Savannah, GA

Day One - March 23, 2021

Today, while I unpacked my suitcase,  I realized that I forgot my toothpaste at home, and I had to ask the front desk for some. It’s hard to explain because I have very specific toothpaste standards, but this toothpaste does not meet my expectations. I have contemplated most of the day today about potentially taking a trip to CVS tomorrow and I may buy the kind I normally use. [I know this is the riveting content all of you wanted when you asked me to send you updates!] 

Anyways, once I was finished with my work things for today, I found my way to the bus stop to go into the city. The money thing was broken, so I got to ride for free! [Yayy! A whole $1.50 that can go towards other things!] I was heading into town because I had found a historical city walking tour and had purchased tickets online. Overall, the tour was kind of boring, but also pretty interesting. [The entire time I thought about how my dad would have loved it!] We walked around the city for about two hours taking in different architectural information. Once that was finished, I was super hungry because I put off eating lunch and then by the time the tour started, I was kind of stuck. Luckily, I had asked my hotel’s concierge about good food places in the area. While I was looking up food near where I was, one of her suggestions came up (Fire Street Food). I wasn’t really in the mood for Sushi, but I decided I was super hungry and it was only over a street, and I should just get the food, and MAN! IT WAS DELICIOUS! I ordered this kind with asparagus and shrimp, which I was kind of skeptical of when I ordered, but it was so good! After this random meal of the day, I decided to walk around some more. I walked up to the river walk, and just kind of took in the nice view of the water - it kind of reminded me of Port Huron by the Blue Water Bridge. I came across two monuments that I thought were cool. One was a monument to the people from Savannah who had served in WWII. The other was in honor of those who were kidnapped by the slave trade. [That’s not what it specifically said, but I am adding my own spin. I guess it was more acknowledging that the slave trade existed. Which also, did you know that Georgia became a state AFTER the slave trade ended, but one of the Carolina’s gave them some slaves and NO ONE did anything about them breaking the rule because they weren’t supposed to have slaves! I read that on a plaque today.] After that, I decided that since I ate a late lunch/early dinner/whatever that meal should be called, I would get ice cream. I stood in line at this ice cream place for like thirty minutes because everyone raves about how good Leopold’s is, but it was kind of disappointing [well, as disappointing as ice cream can be…]. I feel like it wasn’t worth the wait. Finally, I decided I was too tired from getting in so late last night and doing nothing but walking today that it was time to head back to my hotel. It took forever for the bus to finally show up, and then, on the bus that showed up, it looked like someone had peed on every single seat. Super grimy! Buses are not my favorite mode of transportation, but at the price of $3 for a day, that sure beats the price of renting a car for a week. 

I just showered, and I am about to lay down to read some of Homegoing. I am exhausted from today!

Day Two - March 24, 2021

Update on the toothpaste situation I was looking through my luggage for a hat that I could have swore I packed when I saw that there was something in one of the compartments, and to my surprise, I DID PACK MY TOOTHPASTE!!! I am super excited to use it tomorrow morning because I REALLY HATE THE OTHER STUFF! [As a side note, I forgot that hat. I am clearly not very good at packing… Oh well. Maybe one day!]

Update on the hat situation I was unpacking my backpack from yesterday, and at the very bottom, my hat was with me. It would have been nice if I knew that yesterday when I was sweating in that long line for ice cream and wanted to put it on! 

