Leaving Savannah - Cargo Ships, Double Staircases and Pink Cats

Our Winter time away is coming to an end. It is lovely and mind-refreshing to immerse yourself in another place for weeks at a time. Our version of Hilton Head is a relaxed at the ocean experience; we park the car and stay 'local' with the shops and restaurants in our walkable vicinity.

Savannah - the Historic and Victorian districts - make this one of the most walkable cities ever. And we are ever finding something new or looking at some familiar anew.

My husband is a great aficionado of watching the huge cargo ships on the Savannah river.  In Hilton Head, we could see them parked on the horizon in the sea waiting to go into the Savannah Port near Tybee Island.  I caught this ship on the Savannah River Walk just as it passed the Georgia Queen paddle-wheeler cruise boat [I attended a wedding on it once!] ~ a perfect Savannah combo. The 'cargo' includes watermelons from a painting in our rental cottage and pie, from a painting on a shop wall. I found the perfect plate for it; my favorite, Fiesta Ware.

Cargo on the Savannah River collage

Savannah, GA

There are many wonderful double staircase buildings in Savannah. It was a hallmark of the 'Federalist Revival' architecture of the 19th century.  This building caught my eye, with the late afternoon light making it pinkish.  Our dreamlike lady has the Forsyth Park Fountain as a special added element to her elegant hat.

Double Stairs Dreamscape

Savannah, GA

The color Pink showed up a lot in my travels this time.  Here a painted pink cat was the doorway guardian. Surely our stylish lady was the artist.  Cat stockings seemed the needed embellishment.

Pink Cat At The Door collage

Savannah, GA

Thank you for all your comments and for joining me in my travels.  I enjoy these travels where daily collage is on the calendar.  

The Everyday awaits us in Virginia, so truly, till next time, whenever that may be.

Art Around Savannah

It was great fun to come upon this 'Self-Serve' art studio caravan parked next to Forsyth Park. As the sign says, it is indeed self-serve, as the artist, Laci McCea, or anyone else, were not onsite.  Of course, I've altered things a bit, but the colors of the caravan are basically true to life. The chair with the head on it is from a house here in Savannah and our art connoisseur is from a poster I found on a wall. I altered some of her colors and added the fish. It's a wooden 'art' fish, so most appropriate.

Self-Serve Art Gallery collage

Savannah, GA

We came across this wonderful shop filled with art, sculptures, masks, crystals and jewelry.  Pangea on Broughton Street opened in March of 2025, which was after our time here last year, so a fresh discovery for us.  I enjoyed a lively conversation with the owner and a wonderful globe of Pyrite came home with us.

Taking my usual liberties with actuality, the Pangea shop here is a rearrangement and composite of many elements within the store.  Our flowered madame echoes the calm, mystic energies.

Pangea One World on Broughton Street

Savannah, GA

Collage was on hold for a bit, as we had a lovely visit with friends from Washington, DC.  It was fun to wander Savannah together and just hang out, with plenty of open-ended time for conversations to go where-ever they may want to with no time-line.  A treasure.  

Next up is lunch with two friends from North Carolina who are in Savannah for a few days.  We've had more visitors on our trip than at home. Fun!

Our wandering is continuing. So many places and things that catch the eye. I'm thankful for this era of the camera in a phone. Enlivening!

Till next time.

Eclectic Savannah - Bars and Funky Fashion

Savannah is eclectic, not just the vaunted brick heritage buildings and Victorian architecture. We came across the West Broad Bandshell Bar in our wanderings. An interesting place whose tag line is 'Where Seoul Meets Soul', as they offer a menu of classic Southern dishes and Korean food and are also a music venue, hence, Bandshell.  

The building was once a jazz bar and kept the wonderful mural dedicated to Joseph Nathan 'King Oliver' one of the roots of jazz as we know it and mentor and teacher of Louis Armstrong. King Oliver spent his last years in Savannah.

We came for lunch late on a weekday afternoon and had the place to ourselves. We tried 'Tteok', Korean rice cakes smothered in a spicy-sweet glaze, featured in this collage. We then shared their, fabulous Katsu sandwich, Korean fried pork cutlet topped with Korean slaw. 

Bandshell Bar In The Afternoon collage

Savannah, GA

Another day came across 'The House of Strut' vintage clothing with style. 

VINTAGE - House of Strut collage

Savannah, GA

The weather is warming. Extra inviting for wandering.

Till next time.

Yellow In Savannah

 Yellow is a favorite color of mine. Always attracts my eye.  

The owner of this house likes their 'pop' of color, with the yellow/green door and those great purple shutters. I liked it too.  The woman with the umbrella and she with the baseball jacket were captured from some art I saw high on the walls of a restaurant.

At the Yellow Door House collage

Savannah, GA

The John Lynch Building was built in 1880 and faces Monterey Square. The concept of the lovely 'squares', small parks,  of  Savannah were part of the city's original design; founded in 1733 and one of the first 'planned' cities.  The plan included designated residential and commercial 'sides' to each square, to keep the city open and balanced. 

