Thursday, February 6, 2014

attention, famille excentrique


The only time I regret my lack of camera skill is when I travel. At home cats, flowers and books are good subjects for small pictures and infinite blog posts.


Between blizzards we enjoyed a long weekend in Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia (a two hour flight from Boston and two hour drive from Charleston to Savannah).

You will have to search elsewhere for pictures that do these charming, historic, coastal cities justice. Cobblestone streets, 19th century houses, rivers, low country, sea islands, shrimp and grits, verandahs, pimento cheese, biscuits...


Charleston is more compact than I expected, with narrow streets, a marvelous variety of houses, many galleries, and French elements in the architecture and cuisine.


Savannah is laid out around a series of squares, so you are never more than a block from a park.Very beautiful, European feel. Tree-lined boulevards, trickling fountains, Spanish moss, weathered brick, wrought iron...


Both cities overflow with greenery. I can imagine how gorgeous they are blossoming in spring and summer. If you've read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil you're aware that Savannah is known for its tolerance of eccentrics.


I saw this sign on a door and thought
  I really need one for my own famille excentrique.

29 comments:

  1. Hi Jen,

    I find the main thing is to take out the camera--if you take enough photos there will be some good ones, but usually I forget about taking pictures until too late. Last week we had beautiful, sunny weather, and I also went to a Chinese New Year dinner, but I have nothing now to show for it!

    Glad you had a nice break in Charleston, Jim

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    1. I didn't take many pictures on this trip, which is probably good. I need to work on describing with words.

      I thought of you on Chinese New Year--hope you had a good time. My son's wedding reception will be at a Chinese banquet hall--I think there will be 13 courses!

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  2. Jen, I think your photos are lovely anyway and it looks a lovely place to visit.

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  3. I very much like eccentrics but have never spent time in the southern states. It must be beautiful in its own unique way. Sometimes I think it is better to enjoy travel without a camera so there is not that "thing" between you and what's happening.

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    1. I agree with you about cameras. It's all my blog's fault.

      I have much love for eccentrics and eccentricities.

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  4. Hi, I'm haricot. You are so lucky that you can travel to the area with quite different atmosphere in your own country. I saw the news of blizzards in US on TV. Here it's really chilly in these days and snow fall will be expected in this region where we seldom have snowing...

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    1. It's true there are so many wonderful landscapes in this country. Snow is always more exciting (and difficult) in places that aren't used to it.

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  5. I have not been to Charleston or Savannah, but I heard they are beautiful. Thank you for sharing your visit. Your photos look nice to me!

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    1. It makes a great little vacation. Beautiful, relaxing, with good doses of scenery, culture and food.

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  6. Jen... Agree with Jim...just keep snapping away and you are sure to have some surprisingly wonderful pictures! I haven't traveled from Savannah to Charleston in many years, but remember a very pretty rural route in the springtime. Savannah is beyond compare in the Spring! I would say it's my favorite season to visit, but then there's Summer, Autumn, and Winter! Thanks for giving us a peak of your trip. Hope you are safe, cozy, and warm up your way...Susan

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    1. I will definitely go back one spring. I imagine there are some great garden tours--I saw all kinds of semi-secret gardens and courtyards.

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  7. Oh do we ever need one of those little warning signs!!! Love it! My parents love savannah....I must go one of these days :)

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    1. Okay, I'm going to look into finding one.
      Both cities are so charming--Charleston is more like a large town--both are completely walkable.

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  8. That's lovely, Jen. Glad you got away for a bit. Much better than what I do recharge my batteries - go to a few charity shops after feeding my mom lunch at assisted living.

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    1. I didn't know that your mom was nearby.
      Hey, I think charity shops are a great way to recharge. Much less ecologically damaging than my trip.

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  9. Sometimes you need to take a ton of pictures which takes away from enjoying your trip. I think you captured the feel. I have never been to either and constantly bring them up then we wind up with some other plan. Frank visited Savannah once on a trip to Myrtle Beach for business and thought it was so charming. Will get there someday. Glad you got away from the frozen tundras.

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    1. I think you would really enjoy it there. It's an easy trip.

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  10. A very nice description of the places that I'll never visit.
    Thank you for giving food for my imagination.

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  11. I think you did a pretty good job with the photos.

    Someone once asked me if I'd been to Savannah because they thought I would fit in there. I'm still not sure what that was supposed to mean.

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    1. A compliment. I'm sure. I think you would enjoy Charleston--filled with houses made of wood in a variety of styles.

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  12. °º♫♬° ·.
    Belas fotos de um lugar muito bonito.
    A primeira foto é a minha preferida, o gato é muito fofo!

    ░B░O░M░

    ░F░I░M░

    ░D░E░

    ░S░E░M░A░N░A!!!

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  13. I love both cities. almost makes you think you could live in the south...

    But the thought of anywhere that gets hotter and humid earlier that DC is a huge deterrent.

    What a nice change of pace from your winter.

    And I love their regional food.

    Now I'm gonna have to cook some!

    xo J

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    1. I went crazy over a bbq place (and I don't even like bbq. Am going to try to reproduce their sweet potato casserole.

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  14. I love your photos. and I don't think you see your own skills very clearly. most of us don't. looks and sounds like it was a great trip!!

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  15. Your photos are great Jen, and it sounds like a lovely trip. Believe it or not I've been to Charleston , back in the days when Brunnel was living and working in Atlanta (long story). The hospitality is amazing! x

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