Third Day in Savannah & on to Charleston

Friday morning I checked the Weather Channel and found that the Savannah area was under a severe thunderstorm watch for the entire day. After breakfast it was not raining so I decided I needed to cover as much ground as possible before the rain started. The main thing I wanted to do in Savannah was take as many pictures of the old homes and squares as possible.

Savannah was the first planned city in the new world. In 1733 James Oglethorpe founded Savannah. It was the first settlement in what was to become the 13th colony, Georgia. He had a plan for the city that included building homes around little parks or squares. The squares survive to this day. It is wonderful to walk around Savannah and view the homes. The squares are spaced so they are there when you get tired of walking and can rest on the benches.

I saw many beautiful homes. Of particular interest to me were Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace and the Andrew Low House. Juliette Low founded the Girl Scouts. I was a Girl Scout and remember reading her biography when I was nine or ten years old. I kept walking and taking pictures. The sky was very gray. It was not the best picture-taking weather, but at least the rains were holding off. I managed to cover all of the major squares and find my way back to the Mulberry Inn. I went to my room and rested for a short time. I then went back to Reynolds Square. By then the sun was out and the sky was blue. It was absolutely lovely. I spotted a deli near the square. I went in and ordered a sandwich and coleslaw to go. I asked the lady if it was permitted to eat in the square. She said that was what they were there for but warned me that the pigeons would be around. I sat on a bench, ate my lunch and soaked up the nice weather. Not one pigeon came near me. I then wandered aimlessly and enjoyed the atmosphere.

The next morning I left the hotel at 6 AM. Scott’s Cab was right on time to take me to the Amtrak station. Scott looked familiar to me, but I did not say anything. When we were underway, he said, “I have seen you before.” I told him I was thinking the same thing. Finally I figured out I had stood next to him at the Continental baggage claim area at the airport on Tuesday when I had the long wait for the bag. I had overheard him explaining how the airport had only one baggage handling crew at that time of night.

The Amtrak station was bright and clean. I got there about 6:20 and the train was supposed to leave at 7 AM. I went and talked to the ticket agent. He said the train was already in the station, but we could not board yet. Another train was in the station and loaded before mine. The agent said I would have to check my 26 inch bag. I did not know what to expect from Amtrak and was a little uneasy about checking my bag but was glad that I did not have to lift it onto the train myself.

Finally we boarded the train. It was very clean. There were only three other people in the car I was in. There was a nice middle-aged couple from Los Angeles. They had flown to Savannah and were beginning a train trip using a 30-day Amtrak pass that allowed them unlimited travel. They were going to work there way up to Canada, but their first stop was going to be Charleston. The train departed promptly at 7 AM. The ride was very smooth. The train was very clean. I stuck my legs out straight and could not touch the seat in front of me. I decided this was a very nice way to travel. There was a dinning car on the train but I did not check it out. There was only one stop between Savannah and Charleston. I checked my SprintPCS phone when we were in what looked like an unpopulated wooded area. I was surprised to see there were three bars of signal strength. I had become accustomed to low signal strength in Savannah.

The train arrived at 8:44 AM right on schedule in Charleston. Luggage had to be loaded in the baggage car before my bag was brought to the baggage claim area, but I finally received it. I shared a shuttle with the couple from California into Charleston.

Tomorrow I will continue with my adventures in Charleston.