Today, the bright yellow striped awning at the Custard boutique is indeed a eye-catcher.  The shop owner then surrounded the door with yellow flowers.  Inviting. And certainly a place for lemon meringue pie.

Yellow and Meringue collage

Savannah, GA

Savannah moments.

Still have more wandering to do.

Till next time.

Breakfast, Beauty and Beyond

 Kim's Cafe is a favorite spot of ours. Breakfast, lunch or dinner.   Classic southern 'diner' food.  

Couldn't resist  capturing this image at Kim's the other day, with the fantastic wall of art as the backdrop.

Breakfast At Kim's Cafe collage

Savannah, GA

Beauty and Beyond certainly caught my eye as well.  I believe the skirted mannequins are modeling school uniform skirts. 

Beauty and Beyond collage

Savannah, GA

We've continued with the unusually cold weather and even a bit of snow, but nothing like our Northern neighbors. More typical, warmer weather is expected later this week.

Tiny Savannah Snowman

Camellias -  the day before the snow

Till next time.

Savannah 2026!

There's so much going on these days. And yet, sometimes we need a little something else. Something fun. A little odd. Perhaps just something in Pink!  Turning one's attention away for the world for a moment, doesn't mean you have turned away. Sometimes we just need to look out another window for awhile before we can find a the way through, a solution, or just how to cope. I share my bit of whimsy in this way.

Savannah is so rich in architecture of all kinds. Always an inspiration to me. Always finding still something I haven't seen before or even if I have, I see it another way. Savannah just speaks to me.

In my inner world, Ocotopi can show up at any time or place.

Octos on Gaston Street collage

Savannah, GA

PINK!  Mia loves pink.  She's a DearHeart in my life. Pink has always been her favorite color, one that makes her happy.  She lived here for a time and I am especially happy when I can send her Pink from Savannah.  Her brother, Alexander, loves pink too. A family trait???

Pink In Savannah collage

Savannah, GA

Walking about every day. More to come.

Till next time.

More Savannah 2025

The many styles of architecture here in Savannah continues to inspire me. Our daily walk-abouts always have a new discovery even after all these years.  

Forsyth Park is almost a daily stop. This coat of many colors, vibrantly pink, orange and more,  totally caught my eye. She enjoyed greeting the various dogs walking through, so here in her many versions, are some companions.

Coat of Many Colors

Forsyth Park -  Savannah

This  antique shop is on my daily route.  The blue chair with flowers is part of its decor,  Our 1920's parasol lady enjoys the scene.

Antiques on Jones and Bull

Jones and Bull Streets - Savannah

On Saturday each week there is Farmer's Market at Forsyth Park - food and crafts. Tusk Coffee provides fuel for shopping and coffee to go.  They call their traveling coffee truck, 'to go Jo'.

Coffee in the Park

Forsyth Park - Savannah

More out and abouts to come.

Car Guys and the Elegant Lady - Savannah

 These two collages have very different feels, but they are both inspired by the buildings of Savannah and have characters from another era.

Not sure if the Car Spa is still an operating business, but it did have a couple cars parked in the side lot, including the old 'Beamer' featured here. 

CarSpa Savannah collage

The golden yellow doors of this building caught my eye again and again. But our elegant lady claims all the focus. 

Madame Hyacinth in Yellow collage
Savannah series

Till another time.

Bradley's Lock and Key ~ 'We Fix Anything But A Broken Heart' Savannah

I love the old store front of Bradley's Lock and Key and it's motto, 'We fix anything but a broken heart.'  I was inspired several years ago by their parking lot sign to do a collage.

This year we went inside and I discovered the true wonders of Bradley Lock and Key - collections of all manner of things everywhere.  This lovely lady was sitting next to the giant bronze frog waiting for her key.  All the colors came together so strongly that, atypical of me, I asked if I could take her photo. I told her it was a perfect collage and she laughed and said yes.   Of course, I've amplified and altered and added elements, but the main image is as I first saw it.

Bradley Lock and Key was founded in 1883 and is the oldest continuous business in Savannah, as well as one of the oldest locksmith shops in the country. I discovered that the location is included in some of the Savannah ghost tours. The family had a connection to Houdini, and naturally people reported the site is haunted by Houdini, as well as many poltergeists and other visitations. It even has it's own Wiki page.

The Princess and the Frog at Bradley Lock and Key collage
Savannah series

We Fix Anything But A Broken Heart collage
Savannah series

Bradley Lock and Key vintage photo

Till next time.

More in Savannah - Forsyth Park to Betty Bombers

The 30 acre Forsyth Park and it's lovely fountain are a major Savannah landmark. The park is near where we are staying and is a big part of our day.  We walk near or through it to get to most places and we walk to it to just sit and people-watch under the Live Oaks.

