Savannah --- A Hint of Paris in the American South

Maybe it's that everywhere I go I look for Paris. Recently on a breeze through one of my favorite Southern cities, I was reminded of Paris by the charming squares, historic monuments and beautiful old buildings, embellished with wrought-iron gates and balustrades.

Savannah was established in 1733 and designed by General James E. Oglethorpe, the founder of Georgia, around 24 squares (22 which still exist) providing shady respites from a hot, humid climate.    I've visited here many times, and each time discover something unique and special in this City of lovely parks, history and wonderful southern cuisine.

Strolling around Savannah last week, under majestic old oaks, dodging the dangling Spanish moss,  I  gazed through wrought iron gates back through centuries at 18th and 19th century houses and churches.

I stopped by a favorite piece of history, the Owens-Thomas house, built in the early 19th century in the Georgian style with massive columns so associated with the American South.  It's said that Lafayette stayed here when it was lodging house in 1825.  

I peaked in the windows of Juliette Gordon Lowe House, birth place of the founder of the American Girl Scouts.  

Later my companion and I had dinner within one of the oldest buildings in Savannah.  Built in 1771 as a wealthy banker's home and later a bank, the Olde Pink House has witnessed centuries of Southern history.  Early colonists held secret meetings on securing Independence from Britain.  During the Civil War after Sherman captured Savannah, General York set up headquarters here.   Then after years acting as various venues and ultimately falling into decay, it  was bought and restored as a restaurant in 1992.  

And it is  a beautiful restaurant -- flowing over with history and elegance with its  large but comfortably-sized rooms, wide plank wooden floors, high ceilings with crown and chair-rail moldings, and historic paintings and fixtures.  And of course, marvelous southern food....

We also chose to stay in one of Savannah's  historic hotels -- the Planter's Inn which stands on the former site of the first parsonage of John Wesley, who came to Savannah in 1736.  The original hotel was constructed from the remains of two 1812 residents, which was refurbished and reopened as the Planters Inn in 1984.)

After dinner, we again walked Savannah's  streets, buildings and trees now ablaze in the glow of the gaslights.

In the early morning,  the riverside, bustling in the evening, is eerily deserted and quiet. We cross a lovely iron bridge and pass the Old Cotton Exchange Building to get there. (In it's peak as a cotton port,  over two million bales a year moved through Savannah.)

Steamboats line up waiting early arriving tourists.

Much like Paris, Savannah is an intriguing city, drawing you in, creating impressions and memories more intense than present life.  Savannah, though has a personality of its own that wraps you in history and mystery.... and beckons you back again and again.