Savannah 2023 part two
We arranged to take a guided tour around the city for orienting and learning purposes. We gave $20 to a street shyster for Company A tour. He talked us in to agreeing to sit through a 45-min sales pitch the following day, the $20 to guarantee our seats. We were to get our money back when we showed up.
Duh.
Overnight we decided to skip that show and go with Company B. We knew we'd sit through the presentation (he never mentioned just what it was they were selling) but we've avoided so many timeshare and investment "dinners" that we knew... we'd sit there and listen and then not buy a thing from them. It was worth the twenty as relief, or as paying for the privilege to sit in peace, away from that hot mess.
So, off to Old Town Trolley!
First photo, the First African Baptist Church.
With banks, and churches, I always wonder about that "first" designation. I think mostly it's promotional. They could have said "Best National Bank of Podunk", right? But this was, in fact, the first Black church in America. Well, over here. Built by Blacks "after work", meaning largely in the dark, I suspect. With space built below the floor to hide folks seeking to escape slavery. That space is said to be four feet high, and served as an initial stop on the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman was reported to have been here.
I think that's extraordinary architectural planning.
The tour guide told us the red door signifies the church is paid for - the painting is a ceremony when that debt is resolved.
A convenient YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYhXvtsSXnM
One of the stops of the tour is Forsyth Park, to the south end of the Historic District. There's a fountain on the north end of the park which I like because it's a mail-order item. Just my speed:
They have much better photos and info on the web... https://www.visitsavannah.com/list/5-fun-facts-about-the-forsyth-park-fountain Plus I think they turned up the water pressure to take their promo shots.
That's my excuse.
Taking the trolley tour was a very good thing. Good info and humor from the driver, and good to get oriented and think through where to go and what to do next. And no danger of blisters for Linda! A win in many ways.
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