Walk the Town
Day 11
Rise and Shine,
Day 2 in Savannah. Treated myself to decalf in our country inspired hotel lobby. Just like my Southern surroundings I took it nice and slow, and enjoyed the shaded patio. The only thing on the agenda was a walking tour. My aunt and I were so relaxed… we ended up leaving late.
But we made it on time!
The next two and a half hours was walking through the town squares and receiving the rich history of Savannah. I highly recommend this tour. BUT ONLY if you book with Marcia (mar-see-ah).
She is phenomenal. It’s so far and few between where you see people living our their purpose. The passion they bring to their work, the unshakable belief in what their doing, and the pure joy that makes you happy about things you’d never give a second thought to.
My aunt said she needs to teach at the University. I told her the kids need to come take her tour.
I wish I had the recall for everything she shared. And honestly I wouldn’t be able to mimic her charades, jokes or story telling in person or in writing.
What was neat about this tour (besides being outside and active) was the audio. We had little clip-on walkies with a headphone. Marcia had the main walkie and when she talked it went to my ear. Really brilliant design. She didn’t have to scream and I could take pictures half a block behind, and still keep up with the tour.
Aside: There was a Hawaiian elder I met on the island. He took a friend and I to a significant place where he told stories along the way. I asked for a reminder of something he said, and he told me he doesn’t repeat himself. Whatever I remembered was meant for me to keep.
I thought it was profound and a little irritating! And I found myself feeling the same with Marcia. My aunt and I tried to recreate the timeline when we were done, which was a great exercise with another memory bank. But here’s one thing from the tour I’d like to share.
When Oglethorpe was fighting the Spanish, answering to Britain, and establishing a colony of equality… He also had to address the Native Americans. A lot on his plate. There was a chief nearby, Tomochichi that he had a stand off with, and a female interpreter was able to de-escalate. The men became good friends and learned from one another. Tomochichi accepted and taught Christianity to his tribe and accompanied Oglethorpe to Britain (the British were planning on kidnapping Oglethorpe when he returned, ironically he came with Native American friends).
Nonetheless it was a successful trip. Tomochichi thought it was odd they built homes that didn’t return to the Earth and asked a few other insightful questions. They returned safely and the chief and colonizer lived in harmony. When Tomochichi passed of old age, Oglethorpe openly wept at his burial in front of the town and tribe. The original burial and monument was moved, in place of his new location they put this huge rock as a memorial. More fitting for his way of life.
It may not seem like a lot, but walking and learning in the heat of Georgia takes something out of you. Famished for lunch, we went to a dive bar Marcia recommended the locals swear by. Refueled we continued to find some good shopping.
And… we got lost. I didn’t mention this in my last post, but we had a weak team of navigation. Even with our iPhones. I don’t know what it is, but my maps feel as trustworthy as a casino. After several wrong turns, and going 30 min South instead of North… we did find shopping.
(Highlights going the wrong direction ^^)
Afterwards, we were ready to be “horizontal” as my mom would say. Our feet needed it.
I got in comfy clothes, wrote, reviewed my class, re-recorded a podcast that got deleted… Sometimes you know you’re supposed to go with the first one. I over thought it and that what happens. Thankfully I still had the original saved. This was my “MM & KK Expanded” episode : Podcast Here
After recovering and eating dinner, we walked to another recommendation of Marcia’s, a rooftop bar with the view of downtown Savannah.
The hotel was this funky-gorgeous concoction, the rooftop was adorable, and the night divine. There was a family from New York playing jumbo Uno. I love New Yorkers. My mom is a native and the perk of being out East is they’re sprinkled everywhere. The mom was hilarious.
At the end of the night, we caved and got an Uber. The first time we used modern transportation since we got here.
The walking tour really showed me the charm of Savannah. And Marcia made me a believer in why it’s so special. It has the historic roots to prove it. And whether you’re in Savannah or outside of it, the testimonials all rave about being here.
