Forsyth Park Savannah, Georgia

Fountains in Forsyth Park Savannah

Savannah Parks & Squares

Savannah Riverboat

Along River Street Savannah

Savannah Blooms

More Slow Travel Friends

At the Gingerbread House I also got to meet and talk with KimC and Kevin Clark who have returned from Naples, Italy. We enjoyed having lunch with them at Paula Deen's restaurant on Saturday, as well.
MarionP, MarciaB, Jan, and Mindy also talked with us during the night at the Gingerbread House. After reading their posts on the messageboard for so long it was fun to meet in person.

Our dinner at the Mansion restaurant 700 Drayton gave us a good opportunity to meet 20+ people who attended. These included:

Jane, Ken, Barb C, Sandra K, Nancy L & John & Mary & Tom

Kendall, Nancy & Tom (joywriter) & Michael

Wendy & Rob, (BGE)-Brenda

Kathy, Bill, Karen, Mac, Mojen and Chris


On Friday morning some of the same group from the dinner also met up at Mercer Williams House for a tour. This is where I met and talked to Roz and her driver Mike.

On Saturday afternoon we attended the lunch at Paula Deen's and while lining up to wait I was talking to Bill McMichael, of the Whistlestop Cafe. And inside the restaurant Ginger was sitting next to R. explaining southern food to him, along with KimC and Kevin.

At the Historical Museum on Saturday night we sat at the table with KC, Jane, Ken, Earline & Cal, KathyG & Lou, Pat Cooney & Margaret. That evening I also met colleenk, whom I had a bit confused with Jan. Wonder why? Later in the evening we met AppalAnnie and Doyle before we said our goodbyes.

I know there were a few others that said "hello", but I must stop now. It was wonderful meeting y'all in Savannah.

Enjoyed Meeting Slow Travel Friends & Their Families in Savannah

It's been a week now since the "real" beginning of the Big Slow Travel Gathering in Savannah and I want to say I enjoyed meeting so many of the 87 people who attended. I did not get to speak with everyone, as we were not able to go to the Sunday event at Vic's on the River.
So, I am going to try and remember who I met and talked to a bit:

First off at the Gingerbread House was Kaydee, Leslie, Kelly & Riley who were so gracious welcoming us as we arrived and thanking us for the kid gifts. I later met Brent, Leslie's husband who chatted with us before we left. Riley & Kelly also talked with me at the Gingerbread House and the Historical Museum about making a trip to the Bookstore.

When we entered the house Palma & Brad offered us wine and sent us in to the dining area where waited to meet the famous KZ in Toscana. This was the highlight of our trip! I have been reading KZ's blog for the past year and have made a few comments on it. It is my favorite blog and the only one I read...all the others I just glance at for the photos. Casey (KZ) had phoned my hotel earlier and left me a very kind message and I was thrilled to finally meet and talk to him in person. He chatted with us several times at the Gingerbread House and at the Historical Musuem. I look forward to reading his blog about Savannah and his future trip to Italy.

And of course, I was also looking forward to meeting KZ's grandma Jane and grandpa Ken. I met them Thursday night as we dined at 700 Drayton, the Mansion's restaurant.
I'll mention the others I met at the restaurant Thursday later on.

After chatting with KZ and Jane, the other highlight I was really looking forward to was finally meeting Pauline (the founder of www.slowtrav.com). Saturday, April 5, 2008 was going to be my 5th anniversary for posting on the messageboard and I have chatted with Pauline several times in the chat room and sometimes by email. I remember her excitement over my trip to Sorrento where we appeared in front of the webcam with the slow travel community watching us hold up a Slow Traveler banner. I wanted to be part of this group. It was so much fun. I talked to Pauline later in the evening and with Steve, as well and then again said my goodbyes to Pauline at the Historical Museum, as that was our last event. It was a pleasure meeting and talking with Pauline & Steve. I will be looking for Pauline's next website....with an AutoEurope click thru, I hope.

I was also very happy to have a nice conversation with Bob the Navigator and his wife Susan, whom I also spoke with on Saturday night, as well. Bob told me about his hobby of being a trip planner...it's like what I've been doing for others "free" for the past 20+ years. A very nice couple that I am so happy to have met and talked to.
More later....that's not it....

Slow Travelers at the Savannah Gathering

The Mansion on Forsyth Park Savannah, Georgia

Leaving the Mansion on Forsyth Park early Sunday morning. It is said to be haunted which explains why there was no charge for 3 of the 4 nights parking and our lovely dinner at their restaurant known as 700 Drayton. I tried to pay on the spot but could only do that for the parking. Somehow they say the "ghosts" must have taken care of the bill for us????? Anyway, the Mansion's accounting office has some work to do to find out how much we still owe.
Great service and lovely accommodations for the price we paid: $169 per night + taxes.

Slow Travelers at the Historical Museum Savannah on Sat. April 5, 2008

Slow Travelers Lining Up for Saturday Lunch at Paula Deen's - The Lady & Son's

Slow Travel Gathering at the Gingerbread House Savannah, Georgia - April 4, 2008

The Fountain in Forsyth Park Savannah

Tybee Island and the Crab Shack

Clarey's Cafe in Savannah, Georgia

We had breakfast in Clarey's Cafe on Thursday and Friday mornings. This is the Clarey's in the movie, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." I recommend it.

On Saturday morning we had breakfast at the "Whistlestop Cafe" behind the Historical Museum, thinking it was part of the Bill McMichael group of restaurants of the same name. It is NOT. I talked to Bill (Mr. bugalu) in the line up at the Paula Deen lunch and found out the Savannah Whistlestop does not have the "rights" to use this name.
It was a good breakfast but there was only one waitress and she was quite "frazzled" with the work.

The Mansion on Forsyth Park Savannah - Room 428

We prepaid the rate of $169 plustaxes and parking per night for 4 nights in June 2007. This entire amount was non refundable, but well worth this price. We really enjoyed our stay there. There was an internet connection in the room, as well as free internet and printer etc. in the business center next to the spa. The property also has a cooking school and the restaurant 700 Drayton was very good.

Mercer Williams House Tour

Photos were not allowed inside the house or in the garden. The guided tour lasted 35 minutes and we met the "owner - black cat."

Bonaventure Cemetery Savannah

Conrad Aiken - poet - gravesite.

Bonaventure Cemetery Savannah

Johnny Mercer gravesite.

Savannah - Here We Come

We head out for the airport tomorrow evening and will be on our way to Savannah Wed. morning.

This is the biggest Slow Travel Gathering to date.

We're looking forward to : Meeting internet friends who share a love of travel, visiting the historical district of Savannah with its lovely gardens and parks, eating southern, and enjoying the "snowless" south with warm temperatures.

If we take a laptop I will blog. If not I will post when I return Monday.