Savannah appears in a fair number of movies, simply because it’s such a well preserved city. I took the opportunity to watch ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’ while I was here, courtesy of my most excellent Air BnB host who had such things to hand, and it was great to feel familiar with the scenes in the movie.

Bonaventure Cemetery features in that movie and is worth the trek out for a visit, sitting up above the Savannah River where I watched a pelican pair fishing (rubbish photos, not worth posting) and passed away a lovely afternoon peacefully among the resting places.

Johnny Mercer, one of my favourite jazz lyricists remains here (Blues in the Night, Autumn Leaves, Satin Doll).

Johnny Mercer (jazz lyricist, Blues in the Night, Satin Doll, Autumn leaves)

I have a romatic picture in my head of ‘the South’ and basically, that picture looks like Savannah, GA. The big old trees, the Spanish Moss, the parks, the steamy humidity and the general, all round, Southern-ness of it all.

She didn’t disappoint.

I didn’t take as many pictures as I thought I did, I think I was busy soaking it all up. And as I’m writing, it’s been a few days since I was there and of the three cities in the South I’ve been exploring this week it’s Savannah that’s my favourite.

Each of the city parks with their distinct personalities, the friendly people, the river, busy as I’m sure it ever was and the beautiful old trees and houses made for an easy to explore, really satisfying day.

Here’s a glimpse.

Savannah Downtown, Chippewa Square, most famous for its appearance in the movie Forrest Gump

Savaannah City Hall

River Walk, Savannah

Savannah Paddle Ferry

The Tokyo Express heading up the river

The Cotton Exchange

Savannah Downtown

Spanish Moss on the trees

Forsyth Park Savannah

Maddison Square

At Chippewa Square – it’s where Forrest sat… but the bench was a movie prop and now lives in a museum…

Savannah Waterfront

Waterfront War Memorial

Waterfront War Memorial

Emmet Park Savannah

Memorial seat for Johnny Mercer in Johnson Square

I walked a lot in my time in St Augustine, partly becuase in the month preceeding I barely walked anywhere (and basically I ate my way round Asheville) and partly because the weather was so gorgeous and the scenery so compelling it felt like the best possible way to see the place.

The longest walk was from town, past the Castillo, over the Bridge of Lions to the St Augustine Light. Built in 1874 the lighthouse has 219 steps to the top, and thankfully a bunch of landings for you to rest on as you climb it… confession… my legs were well wobbly by the time I got to the top… and for quite a while after I hit the bottom…

Looking down toward the Christmas Tree

Proof positive I was here… (aren’t selfies the worst?)

St Augutstine Light looking up

Looking down on the lighthouse keeper’s home

Quite the view

the view of St Augustine from the Light

Bridge of Lions across to Anastasia Island

Bridge of Lions

Bridge of Lions

The architecture is compelling, for sure, and my favourite part but the history, which I guess adds to the appeal of the architecture is also a dominant feature of St Augustine.

On the town’s foreshore is the huge fort of  Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the USA. You can read more about it here, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Inside the Fort’s courtyard

Cannon Firing Demonstration on the Fort Wall

The birds cleaning up after the Cannon Firing… they use bread as wadding in the gun… Free lunch for Pigeons

Preparing for Cannon Firing

Watch tower

Within the fort

Terrible selfie

The fort wall

The coquina limestone building material out of which the walls are made.. one of two forts in the US made of this material

Obviously discussing very important business