Haunted Savannah, Pt. 3

Colonial Park Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia is considered one of the city's most haunted locations giving it the moniker of "Paranormal Central." Today's first photo shows how it looked in 1960; black and white seems appropriate, doesn't it?

Colonial Park Cemetery opened in 1750, making it one of the oldest in the city. Although approximately 10,000 people are buried here, there are less than 1,000 grave markers. Here comes the reason why it is considered to be a hub of paranormal activity: many lost their tombstones to vandals and even more were buried in mass graves, some the result of the yellow fever epidemic of 1820.



Here's another vintage 1960 shot showing the surrounding area of Colonial Park:



Colonial Park closes early every evening, making it virtually impossible to get evening photos inside the cemetery's gates. Most likely this is a result of the Voodoo rituals and ceremonies held after dark that left remnants for early morning visitors to gawk at, such as graves that had been raided to obtain human bones. Yikes!



One of the tours I was on discussed the basketball court and playground located on the south side of Colonial Park, saying it had been the site of countless pistol duels…to the death.



Whether or not this is true, it makes for a good chilling story when told by the right tour guide.



Even in a cemetery one can find a spot of springtime color:



The back wall is full of headstones; I can only guess that they were moved here at some time and that the people they commemorate are buried elsewhere.



The trunks of the crape myrtle trees make me think of open screaming mouths.



It's as if somebody is trapped inside screaming to get out.



Swirl that one around in your head for a bit!

Experience more Colonial Park photos on my main website.

Savannah Rock 'N Roll Excursion, Pt. 1

I definitely subscribe to the "kill two birds (or more) with one stone" figurative saying, and have enjoyed combining racing with travel. My most recent excursion was doing the Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon (my first) while visiting one of my very favorite cities, Savannah, Georgia. There was something very comforting about flying over this wondrous historic city, knowing that I'd be enjoying its park-like city squares momentarily.

Whenever I go, I always stay at the Hamilton-Turner Inn, located in one of Savannah's most picturesque squares, Lafayette.



For you Faux-D© fans, here's a shot of The Hamilton-Turner Inn:



and a regular one for those of you who might suffer from motion sickness! Built in 1873, it is one of the most beautiful homes in the area. The couple who own it, Gay and Jim Dunlop, make guests feel as if they are family.



Each room is named after a famous Savannah-ian; this time, I stayed in the Isaiah Davenport room.



In 1956, threatened by the wrecking ball, Davenport's home was saved by a group of concerned citizens who were tired of the city's history being paved over by parking lots. It was this salvation that spearheaded the pride that resulted in Savannah's restoration as well.



Back to the Inn...here are a few photos of the Davenport Room:



The Dunlops did an amazing job of restoring the Hamilton-Turner, giving it every modern amenity without sacrificing the home's historic charm.



I loved the private entrance, which opened up onto the square.



After getting situated, I made my way to River Street, where a little tugboat transported the runners across the River to check-in for the race.





Set-up like a carnival, the expo was quite lively. I got my bib number and souvenir t-shirt and exited as quickly as possible. I wanted to explore Savannah with my new camera, since they had yet to meet each other!



Where better to try out my camera than St. John's Cathedral, also located on Lafayette Square.



More Faux-D©:



Although somewhat imposing on the outside, the Cathedral is very serene (yet ornate) on the inside.









Before I knew it, twas time for a little carb-loading as the next morning's race was quickly approaching. Thanks to the recommendation of my cab driver, I headed a few blocks down Abercorn Street and tried Leoci's Trattoria for the first time.



What a gem this place was! I'd never heard of it before, although it had been here for quite awhile.



A delicious beet salad:



and of course the required pasta for a little carb loading. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here, and felt 100% ready for a fantastic race the next day!



More to come tomorrow!

See more Savannah photos on my Savannah web pages.