St. Patrick's Day Parade- Top of the Mornin to ya!

St. Patrick's Day is a huge celebration here in Savannah.   Mid week the city officials had a celebration called the "Greening of the Fountains" where selected youth would pour green dye into all of the city's fountains.   Even the airport fountain was dyed green!   By Saturday, the color had faded a little but could still be seen against the white contrasting statues.Sabrina made a friend who had a bubble maker gun.   They had lots of giggles during the parade.

Most people arrived before 7:30 AM to stake out their space to watch the parade.   This meant that we were standing three hours before the parade even really started

We noted before the parade many police officers escorting important people to and from the beginning and ending of the parade.   It was like a warm up act watching the police go by with all their sirens and zig-zagging through the squares.

One of the many bagpiper bands.   We loved hearing the tradition music they played as they marched by.

Sabrina's favorite:  Clydesdale horse team of eight horses.   These were super fun to watch as they pranced and pulled their wagon.   

As they stopped in front of us we realized just how big these horses are!   Wow!   Impressive and one is "pinching" the one in front of him, using his teeth!

Another bagpiper band from New York.   We noted many New York Bagpiper Bands and also Police/ Fireman entries.   The police and firemen all had lipstick lips on their cheeks like they had been kissed!

An Irish organization from Savannah.

The military section of the parade was scheduled for the end so as we left the parade, we walked by all the military entries waiting to go.

Marines

Navy

These marines served in Vietnam.

We stopped and talked with this bus full of WWII Veterans.   They really had stories to share and were so humble.   One man we met was a paratrooper who landed in France.  Others had served in multiple wars.   They were all grateful that we had stopped to talk with them and told many funny jokes and really were delightful.  Two of the men pictured are identical twins. They had fought in WWII together.   This in many ways was the best entry in the parade.

The Perfect Day Continues

After the visit to the wildlife refuge, we parked our car across the Savannah River from the down town river front of the city.   We took a ferry on a short ride.   Our entertainment on the ferry ride was provided by two bottle nosed dolphins who escorted the boat to the  first stop.   Talk about magical!   Blue skies and two playful dolphins checking out the ferry full of passengers.   Perhaps they arrived to Savannah like everyone else for the hug St. Patrick's Day celebration!   Sabrina proclaimed that dolphins are her favorite animals.... this was a change from the gators from last weekend.

Waiting for the return ride across the Savannah River.

On the ferry looking at the city skyline.

Walking by the old cotton storage garages near River Street.   The cotton used to be exported down the river.

After a leisurely lunch and walk around the city river front, we drove to Bonadventure Cemetery.    As we arrived with only fifteen minutes, our tour was a quick one from the car.  

Return to the Refuge

Sabrina, George and little bunny foo foo!

Water fowl

The road with Spanish Moss....which is actually closely related to the Pineapple plant and not Spanish nor is it moss!

A graceful pose over the wetlands.

Great Blue Heron

We saw several red Cardinals but they don't sit still for photos.   We lucked out.

A large gator.   One girl reported to the Visitor Center that there were nineteen visible on the drive through.   We had not counted but most were thankfully asleep and on the other side of the water from us.

We constantly debated whether these were white blue herons, white ibis or a crane.   Not an ibis as an ibis has a curved beak.   Maybe a heron.  Not until we purchased a bird book and looked it up did we identify it as Great Egret.

Majestic old oak with Spanish moss.

With Randy's mom visiting, we just had to take her to the Savannah Wildlife Reserve to see the wild birds and possibly a gator.   Once again, this fabulous reserve did not disappoint us.   This time the birds were spectacular and Sabrina even made friends with a bunny.
After driving through the reserve, we toured the visitor's center which was marvelous!   They had interactive exhibits for kids, a scene with birds, gators, snakes which helped us get a handle on what the animals look life in life.   Amazing!   We have found our new favorite wildlife hang out!

Get Any Closer and You'd Be Lunch!

Saturday started out like any other Saturday in a new area... looking for some place to explore.   We left our apartment with the idea of driving to a wildlife refuge and driving through looking at birds and maybe seeing an alligator.    We were in for a shift in our thinking.   Yes, we could drive in the refuge but we could also park the car and walk along paths with no fences and the ability to get close to the water animals.
We parked our car and began to stroll out along a marshy wetland.   Our subject of viewing was the water fowl we could see from the road.   White herons, ducks and another black bird who fans its wings were along the water and we had to see if we could see them closer.   While we did get close to these birds, we also got close to another animal:   alligator.   The first one was about eight feet on the other side of the bank. Ten yards up the path, was a thicker larger alligator who was sleeping with one eye open and he was on our side of the river bank.    Immediately, my mind started searching for details on how fast alligators run, do they zig-zag and what is a safe distance and do they like small children or adults?

Needless to say, we reined in Sabrina and proceeded with caution.   In fact, we actually walked carefully back to the car to the next viewing point.

At the next viewing point, we were fascinated with the water birds.   There were some black birds with pointy red bills that were fishing along with ducks.    White herons, white ibis and numerous birds we could not identify were catching their meals in front of us.

Video of the last gator.

The remaining drive through the park was a continual stop, walk, take photos.   So much to see and so little time.   We were in awe with the wildlife and how close we could get to it.   (Some alligators were too close to let Sabrina out of the car.)   The last alligator we saw in the park was super close to the road and Randy was able to get close up photos...without a high powered zoom lens!

On line Randy read that there are manatees, gators, 200 species of birds and other critters!   We will be back to see what we can see next time!

Friends

       Lately, the weather here has been vary variable.   Last Tuesday there was a "tornado watch" where the employees at Randy's work were sent to the bathroom (the most fortified room in a building) as there was spotted a tornado system which had not landed but was around the airport.    Sirens went off in our neighborhood and a "funny" noise vibrated down the pipes in the bathrooms.    Never having been in a tornado watch system, we did not catch some of the signs that a very active system was probably passing by and we should have barricaded ourselves into the closet for the duration of the immediate threat.
When we did not have tornado watch systems passing by, we had rain.   We are from Oregon, but never have we seen the water fall with the rate and force that we saw last week.   Instantly the ditches and drainage systems were filled and potholes formed on the roads.   Some were able to fit an entire tire in them.
      Needless to say, the parks were flooded again.    We could not go outside and even look for friends so the cardboard castle was the site of much activity.   Renewed interest in the little princesses and stuffed animals and the adventures to be had were happening all over our living room.   When the rains lifted and the parks were relatively dry, the animals continued the adventures.   Mango, the little flat monkey, had the best time at the park swinging from the "monkey bars".   He also enjoyed the slide and riding in pockets or shirts as Sabrina played on everything.    Yesterday, George the giraffe made the park trip.   There was actually another little girl at the park and it was nice to see that Sabrina was willing to share George with the little girl. This was HUGE as George is one of her most loved animals.   However, Sabrina is grasping in little steps that people are to be cherished more than things.

Sabrina, Mango and Big Dog!