SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

We're coming up on that time of year when my sister and I begin to discuss where we will go for our Almost-Annual-Sisters-Weekend-Getaway.  We began this tradition a few years ago in Chicago, and have visited Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA, since then.  Whereas, I always feel badly leaving BC at home by himself, I love my time with Mary.  We sleep in every morning, talk until late, late every night and, simply put, enjoy each other and our time together.  I know our poor mother in heaven is watching the two of us with some semblance of disbelief.  Our childhood years were difficult, involving a fair amount of screaming, crying, and tattling, all of which we later paid for while raising our own sweet children.

Mary and I have taken to reserving Historic B&B's for the great breakfasts, of course; but also for the genteel atmosphere and the blessed late afternoon wine and hors d'oeurves hour(s).  The Eliza Thompson House in Savannah completely fit the bill for us, and I recommend it.  It's built around a lovely courtyard in which both breakfast and wine-time are centered.

Rather late on our first morning in Savannah, a couple of years ago, we gathered up a map of their Historic District and began checking out our neighborhood.  Just a few blocks south of Eliza Thompson, we wandered into Forsyth Park.  This beautiful fountain is obviously a gathering spot and why not... Our brochure mentioned the fountain had been built in 1858 based on the design of a Paris fountain near the Place de la Concorde.  I'm not sure what that one may look like, but this one is good enough for me.

We visited Savannah very late in October; I think the date of this photo was the 23rd.  Our weather was gorgeous.  We enjoyed sunshine every day, nary a drop of rain, no wind, and a light sweater was perfect for evening or an outdoor lunch in the shade. Apparently, Halloween is a really big thing and many of the doorsteps were decorated similarly to this one located just a few doors down from our B&B. As soon as I returned to Phoenix, I bought a couple of pumpkins and a pot of posies, but the effect just wasn't the same.

I love my sister, Mary.  You can take her anywhere and she immediately looks like she is "To the Manor Born."  I, by contrast, am often mistaken for the servant girl, but thus is life.

If you've read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. this is the Mercer-Williams House where the evil deed occurred.  Just behind the windows on the lower left if you're wondering.  It's a beautiful house--our group gathered and then entered from the courtyard in the rear.  I've read reviews in which people are quite unhappy because the tour is limited to the first floor, and I understand wanting to see it all, but I'm OK just being inside where all of the wild parties and etc...went on. Imagination is a great thing.  It generally serves me quite well.  It's really a large house when you realize the square footage, but my guess is it's proportioned so well you don't feel the massiveness...which makes it seem more real and livable.

After our day of wandering through the historic neighborhood, which included a typical leisurely lunch, we climbed the stairs of the entry to Eliza Thompson just in time for the late afternoon wine and appetizer spread.  Great timing!  One feels a bit elegant sipping perfectly chilled white wine in this drawing room.  It's beautiful and cushy, but we quickly escaped to the courtyard, where we put our feet up and enjoyed the cool breeze under the massive trees.  We had definitely found our spot.