Georgia, Old Savannah Tour

 

With what I consider a limited time to explore Savannah, I set out from the Mulberry Inn with a definite plan to accomplish this.

 

Crossing Bay Street which use to be the longest interstate highway in the country, running from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, I descend a set of steep stairs and I am along a part of the Savannah Riverfront.

Here, I board a trolley and for US$20 I will get a 90 minute narrated tour of this beautiful and historic city.

 

 

 

 

 

Moon River Brewing Company

 

 

 

From learning about a local resident, Johnny Mercer, famous song writer of “Moon River” fame to seeing the locations where many famous movies like Forrest Gump were shot, this turns out to be a very interesting and entertaining tour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that the windows of the Methodist Church here are from Tiffany's and that Lewis Tiffany came here himself from New York to help install them? Of course, it was right after he had breakfast.

 

 

Also as a part of your tour you can get reasonably priced dental work done by “Smiling Sam”, the pirate dentist. Today, we are told that extractions are half-off.

 

 

 

 

 

If your dental work is fine then you just might want to find yourself in the company of one fine and entertaining “Georgia Peach”, Mrs. Catharine Greene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia, Like A Big A Pizza Pie, That's Amore!

 

 

There's no more complete and versatile meal like pizza, especially when traveling. For the longest time my favorite pie was (and probably still is) from Ray's (Now Amadeus) on 8^th Ave in New York near W 51^st Street.

 

 

 

 

No trip to The Big Apple would be complete without a trip or two to Ray's and this goes back to the mid 1990's.

Nowadays, I don't get to visit New York as much as I would like or use to. However, like the moon hitting my eye, whenever I travel I am always on the lookout for a slice of heaven.

 

 

 

 

Recently, while visiting Savannah, Georgia I get a chance to refresh my memory of a good New York pizza at VinnieVan GoGo located at City Market. Touted as “The Best Pizza” in the city by one tour bus driver, I am not disappointed with a slice topped with fresh sliced tomatoes, spicy Italian sausage and a generous sprinkling of self added oregano.

 

 

A VinnieVan GoGo Slice Of Heaven

 

If I cannot make it back to The Big Apple anytime soon then I would be glad to be hit anytime in the eye in Savannah at Vinnie Van GoGo. Now that's Amore!

 

 

 

Georgia, A Savannah Peach

It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman and I get to meet one of them during my tour of Savannah. As charming and as entertaining as she was over 200 years ago, Catharine Greene tells a lovely story about her life and that of her husband, Nathanael Greene, “The Fighting Quaker”.

 

 

From dancing with America's First President George Washington to working with Eli Whitney on the Mulberry Grove Plantation, Cathie Greene turns out not only to be a “Savannah Peach” but also one “Fine Southern Lady”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Georgia, A Pirate's Tale

 

For me, when thinking about pirates, Georgia is not one of the first places or things that come to mind. The Caribbean or Captain Morgan (spiced, over ice and mixed with sweet and sour) are more likely.

 

 

However, Savannah has been from the 1700's and still is today an important seaport and trading post. Although the “John Depp's” of the day have long vanished, their history is still being kept alive here in a very entertaining way.

So if you want to learn about how rum was imported (smuggled) here during prohibition or if you want to know how to get a free trip to China then this Pirate's Tale might be just right for you.

However, one word out of you bloke, an you gonna be walkin the plank, mate. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh.

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia, Hanging With Forrest Gump

 

I don't know if you would believe me if I told ya but I am gonna tell you anyway and maybe you are gonna believe me.

 

I just came back from Viet .. Nam and I went straight back to Savannah. Well, not straight back cause I had to take a car, then a bus then an airplane. And I am sure the airplane did not go straight. It went up and down. It was a Del..ta airplane.

Anyway, I get home and low and bee..hold, who did I meet. I meet one Mr. Forrest Gump, the owner of The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company sitting right there on a park bench in Chippewa Square.

I think he liked my shoes, so although he was a gazillionaire, he showed me around Savannah.

 

 

 

I saw the oldest movie theater in America where him and Jenny went on there first date then we went to Colonial Park Cemetery.

Although he did not tell me this, I think his father and his father before his father and his father before his father is buried here.