Today, once I left work, I decided to get coffee before I went to Forsyth Park because the hotel coffee is not good at all. I walked through the park for a little while, and it was super pretty. It wasn’t necessarily what I was expecting. I was thinking there would be a lot of trees and that it was more of a forest area. However, it had a lot of open space and a few cute fountains. An elementary school PE class was in session and they were playing in the park, so it was a really cool place. When I was done wandering around the park, I decided to kind of walk around the city without really having an end goal in mind. I saw THE ORIGINAL Girl Scout Headquarters. Yesterday, the guide mentioned that the founder of it met the founder of the Boy Scouts and the man told her about how two hundred girls showed up to a Boy Scout event and he was disgusted by the idea, so she took note and created the girl version of the organization. [How dumb. He could have grown his organization if only he wasn’t sexist!] Anyways, I then stumbled upon the SCAD shop [that’s the store that sells art from the local art institute -- they sell things created by current and former students and staff], and I looked at the art. After, I saw a bookstore called E. Shaver, so I obviously had to go in. They had a whole bunch of awesome book related memorabilia. I purchased some presents for my book lover friends, and I bought myself a magnet. Next, I decided to head over to the Colonial Park Cemetery. As I walked around, all I could hear in my head was A-O telling me she thought it was ridiculous that a cemetery was a tourist place you could walk around. Interestingly enough, the cemetery was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution. [Shoutout to my Gilmore Girl Fans. I alway think of Emily and Rory whenever I see the DAR.] The cemetery stopped burying people in 1853, so a lot of the tombstones were hard to read. They had plaques around telling information about important people who were buried there. One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was buried there. His name was Button Gwinnett. Then, I decided to go back to the riverfront, where on my walk over there, I overheard a construction worker telling his coworker that he was sick of stupid people because so many people asked him over the course of the day if it was the Mississippi River. I think it was my favorite comment of the day. I laughed out loud at it, and as a result made the workers laugh with me. At the riverfront, I got some treats from River Street Sweets and then I walked the opposite way than I had the day before. When I got to the end, Krystyn called me and we chatted for a while, and I watched the freighters pass by. Once I got off the phone, I went to the Top Deck for dinner. It is a rooftop restaurant, and I just sat and ate dinner while looking at the water and the ships. When I was done with dinner, I made my way to CVS and then to the bus stop. Finally, I got back to my hotel and my room key wasn’t working, so I had to go into the main office to fix that. I decided to join our weekly trivia meeting. 

Day Three - March 25, 2021

Spoiler Alert I am a completely awkward human, and it is very clear throughout most of today’s events!

Today, I completed work, and when I was done, I realized I forgot something from the store yesterday, so I walked down the street to pick up the item I needed. When I was checking out, the woman asked for my CVS number and I gave my phone number to her, and she got excited because she knew I was from Michigan. I asked her how she knew that, and she told me that she was from Michigan but moved down here seven years ago to get away from the snow and to get a fresh start. [This is an aspect of traveling that I always love. There are always people from where you live, no matter where you are in the world.] When I got back to my room, I sat around and waited for a while because my ghost tour was at seven, and I didn’t really want to wander around downtown all day. Once I turned on my tv, the channel that was playing had the Kardashians on. [In my defense I was watching Modern Family before I went to sleep, and I was kind of hoping it was still playing when I turned the tv on.] I honestly really don’t care for the Kardashians because HOW ARE THEY EVEN FAMOUS, but I watched anyways and texted Krystyn with questions because HOW IS KIM’S BODY IN THE SHAPE THAT IT IS!?! [Krystyn’s response was surgery, and I guess she’s right, but it still blows my mind!] Anyways, once I was done with that, I headed to the bus stop, where I was awkward with the bus driver. She was saying hello and asking me how I was, and I was focusing so hard to make sure I didn’t mess up putting the money in the thing that I was zoned out. She then repeated herself again, and I felt like I was super rude and giving off the wrong kinds of vibes. When I went to get off the bus, I was attempting to correct my previous accidental rudeness, so I was too focused on saying my thank you to the driver that I completely missed a step on the bus and launched myself through the air in a very awkward trip. It was mortifying! [This is honestly not the first time I have whiffed it while getting off a bus. It’s absurd that I trip this often when I AM ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE GROUND FOR CHANGE…] After that, I made my way back to the bookstore from yesterday because I was asked [and offered] to get some things that I had sent to people. I ended up seeing other things that I had missed the day before as well, and I now have two more stickers for my computer and Andrea’s birthday present [her birthday is in July]. When I was done, I went to this pretentious coffee shop near SCAD [which I guess I should have known it was going to be before I walked in]. They didn’t have iced coffee or any normal iced tea, so I got this iced tea that was pineapple flavored, and I would not recommend it. I love pineapple, but it doesn’t feel like it needs to be a tea flavor. I sat outside for a little while as I sipped on my beverage. Next, I decided to get dinner. I had seen a lot of reviews for this South African styled sandwich place called Zunzi’s, and it was sooo super good! I got this South African peach tea from them, and I think it was the best thing I have ever had. It’s so hard to explain the taste because it was so unique. I told some people the closest thing is like an orangesicle, but that’s not even kind of correct. I also had an awkward moment with the man who I ordered from because I was just sitting outside because I had time to spare and I was done eating, and he said something about checking on food, and I was confused by what he meant, and a few minutes later I got up, and he was confused as to why I was leaving. I think he was going to sit with me, but I am a totally awkward human!  Since I was early for my last event, I got Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, sat and watched cars, and then walked around some battle ground from the American Revolution. The last stop for my evening was for my ghost comedy tour. When I was waiting for it to start, another person waiting had an MSU sweater on, so I obviously said “Go Green!” and obviously with the masks on, he did not hear me, so his wife told him, and he told me he saw we had made eye contact but didn’t understand. They sat near me and we chatted because his son or grandson went to MSU, and they live in Ann Arbor and they used to be teachers and their two children are teachers. Clearly we bonded because we had so much in common. Anyways, the tour was honestly a bus ride with a guy standing at the front with a microphone telling jokes. Many of the jokes were kind of mocking the ghost stories, and he had a lot of subtle jokes that were super funny. I would recommend it to someone else. Finally, I needed to get a ride back to my hotel, and the driver I got reminded me a lot of Leslie Jordan (the actor from Will and Grace and Reba). We chatted and he was just a super sweet, wholesome guy.

