A Packer Fan And The Other Hail Mary
On a Saturday night in Georgia, this was not quite the Hail Mary that I was expecting during the Packer-Falcon playoff game.
Jan 24
On a Saturday night in Georgia, this was not quite the Hail Mary that I was expecting during the Packer-Falcon playoff game.
Having visited Savannah, Georgia several times, I am familiar with the city and the historic downtown district, and have always felt safe. I stayed in a different hotel this time because it looked interesting. Little did I know, I would get one interesting travel tale.
It is a hotel chain that has been my favorite for many years, I am choosing not to call them out.To park the car at this hotel, one uses the Valet Service. I spent a number of days visiting without using car, and like most Savannah tourists, I walk everywhere. I had a fantastic time there, ate some great food, took a ghost tour and checked off a few remaining sights on my Savannah bucket list.
Getting ready to head out of town to see rural Georgia, I went to get my car. There was a man speaking with the Valet, who couldn’t seem to find his car. Long story short, my car was missing along with six other vehicles.
It got a bit messy, police were called, cameras of course were not operating, and a lot of waiting around to get a car to get home. I bonded with some fun people, and met some guys returning to Switzerland, lucky for them, they didn’t need their car to get to the airport. I was embarrassed that this happened to them while visiting this fine country.Finally, I secured a rental car to get home. It turns out that the Navigation for the rental car that I was driving, was turned on vs the car that was stolen. Genius.
Apparently, the police respond very quickly to a felony in action. Lucky for me, I had a whim for a veggie Subway with Guacamole. The police and I mean three departments and six cars, showed up when I was in line.
When the officers came in, I had no idea they were looking for me. They were just as confused to see no one freaking out and Meg, in her suburban sports dress chatting up people like friendly Midwestern girl.
Another hour to get the NAVstar and the police relaxed. They said I was so lucky. Had I been on the interstate, guns would have been drawn.
I did get to see rural Georgia and eat some mighty fine peaches. Oh, my car was totaled and set on fire with my favorite car blanket in it.MEGatips:
I just kicked Ghost Tour off of my list. Beware,another lengthy post-short attention span, don’t read this. If you are interested in; paranormal, ghosts, or Savannah Travel, enjoy. If any of you have taken a great ghost/haunted/paranormal tour in Savannah, drop me a note. I would love a do-over!
Savannah just has that freaky vibe at night. You wouldn’t think that night-day could be so different in the same place. Case in point.
I am certain that “real writer’s” have written on this very subject.; At night the colors seem to change, the Spanish sways off the trees, the old buildings, old forts, mansions, cemeteries, and cobblestone streets mix with that humid air mix with legends and stories. And there are those trees.
I certainly understand why films are made in this scenic city. Deep Southern Gothic. Think Midnight in The Garden Of Good And Evil.
Savannah is the most paranormal city in the U.S.A. Word! I had always wanted to try a Ghost Tour in this fine city. I remember my very first visit to Savannah and saw this open aired hearse driving around. I thought wouldn’t that be a barrel of monkey’s?
I was eating at a restaurant on River Street and saw a Ghosts and Graveyards Tour Trolley full of fun people, and decided to jump on. No pre planning, no research just did it.
Ghosts & Gravestones took me on a 90 minute “Trolley of The Doomed” tour. Departing from River Street, this street can be creepy at night.
Aside from the cobblestone drives, there are also few sets of steep steps from the city to the waterfront. It just reminds me of a movie scene that you would take you to a scary place. Think Dracula. The buildings are very old and a damp smell hangs in the air. Many of the buildings were once working warehouses.
1. Once the fun-bus got going, it passed The Shrimp Factory where slaves were once held upon arrival. By day the slaves worked in this former cotton warehouse and at night were chained to the walls in the upper floors. There are many stories of strange noises; groaning, chanting, chains klinking and sights of shadows on the wall. I have eaten in this establishment but did not hear or see spirits except for The Chatham Artillery Punch. (see my Tasty Tuesday on Savoring Savannah if you are interested in Savannah Food)
2. We drove by the 17 Hundred 90 Inn. It is thought to be the oldest hotel in Savannah dating back to 1820. In brief; Reportedly not named 1820 because 1820 held a fire that nearly wiped out this city, followed by a Yellow Fever epidemic where so many residents died. I learned on another trolley tour that there were actually 666 people who died. Because of the numerical superstitions it was rounded up to 700. I did a quick fact check and The Georgia Historical Society has it recorded as 666.