 

 

 

 

 

There is also some other interesting people buried there like Button Gwinnett, one of the original signers of The Declaration Of Independence. I don't think he is signing anything, anymore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could sense a little sadness at our next stop, the restaurant where Jenny worked. Forrest, may not be a smart man but from standing there and having spent a little time with him, I think he knows what love is.

 

 

 

 

 

Arkansas, From Hope To The White House

 

No matter your political persuasion or party affiliation, anyone should be able to appreciate a visit to The William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas. The story and journey of a little boy from a small town in Arkansas, Hope, who's father dies before he is born but nonetheless he becomes The President Of The United States is impressive.

 

 

For me, William J. Clinton's rise to become one of the most important men in the world is reflective of one of the great things I love about this country, my second birthplace.

It is a land of opportunity for anyone to succeed if one has the courage and fortitude to take advantage of what is offered.

 

 

 

 

Raised by his mother and nurtured by his grandparents, William J. Clinton overcame many obstacles and challenges to become not only one of the youngest governor's ever to win (and lose an election) but he also served two terms as President Of The United States.

 

 

Some even believe that if it were constitutionally possible, Clinton may have even served three or four terms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that the first Presidential vehicle used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt was one seized from the famous gangster, Al Capone?

 

Or that today Presidential limousines are proudly built in Warren, Michigan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oval Office

 

 

 

Also, did you know that after World War II President Truman redesigned The Presidential Seal?

Originally, the eagle faced the talon holding the arrows of war, now it faces the olive branch. President Truman believed that the president, although prepared for war, should always look towards peace.

 

 

 

 

 

While this is President Clinton's library, it is not all about him. Here, I have learned more about the First Lady, life at the White House and the Office of The Presidency itself.

 

 

There is also currently even an impressive Lego exhibition. This exhibition has displays that I would have never thought possible from little pieces of colorful plastic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Done with my afternoon tour of the library, I walk back into downtown Little Rock just in time for Happy Hour. Sliders with a side order of Pickles & Peppers along with a pint or two or three of a cold micro brew hits the spot at Big Whiskey's.

 

 

 

Big Whiskey’s Pickles And Peppers

 

 

 

Although this is no McDonalds, I have a feeling someone from Hope, Arkansas just might like hanging out here.

I hope he brings his saxophone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York City, A Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

 

I will be the first to admit that I am biased towards New York as being one of the best cities on the planet. No matter what time of the year I visit, I find being in Manhattan to always be an exciting and enjoyable experience. From museums to street vendors, restaurants to shops, subways to crazy taxi drivers, New York City is always vibrant and full of life.

 

Visiting during the holiday season adds just a few more reasons why I love this city. Spending time at one of New York's if not the world's most popular and recognized holiday spot, Rockefeller Center, is enough to put anyone in the joy of the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing the huge Rockefeller Christmas tree while watching ice skaters cut across a freshly saved ice rink below is almost magical as holiday music and sounds fill the air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A loud clock winds down in front of me, ten, nine, eight ….. and then the side of a multi story building comes alive with a crowd pleasing audio visual holiday display. Multiple windows open and close then the walls become covered in sparkling snow flakes before the inner workings of the clock reappears.

Another countdown begins.

 

 

 

This evening, I am fortunate to share in another New York City holiday tradition. I am going to see The Rockettes in their Christmas Special at Radio City Music Hall. Regular ticket prices range from US$55 to US$150 for the show.

A little bargaining and good fortune at the box office and I manage an orchestra level seat for US$70 for the 9:30pm show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From a tap dancing rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A brilliant Toy Solider performance.

 

 

 

 

Hundreds if not thousands of Santa's appearing on stage. To the best Nativity scene I have ever seen with live animals including camels on the stage.

This show lives up to it's spectacular billing and more than exceeds my expectations. Money well spent for an evening and holiday entertainment.

 

 

 

 

Besides shows all around town with a touch of the holiday spirit, the streets are also filled with characters like Spiderman, Elmo and even Santa willing to share the joy of the season for a small price. However, to make sure we do not all get to carried away being in a festive mood, silently working the crowd and making his presence known is the man who eats onions for breakfast.

Da, da, da, GRINCH!

Nonetheless, even he cannot resist the happiness and joy of the holiday season in New York City especially if you give him a buck or two.