I miss Savannah!
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12/19/2006
I recently moved away from the Savannah area due to a job transfer. Now I am trying to move back! The grass is not always greener on the other side. I am saddened by all the negative comments I have read here about Savannah. Savannah is not perfect, but it has a lot to offer. It is so unique; not your anytown USA. For anyone wanting only franchised stores and restaurants, this is not your kind of town.
There is good reason why so many come to visit Savannah each year. Many of the restaurants in Savannah are unbelievably good. Try Fernando's Italian on Congress St, Elizabeth's on 37th, the Pink House, or the Casbah. Antiques, art galleries, and gift shops abound downtown. It is a great city to poke around in. I lived there for 5 years and still discovered a new place everytime I went downtown. City Market can't be beat for its live entertainment, shops, bars, and restaurants. The city's squares are just breathtakingly beautiful. The architecture is amazing. The huge, live oak trees draped with Spanish moss are truly majestic. Plus, the beaches of Tybee Island and Hilton Head (with world-class golfing)are close by. I frequently went boating in the area, and frequently saw dolphins at play. Fishing is good here, too. St. Patrick's Day is a blast; from the parade to the party on River Street (think a toned-down, more laid-back Mardi Gras.)The people are friendly and hospitable.
As for the racism issue, I did not find it to be a big problem. I worked with about a 50/50 black/white split; we truly celebrated our differences and respected one another. There was some self-segregation as anywhere, but we did all eat together and hang out together,etc. Most people I met there were generally tolerant and open-minded.
Ok, now the downside of Savannah: Chatham County Schools overall are pitiful, the crime rate in town is bad (although a lot of the crime seems to be directed at other criminals- gangs, drugs, etc.) Getting around the metro area can be tricky because of very limited alternative routes in the event of a traffic tie-up (if you can't take Abercorn, 95, or 16, you can't get there). Service in most restaurants tends to be quite slow. Summers are HOT and muggy. The sandgnats (biting no-see-ums)are ruthless in the fall and spring. There is somewhat of a good-old boy mentality; native Savannians tend to stick together. My suggestions: send your kids to private school or live in Bryan County, where the schools are good; it's just a short
Kerri | Madison, MS