Back to 17 Hundred 90 haunting. Built by a man who died in an accident before it was completed. There are many interesting stories of hauntings surrounding this house.
*hard to see in my photo but the window on top floor above awning and light post is Room #204.
Room#204. Here is what is stupid; there is a mannequin dressed up in the window to entertain the ghost tours. Here is a fact; A pregnant single woman who rented this room by the name of Anne/Anna Powell threw herself out the window, reportedly after her sailor love left her and did not return. It is currently an Inn and Restaurant. People interested in the paranormal actually may stay in this room and record their own accounts of manifestations in this home. It looks like a really nice place per their website, and is in a great location. So you too can investigate this phenomena. In 2009, singer Miley Cyrus stayed in Room 204 Miley Cyrus claimed Anna left a hand print on her boot while she was out. http://17hundred90.com/category/hauntings/
3. Juliette Gordon Low was the founder of Girl Scouts of America. The Low family was prominent and reportedly took interest in the paranormal. It is said that the presence of both Juliette and grandmother, Sarah Gordon and her daughter-in-law Nellie Kinzie Gordon, the mother of Juliette Gordon Low, still remain to haunt the house, and can be felt inside the house. I wonder if there is a Girl Scout Badge for paranormal?
So if you are interested in older homes,decor and gardens here is my take away.
This was my favorite part. I loved seeing this statue!
And the gardens!
4. We also drove by The Sorrell Weed House. This is the paranormal rock star house of Savannah. This beautiful and tragic haunted home has been featured on many programs. HGTV,Sci-Fi, History Channel, Fox, ABC and so on. This house also has many stories of paranormal activities.
Francis Sorrel was the first owner of this home. He married a young woman named Lucinda who died 5 years into the marriage. Frances Sorrel then lived here with his second wife Matilda, who happened to be Lucinda’s younger sister. Francis was involved with a slave named Molly, and the two of them were caught in the act by Matilda. Distraught, she threw herself out of a window and died. A few days later, Molly was found hanging from a noose in the carriage house.
Fact check; According to investigators of this story, In the census there was never a slave named Molly nor evidence of a love affair. Matilda was a jumper but from the house next door. Francis had sold the home to the Weed family and moved next door 9 months before this suicide. Other stories that I read were that all six Weed children died during a yellow fever epidemic. Or, Sorrel’s first wife died of yellow fever. (With a quick check, I could not prove or disprove these last two facts.)
So why is it so haunted? Another theory suggests that during the Revolutionary War grounds were under Sorrel-Weed House’s current location. October of 1779 1000 men died right in or near this spot, and was, according to many historians, the bloodiest hour of the entire American Revolution. Gross. *To note, this is from Battlefield Park
There are so many stories about this house that it was a bit difficult to sort out. Another story claims Francis Sorrel is half French, half Haitian. His Haitian mother was murdered. Francis reportedly was light skinned and denied his Haitian heritage. thus he was cursed. Voodoo may be involved.
What is known is a lot of of paranormal activities have been reported and investigated. Some of the reports are of; ghost sightings,lots of voices and screams, weird photos,touches, odors,chocking sensations and nausea. I have learned that many people just feel the need to ‘get out,”
Truth is, this home is the finest example of Antebellum Greek Revival/Regency architecture. Random Fact; The opening scene to Forrest Gump was filmed off this rooftop.
5. The Pirate’s House is in one of the oldest sections of Savannah. There have been many ghost sightings at his spot. Our tour guide told us that there are tunnels leading from the rum cellars to the river. Story has it that men would disappear; get drunk, pass out and wake up on a ship, and forced to work. People report hearing sounds from the tunnels. Fact; I also learned that there may have never been tunnels.
6. We drove by The Colonial Park Cemetery. Established in 1750. I learned that this site is considered to be one of the most paranormal sites in Savannah.
Over 10,000 people are buried here but reportedly there are under 1000 markers.
