Several months ago, a cousin near DC suggested a family reunion in Savannah, GA. This involved a whole lot of cousins we had never met before. This is a geographical area we (my Bebe sister and I) had always wanted to see, so we went back and forth about if we could do this, but the powers-that-be and some very generous loves in our lives made this work out.

This reunion exceeded our expectations. The new cousins we met were amazing, and reconnecting with old cousins felt like home. Now that the entire generation above us is gone, this is more important than ever. This trip solidified that.

We had the opportunity to start in Charleston, SC, but I want to discuss this gothic, historical city of Savannah first.

https://static01.nyt.com/video/players/offsite/index.html?videoId=100000003693589“>Savannah video

I loved Savannah. Now we were there in late October, and I have a feeling that I would hate it in the summer (I hate San Diego east county in the summer). The hot humidity of that area would kill me.

What I loved: the public green squares throughout the city. Twenty-two from what I read. The quirkiness of the city. Interesting people abound, much like in San Francisco and New Orleans. “Characters”, a polite way of viewing people who maybe don’t fit the mold of what is considered normal, but who make life far more interesting. History, of course. Savannah was spared during the Civil War from being torched to the ground unlike Atlanta, so the historical aspects go way back. There is amazing architecture throughout. And the beauty of the trees and Spanish moss. And the food. My new favorite, as simple as it sounds: Savannah rice. I loved it.

I love the gothic ghost stories that abound. The city has a very deep and dark past, with many bodies buried under the town, and many atrocities. The slave trade is the top of those dark histories. The houses of worship are very historical, with the the oldest standing house of worship: First Baptist Church, Savannah (1833), located on Chippewa Square. Other historic houses of worship in Savannah include: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Roman Catholic), Temple Mickve Israel (the third oldest synagogue in the U.S.),^[4] and St. John’s Church (Episcopal). We had the opportunity to go inside the St. John the Baptist Cathedral and it was gorgeous.

Our cousin who arranged this reunion told us that Savannah has the second largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the U.S. after New York City. During that time, in March, the flowers are in bloom and the city becomes alive (and more pricey).

The founder of the Girl Scouts is from Savannah. As is Flannery O’Connor, whose books I have never read. But I will soon. I must do that now.

Savannah is a place of true Southern charm. I will visit again.