Day Four - March 26, 2021

I have honestly been really boring today. I woke up and did my Zoom meetings, which I guess I can share a proud teacher moment! On Fridays, we typically do silly questions and kids just say things they prefer. It’s kind of like a “This or That” type of thing. In first hour, I asked if they wanted the questions, and all of them told me they did! I really thought they were going to ask me to leave them alone so they could get on with their days, but I feel like this has become a staple that they enjoy, which in and of itself is a victory! Then, in third hour, I told my students that the time was up, and the kids you would not expect to be upset at the end of class told me that they were sad and said that the time had flown by because they were having so much fun. I honestly love my Friday Zooms, and the kids have been asking me to do them every Friday, even when we’re in person. So yayyy! 

As for my day of me doing things in Savannah. The plan was to go to the Savannah Botanical Garden for the afternoon. It was a thirty minute walk from my hotel, and I had to walk on the grass because there wasn’t really a sidewalk! Oops! Whatever, it was grassy and it was fine. I also never understand how there are patches of sidewalk. It constantly starts and ends. Anyways, I got there and walked around. It was really nice. They had this gorgeous fountain and a wedding pavilion thing. I definitely get why people would get married there. There was also a few nature trails. It was a super short one, but it was nice to walk around in the woods for a little while. On my walk home, I saw Byrd’s Cookies, so I decided to get some as my dessert for the day. When I got back to my hotel, I kind of snacked out with cookies and the popcorn I bought the other day. I also just sat and watched tv for a little while. Finally, I put on a dress and did my makeup and walked over to this place called Ben’s Neighborhood Grill and Tap. I got a burger, and it was honestly delightful! I then walked home, and I turned on the tv to see Friday playing, and it just made me think of Stew (idk if that’s the correct way to spell his shorthand name) because he reenacted the first time we met with this movie. Apparently I am Deebo to those of you who understand the reference. 