One of the reasons for this is mass burials from Yellow Fever epidemic era. Another reason is that graves were desecrated during The Civil War. I biked in to have a closer look at the markers on the back wall.
Also, It is a fact that Voodoo has been and is practiced in this location. The former two stories being an explanation for the paranormal spirits. Of course, there are the legends. A large mass murderer who killed little girls and was later hung in the cemetery. Not true.
Did you know there was a dueling era in Savannah? There is an adjoining dueling ground. How handy!
7. Perkins and Sons Ship Chandlery was our last stop. In a nutshell, I did not quite ‘get it. ”It simply reminded me of a community haunted House during Halloween month or the Disney Haunted House ride, idk. I stepped into an old building into a room with artifacts. I couldn’t tell if they were real items recovered from the river or props. Is this place actually haunted or is it just for the tour? I could not find any stories.
Spoiler alert: We were sent into another room where it darkened and there was about a 10 minute story told by an actor with some special effects. I couldn’t quite follow the story. I was bored and disinterested. Some people may enjoy this night out.
The Ghosts and Gravestones tour was extremely well done with the material at hand, and the people were really nice but honestly, it was a tad bit corny (a lot) and the ghost stories few. Don’t expect goose bumps. This tour has been featured on The Today Show, Sci-Fi Channel and The Travel Channel so I would not hesitate to recommend it for a family fun situation. You know a stupid company bonding event or the like. Note, it is rated PG-13. No young folks under 18 without an adult. No children under the age of 6. There is a 100% money back guarantee
MEGastars I would give the Ghosts and Graveyards tour 2 * star for how wonderful the guide was. She put her heart into her job. And another star for ease/comfort. I have to wonder why is Graveyards in this tour title? We drove by one?
2 SELF TOUR SITES-Moon River Brewing Company and The Olde Pink House Restaurant.
1. Another place that I checked out on my own. The television shows Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters did a show on this haunted Brewery. Moon River Brewing Company was a former Inn that had a history with violent deaths beginning in 1832 with a gun shooting. In 1860, and a lynch mob beat a man nearly to death simply because he was not “Southern.” In the 1880’s there was a death but I was unable to find out the event surrounding this death. The inn remained empty for many years. In 1999 when the Inn was being renovated, a wife of the foreman was pushed down the stairs and died. The foreman resigned and the upper floors have remained largely empty.
There is reports of a violent ghost who pushes people and throws things. There is a ghost named Toby who lives in the basement and has been described as a shadowy figure. There is also a white apparition that moves about the upper floors. I have eaten here and really like it. They have just added a 4500 outdoor beer garden.
2. The Olde Pink House Restaurant. Not only does this place get many visitors for great food, there are ghosts that harass customers and employees. Thrown menus’s, glasses of water and an apparition of a man in 1700’s clothing. It is reported that this may be the original owner of the home who hung himself in the basement. It is a known fact that this man did NOT hang himself in the basement and yet he could still be the ghost. I love the food here. When I ate at both of these places, I did not know about the paranormal activity.
If I had to rate Savannah for playing ghost bucket list, i would give this city 5 of 5 MEGastars *****
I have never seen a ghost or have I? This is what happens when a Wisconsin Girl moves South? Snowman follows her. Snapped this while work was being done on my pool.
MEGatips
MEGabite “Tasty Tuesday” post is concentrating on a few spots in the historical area of downtown Savannah, Georgia, and one place outside of this district.
Not interested in Savannah food? Skip this post. Short attention span? Skip this post. Going to Savannah? Read this post. I’m not a chef or a food critic. Just Meg.
Savannah was listed as ‘The Best American Cities For Foodies”-Conde Nast Traveler, May 2014. One thing that I love about Savannah is that you can enjoy fine dining in casual attire. So here is what Ms. Pacman tried on this visit.
1. Garibaldi’s Escape Restaurant or Garibaldi’s Cafe. I was invited to a dinner with six others, meaning I got to try quite a few dishes. I did not feel comfortable taking photos but I was able to snap a few entrees.
Crispy Diamond Scored Flounder with shallot sauce, orzo provencal. Yum!
