3/24/2014

weekly update 3/24/2014

Monday was St Patrick's Day. As I said last week, it's a really big deal in Savannah. Millions of people come into town to get drunk. Since we expected a lot of tourists, I said I would go to Bonaventure Cemetery to sit tin the Visitor Center to answer questions and hand out maps. I was there for 3 hours and handed out 3 maps; it wasn't worth my time. It rained all day, and I suppose that everyone who wasn't standing in the rain watching the marching bands and politicians parade around, were stuck inside. Going to visit a cemetery loses a lot of appeal in the rain.

I had visitors in town on Wednesday. Cousins Linda and Denny Dalton came from North Carolina. They have recently moved to the east coast from California, so this was their first trip to Savannah. They came out to my condo to visit in the morning, and then I took them around to some places in Savannah: BC, Massie School, The Cathedral. They treated me to a very nice lunch at Vic's. We parted so that they could rest a bit, and have time to explore on their own. 

 

On Thursday, I met them again, and we took the trolley tour around the City. It's a great way to get a good overview of all that is here. I needed to go to the cemetery in the afternoon because there was a information meeting about the plants and trees that will be the focus of the Home & Garden Tour next week-end. Although I didn't have a chance to show them many of the interesting museums or houses in Savannah, I'm glad that will save something for their next visit. Now that they have a feel for everything wonderful about Savannah, I hope they will return. It was wonderful to have them here!

Thursday also saw my return to The Rail after a few week's absence. I met Lisa & Dave, and sat outside for a pint.

Friday, not only did I have my tours at DH, but I had also volunteered to usher at a Music Fest performance. I finished my guide duties and had a couple of hours to wait until I was supposed to be at the Ships of the Sea museum for the concert. I went to 17 Hundred 90 and had one of the wonderful martinis that the bar tender there makes. I'm getting so that I enjoy going there, but it's better when Donna goes with me. The music as quite nice. The first part of the performance was an Irish singer, Aoife O'Donovan. She has a wonderful voice, and reminded me of Juliet Lloyd. After the intermission, a group called The Lone Bellow played. “Bellow” only begins to describe it - I thought it was just noise at first, but as they continued, I found I really enjoyed the music. I was even dancing a little over in the corner where no one could see me. It wasn't hard for me to be out-of-sight; my duties for the evening consisted of guiding concert-goers to the bathrooms. And in Savannah, where every event is accompanied by a bar, it was a necessary duty. The concert was at the patio of the Ships of the Sea Museum, and I love being there on a nice evening, outside.  This photo is the stage before the concert began.

Saturday, I needed to be at BC to open the Visitor Center, and then there was a walk-thru for the Tour next week, to time it. Buses will be bringing tour-participants to the cemetery, and we will be on a strict schedule to get them back on the buses at the end of the time. The best part was standing around after we had timed ourselves, and listening to the other guides. Most have lived in Savannah all their lives and have family at BC, and will be buried there too when it's their time (not for a while yet). They also know some of the people buried here and remember them, or remember hearing stories about them. It is amazingly interesting.

After that, I went to the Oatland Wildlife Center because this was the week-end for the Sheep to Shawl Festival. The sheep that are residents at the center are sheered, and then the wool is carded, spun, dyed, and made into artworks on a loom, or by knitting or weaving. There are other demonstrations as well (home churned ice cream - with samples! oh my!). Unfortunately, it began to to rain so I left after not to long. It was great to see Suzy there with her weaving group, but she was busy and I didn't have a lot of opportunity to chat with her. 

Sunday - back to BC. It was not raining, so the cemetery was crowded. I like when it's busy because the day goes faster. I was really tired, so I watched a little tv and then went to bed early. I didn't watch The Good Wife, and I should have. What a surprise!