Day Five - March 27, 2021

I slept in today until around 10 something. I got ready, and I decided to head to Tybee Beach for the day. I packed my bag, put on my bathing suit (and some sunscreen), and I called for a lyft to come and take me to my destination. The driver took me to the south beach (where the pier is located), and he told me that it’s typically crowded at that area, but there were shops if I wanted to walk around or I could always walk along the beach until I found a spot I wanted to be at. I went into a few shops, and I ultimately had to get some coffee, so I got this frozen mocha coffee thing that wasn’t really coffee, but it was delicious nonetheless. I sipped the drink while I scouted for my perfect spot. It was a gorgeous beach that had a setup where there was road, then dune area, and then a lot of sand [I don’t do distance well, so I apologize that I can’t try to give you a feet/yard/mile indicator!], and then finally the water! I made my way north on the beach, trying to get away from the large amounts of people. I was in an area with a few people. There was a group of college aged students who were playing Slam Ball and frisbee, but it was kind of empty other than them. I sat my belongings down and decided to read my book for a while. After a while, I decided to go into the water and feel it out. It was pretty chilly, but it also felt pretty nice after sitting out. I sat down for a bit, and then I decided to find a bathroom. On my way, I walked past this group of frat bro types who were drinking and goofing around. Two set down their drinks semi near where I was walking but definitely not in my path where I would hit them. One of the guys pointed to his cup, told me that his Yeti was there, and asked me not to kick it. I am assuming it was a joke, and I promised him I wouldn’t kick it. I walked past him (and his cup), and then, jokingly turned around and pretended to kick it while making direct eye contact. He asked me if I wanted to fight him, and I told him that obviously I had a plan to beat up a stranger today. Ultimately, I did not fight him, but I rather walked away in amusement. [I would like to blame my relationship with Mateo for this interaction because I feel like this is how the majority of our interactions occur, except from the fact that I know him as a friend over many months, and that frat bro is a complete stranger who I should not have threatened.] After this, I decided to get ice cream because obviously it’s a necessity. They had an upside down banana split, and part of me wanted to get that from nostalgia from the Custard days, but alas, I hate bananas and banana splits, so I opted for chocolate chip because they were sold out of the few other flavors I had asked for. I decided to wander up the coast, and by the end of the day, I walked the entire way from the south beach to the north beach along the coastline. I also stopped to look at the lighthouse. For dinner, I ate at a random restaurant and ordered shrimp tacos. They were pretty good. Not as good as the ones from Pak’s in Port Austin, but a decent meal nevertheless. Finally, I made my journey home, which was definitely an adventure. I got back safely to my hotel and showered, where I noticed that my back has bad tan lines and is sunburned because I AM THE WORST AT USING SUNSCREEN! [Also, yes, I did reapply, but I would like to point out that putting on sunscreen by yourself is difficult, when I am the person applying sunscreen on ANYONE I always mess it up! If you don’t believe me, ask my sister about the time she had literally hand prints on her back from me. Oops!]

Day Six - March 28, 2021

Update on my sunburn I woke up and it’s pretty much all gone. Except for right behind my knees! Other than that, my trick is to shower and then put all of the lotion on it and just hope that it goes away! 

Today, I woke up around 9:45 and got ready for the day. I headed to the bus around 11. I decided I was going to begin my day with some breakfast, and I noticed that I kept telling myself I was hungry, which is normally a sign that I’m beginning to get hangry. I did not realize that everyone in Savannah would be out to eat brunch. I also noticed that some people had their luggage, so I’m sure they were waiting to check into their hotel. I finally found a place that had an open seat at the bar, and I ordered some hipster style food, which is not ever my favorite type of food, but it was fine. After I ate, I headed over to the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters because it is one of nine things that has to do with Black history in Savannah, which considering how Georgia is a southern state, you would think there would be more than nine things to do related to Black history… But I digress. Once I got to the museum, I was told that they had a limited number of tours, and I would not be able to go in. The other thing I had planned for today was to go to the First African Baptist Church because it is the oldest Black church in North America, and it was a stop on the Underground Railroad. However, once I got there, it was not open, so I clearly did not plan today well… Oops. Anyways, on my way over to the church, I saw the City Market. Other than that, I kind of wandered around the city again. I sat and watched the river, and I gallivanted around for most of the day. I got ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s again because ice cream is the best! Next, I made it back to my hotel, and I packed up my bags because I leave super early tomorrow morning. Finally, I went to dinner at a BBQ place around the corner of my hotel. 

Final Take-Aways From My Trip

Someone asked me what my favorite part of my trip has been, and I would have to say that my favorite part has been exploring on my own. While we all know that I am a person who enjoys being alone and I don’t need to be around other people, I have never traveled alone before and I kind of felt like it wasn’t really something that I could ever do. Without Keiryn, Jon, and Bobby encouraging me to take this trip, I don’t think it would have happened, so I am grateful to them for making this trip possible. I feel like I didn’t do a lot of things, but rather kind of wandered around, but to be honest, that’s kind of my favorite thing to do. Sitting in nature and watching water or people or cars is so relaxing to me, and I feel like this was a really awesome way to spend my week. I feel like my soul needed this because this past year has been a lot, and I feel really proud of myself. I would definitely encourage anyone and everyone else to book a solo trip. It’s kind of super freeing and awesome!