Oglethorpe Trolley Tour of Savannah Pt. 1

After filling up at Paula Deen's The Lady & Sons Restaurant, we headed out on a trolley run by Oglethorpe Tours.

Savannah City Hall was built in 1906. Its dome was originally copper clad, but was painted a controversial green color in the 1960's due to environmental wear and tear.

In 1987, a major renovation of the dome was completed when the dome was gold leafed at a cost of $235,000.

A restaurant in Savannah reminds us of Starkist Tuna's spokesman, Charlie the Tuna. He would never be caught by the Starkist Company because they didn't want tuna with good taste (Charlie was hip and cultured), but tuna that tasted good. Apparently, Charlie didn't taste good!

As America's first pre-planned city, Savannah contains over 20 "squares". Squares are carpeted in lush, green grass and often feature fountains, monuments and flower beds.

This square, Franklin Square, was established in 1790. Featuring this monument to General Nathaniel Greene, Franklin Square was nearly lost and redeveloped in the 1970's. But was saved and restored to its original state in the 1980's.

The steeple of the Independent Presbyterian Church in Chippewa Square will look familiar to those who remember the opening scene of "Forrest Gump". Think...feather...

Forrest's bench sat right here in Chippewa Square.

One example of the residential buildings of Savannah.

This restaurant was the setting for a scene in Julia Roberts' "Something to Talk About".

One of Savannah's brick-lined streets.

Another random residence.

The Mercer-Williams House, now a museum, was the setting for the book and movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", as well as being the former home of singer/songwriter Johnny Mercer.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/savannah-ga-day-2/ pictures 37-67.

For our video highlighting Savannah, click below.
Coming up...Part 2.

To be continued...

The Lady & Sons Restaurant, Savannah

Today we decided to go stuff ourselves. So we went and located Paula Deen's The Lady & Sons Restaurant in downtown Savannah, Georgia.

We figured we might be able to stuff ourselves there.

We would be doing it along with all these other patrons waiting on the opposite side of the street for their names to be called for dinner (or lunch...whatever it is you eat at 11:00 am).

The Old Savannah Tours trolley passes right by The Lady & Sons and recommends arriving at about 9:00 am to get peak time seating.

We are among the first patrons seated today. As you can see, diners are already loading up.

The Lady & Sons opened in its current location in 2003. This 200 year-old renovated building features three floors of seating, with a signature buffet on each floor.

Good luck getting out alive after eating this meal! Remember, Paula's your cook, not your doctor!
Doug figures...you come this far, you might as well have seconds.

Two survivors of the all-you-can-eat buffet take a deep breath for a picture.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/savannah-ga-day-2/ pictures 1-35.

To be continued...

Some of Savannah's Strange Landmarks

After leaving the Savannah Humane Society, we went looking for some of the Savannah Area's Strange Landmarks. We found a few.

At 14 E. 73rd St. in Savannah we found this mailbox painted like the moon. It was standing in front of...

this gas storage tank painted like the world globe.

Built in 1955 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company this structure, known as a Hortonsphere, has a volume capacity of 113,100 cubic feet.

The globe and the property adjacent are currently owned by the Savannah Mortgage Company but appear to be for sale as of this date. What a cool landmark to own!

This Great Dane Statue symbolizes the strength, endurance and dependability of the trailers of Great Dane Trailers at 602 E. Lathrop in Savannah.

After measuring the Dane, Marlon determines there would be no room for him as a new pet in the motorhome.

This bridge is located near Great Dane Trailers.

Sergeant William Jasper, along with Sergeant John Newton rescued a group of American soldiers from the British military at this site in 1779.

For this heroic act Jasper Springs, pictured below, was named for him...just don't drink the water!

Next we located this young lady at Keller's Flea Market at 5901 Ogeechee Road in Savannah.

Luckily for her, she loves fleas.

Marlon was craving milk, so he thought he'd give it a try.

Doug prepares to fight a fire.

If you're hunting for this trunk-toting couple, go to Papa Joe's Fireworks on US17, just off I-95 at exit 5 in Hardeeville, South Carolina.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/savannah-ga-day-1/ pictures 118-161.

To be continued...

Savannah Humane Society

After visiting Oatland Island Wildlife Center, we decided to visit animals in need of help. We headed over to the Savannah Humane Society.

This well-kept facility is completely sustained by private funds. If you can't adopt a pet, at least shop in their Thrift Store.

We found several resident felines looking for a home.
There has to be at least one you can't resist...

These professional runway models posed picture-perfect to prove they are ready for your love and affection.

Even odd looking cats deserve a good home.

Me...me...

Another coverboy...

Hurry up...I'm sleepy.

Boo!

Who are you?

Let me out of here!

For cats and kittens just like these, visit your nearest shelter or humane society.

As Bob Barker says, "Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered."

The solution to the ever-increasing pet population in both shelters worldwide and the wild is to spay and neuter. Remember...animals don't have control over this...PEOPLE do.

3 to 4 million cats and dogs are euthanized every year in animal shelters worldwide due to the negligence of humans who refuse to spay and neuter their pets. Do the right thing...

View a few of the cats at the Savannah Humane Society in the second half of this video.
For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/savannah-ga-day-1/ pictures 91-117.

To be continued...

Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah

Today, our neverending quest to see animals found us at Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah.

Doug attempts to locate wildlife at the Wetlands Observation Pier.

Oatland Island's buildings date from the early 1900's and were, in order, a retirement home, then a public health service hospital, then a laboratory for research by the Center for Disease Control. The CDC left the facility in the early 1970's and the Oatland Island Education Center was born shortly thereafter.

Did you know that the temperature of the alligator eggs inside this nest mound will determine whether the baby alligators are male or female? 91 degrees or higher results in males. 85 degrees or cooler will result in females. Temperatures in between result in a mixture!

Oatland Island Wildlife Center is essentially a hiking zoo. Hiking trails, often looking like the one pictured below, end at the next animal exhibit.

This walkway through the marshlands is plagued with homeless bums.

This bobcat would love to have a bum for breakfast.

This bald eagle was somewhat confused when we recorded his call and played it back for him.

Marlon reminisces about his time in the egg.

That turkey won't stop trying to touch my feathers!

Got an itch? This fence will have to do!

Chatfield was so skinny when we first found him at the state park. Now look at him.

Do you have any tasty shoelaces I might eat?

The grounds have 2 cabins which date to the 1830's and are the setting of many of the Center's special events.

This cool lookout tower was not in the proper condition to climb. Hope they renovate it in the future.

Check out Marlon's video of Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah below.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/may/savannah-ga-day-1/ pictures 1-90.

To be continued...