Savannah

We arrived in Savannah on Monday around noon, after a short drive from Charleston. We are staying at Skidaway Island State Park, one of the most beautiful parks I have seen. Tall pines, huge oaks and Spanish moss draped from every branch. The sites are enormous and the park is only about 10 percent occupied.

This is our spot for the next four days.

On Tuesday we went into town. We stopped into the River House Hotel for lunch. I had Blue Chips, Darlene had half a dozen Raw (oysters). If you're wondering what Blue Chips are, I'll tell you, right after the picture.

OK, here we go. Home made potato chips sprinkled liberally with crumbled blue cheese, bacon bits, chives and drizzled with sour cream. I'm in heaven, all the basic food groups, the key to healthy living.

Another local delight we had a few nights ago, boiled peanuts. I always thought peanuts should be crunchy. And I stick by that. These peanuts are boiled from raw, in a salty broth and served in a bowl, soggy shells still on. Oddly they don't have any pea-nutty taste. They have the texture of chickpeas. And while Darlene and I sat there criticising the snack, we pretty much finished the bowl. Somehow they're addictive, just like potato chips (or even blue chips).

Today, Wednesday, it was quite a bit cooler, around 11 degrees. We drove to Tybee Island, a beachy hot spot. It was deserted. Had lunch at the Crab Shack. Great place, every table has a large hole in the centre with a garbage can underneath for table scraps. 

Tonight was a real "put you in the Christmas spirit" delight.
We went to Savannah's Coastal Botanical Gardens. Acres upon acres of lights, hard to put into words. Here are a few pics.

Tomorrow we have booked a historical carriage ride through old Savannah. Then on Friday we're off to the Gulf with a 2 day stopover in White Springs, near Lake City Florida.