Grouper with crab and arugula on parmesan risotto. This was my yummy dish. It For appetizers; Calamari and the Crab Stuffed Mushrooms with Parmesan were both fantastic. There were seven desserts ordered. I never order desserts so this was a fun way to try little bites. The berry basket was really good!
I loved the food here and absolutely will go back. Don’t feel intimidated by the beautiful décor, this write up says it best! “What I love about Garibaldi is its simple elegance. Diners are as comfortable in ties and jackets, as they are in shorts and polo shirts. Whether for a special occasion or dinner after a day in city market, Garibaldi is a place to celebrate with food, fun and friends.” -Savannah Morning News .
MEGastars 5***** Everything was perfect. Awesome service.
MEGatip-
2. Sorry Charlie’s Oyster Bar and cocktails. This is a new restaurant in a nicely renovated building.
Described as “A Historic feel with forward thinking seafood.” Oysters vary daily as does the menu. I chose the Oysters Rockefeller; partly because the Nueske’s bacon is from my home state of Wisconsin.
MEGastars 3.5 *** 1/2* The food was good but a few of the portions were small. The service was a bit slow but this is a new restaurant. However, I left with a $140.00 bill for two. I want something to rock my world.
MEGatips
3. Lady and Son’s. For those of you who do not know the story. Successful Savannah business woman, Paula Deen, along with her two sons, went from sandwich delivery, to catering, and then the restaurant business. Their success story helped make this family TV celebrities.
The door says walk in’s are welcome. I popped in without a reservation (don’t do this) and was able to be seated at the bar on the third floor. Meh.
The waiter gave a speech about the buffet.
I did not see anything on the buffet that made me wiggle. At $16.00 for lunch buffet, I simply can’t binge eat anymore. If you have a large appetite or if you have never tried Southern cooking, this may be a good way to try these dishes. Described as Southern, American-Traditional food, there is a lot of hype around Paula Deen’s Restaurant. It was a fun try, glad I went there once.
I was served a famous cheese biscuit with garlic butter and a hoecake while I waited for my order. And, I waited a really long time.It didn’t seem to go with my sandwich but I tried both and that biscuit was darn delicious.
I ordered “The Bag Lady,” Choosing1/2 “Jamie’s Famous Chicken Salad” with a cup of The Crab Stew-rich creamy stew with succulent blue crab. For an upcharge of $3.00, I was able to try a few bites.
Although I found the stew over salted, It was a fun and tasty try. Super creamy. Everything else was delicious and fresh. Because of my long wait, I would give this experience 3.5 MEGastars *** 1/2*
MEGatips-
I gave The Shrimp Factory a whirl after seeing an ad at the Visitor’s Center. Ya know, it wasn’t too bad.
I had Shrimp Salad Stuffed Beefsteak Tomato;house made shrimp salad over a beefsteak tomato, served with sliced avocado and egg. Loaded with shrimp, I loved it!
My husband ate the Deviled Crab and Fried Shrimp,
So there is this drink called “Chatham Artillery Punch.” I had a really fun waitstaff, and of course they charmed me into tasting. I don’t like orange tea and was ready to not like it, Not bad and I got to check this off my “eat/drink” Savannah list.
5. Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub-Why? Because I got into town at 10:30
My husband chose “The Irish Sampler.” Beef Stew, Shepherd’s Pie, Cabbage and brown bread. They serve until 11 p.m. I give the food a 3 MEGastars*** It’s a pub, and it was late for a food order.
There was a lot of fun going on in this place. MEGatips-Need a party place to sing drunken tunes? Go here later in the evening.
6. The Cafe at City Market for that Peach Sangria-I have eaten at all of The City Market Restaurants. It’s a fun place to sit outside, people watch and listen to live music. I want to mention one menu item. The BEST drink in town is found here. This peach sangria is magical and you can have these to go. Yep Savannah rides the fun bus.
7. The Flying fish Bar and Grill-An inside tip from my friend who lives in Savannah.Outside of the downtown and on the way to Tybee Island ,this is an easy stop. Fresh shrimp in a super relaxed spot. They will fresh your catch. Good seafood menu at a fair price point.
I had a fun and tasty time here. I give this spot 4 MEGastars ****
Savannah You Rocked My Palate!
Other Restaurants that I recommend are;