 

These lively guys appear to be best buddies and meet up in the park most days. I added a friend to the crew and he  fits right in.

Blue Dog and the Forsyth Guys - Savannah

The gentleman on the bench seemed to be contemplative, striking me as from another time. Our Lady of the Parasol joined him.  The dramatic flower accent is courtesy of Deb Booth from one of her quilled art pieces.

Forsyth Park Parasol - Savannah

Betty Bombers is also in our neighborhood and has become a favorite place.  It is a World War 11-themed eatery [especially love the 40' music that plays] and is uniquely located in the building that houses the American Legion Post 135.  Savannah is famous for being home of the Mighty 8th Flying Fortress B-17 planes during WW11, when the air force was the Army Air Corps. 

My father was in the Army Air Corps and served as a plane mechanic.  I had particular fun working on this collage on my father's birthday and you'll find a little  homage to him in the portrait of the handsome fellow on the right.

 

Betty Bombers - Savannah

Savannah 2023 - return to a favorite city

We're on our Winter get-away and this year we are beginning in Savannah - the city with urban vibes in the midst of the many tree-filled city squares and parks and Live Oaks abounding. The greenest city space I know.  It's a unique combination, all amplified by the art vibe of being the home of SCAD - Savannah College of Art and Design - which has a presence all over the downtown 'Historic District'. We are a little south of the Historic District in the Victorian District, named for the wide span of Victorian architecture and a more residential and a bit more 'funky', which suits us well. 

I continue my penchant for using architecture as the anchor of my collage, especially my 'regional' or travel collage.  And Savannah has so much to offer.

 

J. Christopher's is one of our go-to spots for breakfast or lunch.  Good food, great ambiance and art-filled walls. These two would surely be regulars there.

Meet Up at J.Christopher's - Savannah

 

Amidst historic homes and Victorian beauties, there are still bits of vintage everyday life like this barbershop.  Elvis Costello seemed a good fit for retro hair.

Barbershop Barbershop - Savannah

The Savannah Theatre has inspired several of my Savannah collages.  The theatre first opened in 1818 and is one of the oldest continually-operating theatres. This is their current offering.

 

'Menopause - The Musical'  - Savannah

 

 

 

Savannah Victoriana

We're staying in the Victorian District of Savannah and the abundancy of these lovely homes is amazing. Not surprisingly, Savannah puts a lot of effort in restoring and preserving their historic properties and organizations like SCAD and the Historic Savannah Foundation work toward this goal.  Like other cities, there was a time when people didn't recognize the value of  the past and 'old' and significant buildings were destroyed. As often happens, the spark of one person and then a core of people worked to rectify the situation. Check out the story of Anna Colquitt Hunter.

Artistically, I have found it interesting working with the Victorians, as they hold a very strong, defined energy and some elements just don't seem to work well with the central image and I find I must let the building itself lead the way.  Naturally.

East Park Avenue didn't mind hosting our Doc Martin girl, but maybe it's all that tulle that was the right vibe.

East Park Avenue Victoriana - Savannah

Amethyst Garden is indeed that vivid shade of purple - a bit amplified  here- and once again, my friend Deb Booth provided the perfect enhancement, the lovely purple Lotus flower.

Amethyst Garden on Hull Street - Savannah

This 'wedding cake' white Victorian was the most demanding in which elements were acceptable, including being in a vertical format.  White was totally the theme but after many iterations, the red balloon was accepted.

White House on Hall - Savannah

And in the Victorian tradition,

 

Patsy Cline in Savannah

While in Cedar Key, we met up with some friends and Mary took pictures of a little robot in the restaurant and while we walked along.  Turns out, the robot was a favorite toy of her grandson and Mary took it with her to send photos to him on her travels.  Mary's little photo traveler was inspiring.

For years I have had a button of Patsy Cline on my travel purse and did a Patsy-inspired collage in Savannah in the past and decided my altered image of Patsy would be a perfect photo traveler.  I found Fabulous Fotoforms online and soon enough my laminated, laser cut lovely Patsy Cline met up with me in Savannah.

In 2018 there was a  show called ''Always Patsy Cline' at the Savannah Theatre, which inspired this collage.  I used Mz Patsy in some other collages as well.

Always Patsy - Savannah 2018

The original Patsy image is from an album cover, I believe, and the microphone stand said 'Grand Old Opry'.

Turns out,  Traveler Patsy gets a bit lost in larger backgrounds, so I've taken to doing little 'set ups' of favorite places.

  Patsy Cline arrives at the Fed Ex office

Patsy on the Savannah River Walk

Patsy at The Sentient Bean coffee shop.  The trophy is the table marker for the servers.

           Patsy in the E.Shaver Book Store

 

Patsy in the Garden of the SCAD Museum of Art -
Savannah Collage of Art and Design

   

 Patsy at PJ's Thai restaurant. Our favorite and the best Lime Chicken ever.