Nice sounds indeed by Nancy Lamott. Don't know what Johnny Mercer song is my favorite, several I love for various reasons. starrs, you do have wide interests.

Said "Midnight" author John Berendt in a Washington Post interview (1996): "Mercer embodied with his unquenchable ebullience, the typical American virtues of friendliness and good fellowship...Taken as a whole, Mercer's songs represent an important slice of American popular music from the 1930s to the mid-1960s. They remain popular, even if now and then, some of his lyrics seem to have taken on a time-capsule quality." References to trains and trains whistles and Coney Island and the rumba, etc.

I'm bookmarking and hoping we get a chance to visit Savannah in the future.

Bookmarking for November 2014

Bookmarking

Good news for Savannah and surrounding area in the South. Authorization has been given to a deepening of the harbor with federal and state funding. Historically Savannah has been a major port going back to cotton shipping times.
savannahnow.com/opinion/2014-06-10/editorial-harbor-deepening-cause-applause#.USuUAShWgRw

Bookmarking for future trip to Savannah. I've been thinking about doing the Roads Scholar week. Sounds like you did a lot! I'm a native Georgian now living in Florida, and spent time in the low country during my youth, but mostly around the South Carolina islands and beaches. But NOW, it's historical aspects which interest me! I've never done a Roads Scholar trip, so maybe Savannah would be a good start. Most of my traveling has been independent, and to Europe - so the group thing would be new for me. Do you recommend Roads Scholar? From your description, that trip sounds great.

Oh yes, we would recommend Road Scholar for sure. And the Savannah one is tops. You have five days of challenging lectures or music or activities for any interest. After Savannah we drove up to Charlottesville, VA, for a three day program...and more recently spent a week at Peabody Institute in Baltimore which was our 41st. This one on "Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert: three Viennese composers." So get the catalogue or check www.roadscholar.org and make your plans! BTW, it happens Savannah and Baltimore were places we'd never visited and often that is the case.

Thanks for your reply re Road Scholar. I definitely want to do the Savannah trip with them, but have been putting off booking until my back problems get better. Maybe I should just go ahead and do it and take plenty of Celebrex along!

Missed this one before. Bookmarking. Love Savannah.

I just got the new Road Scholar catalog in the mail last week and the Savannah trip is at the top of the list for my possible first-ever Road Scholar excursion. What time of year would you experts recommend? This trip is one that is offered frequently.

Just back from family gathering in Maine. Yes, I would indeed recommend Savannah program as you can see in the review. I see several dates are offered next fall so that avoids summer heat. A good first program for you. As mentioned we've been to 41 of these RS and they do vary greatly in content and setting.
Bill in Boston

topping a great TR by Ozarksbill

We will be there for 2 days next week. Very last minute (business trip) and an invitation to go out on a private boat one day so not much time to explore.

Circa 1875 looks like an interesting place to eat.
Hoping to make it to the Bonaventure Cemetery.

I am looking forward to a gentle stroll through a few squares and chilling out by the hotel hotel!

Thanks for excellent report!

"... and an invitation to go out on a private boat one day "

That's a fabulous opportunity. The best way to experience the low country is via water. Lucky you!

Eat a good meal, stroll some squares, stop and cool off (it will be hot and humid) at one of the nice bars. Savannah is a genteel city and, unless you go to River Street, is not "touristy". Have fun!

Thank you starrs! I'm looking forward to the boat.
I've been sent photos and it looks good! The owner is a colleague of DH and they will be docking the boat around the time we get off the plane so I'm hoping we can check into our hotel and go out on the water for the afternoon and/or sunset.

Hotel pool is an option for part of day 2 (I'm recovering from knee surgery and not quite up to speed yet so can only walk about half a mile or so).

The good thing about the squares is that they are every two blocks, all have benches and all but Ellis square have lots of shade. I love to ramble among them and take photos of fountains, flowers, etc. Savannah is a GREAT city in which to move slowly.

If you get tired, hail or call a pedicab and take a ride to your next location. Pay $1 a minute and the drivers/pedalers will give you a bit of tour along the way if you want narration.

Thank you! Move slowly sounds good to me..