by putting finances and creativity into its renovations.
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| At Savannah fav, Crystal Beer Parlor, we touched base with Benny Mammina, family friend from our Downers Grove days. |
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| Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, one of our favs. |
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| Davenport House Museum |
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