I’ve been eager to explore new-to-me places since coming back from Rome, Italy in November of 2023. For years people have been telling me that I would love Savannah, Georgia. For months, Brandon and I talked about the idea of doing an anniversary trip or a weekend getaway to Savannah. I couldn’t wait any more! I booked a motel room on Tybee Island once my federal tax returns came in.
Since moving to Spartanburg and then Easley, I feel…landlocked. I’m still so used to the unknown of the wide ocean around me (or to the side of me in Myrtle Beach). When you’re born and raised on an island like me, you NEED to be at the beach every so often. Also, as a Pisces, I very much needed to be surrounded by the salty ocean water. Water, particularly the ocean, has always served as this symbol of rest and change in my life. As I enter into this new Spring and summer season, there will be a lot of opportunities for rest, but I’m anticipating a lot of changes, transitions, and new routines as well. Seeing the water before all of this was exactly what I needed as I stepped into 24.
Upon first impressions, this island reminded me of any other East Coast beach town I’ve been to. It’s small and cozy and just what I needed.
On our first night, we watched the sunrise. I did a lot of research (in other words, watched a lot of local Tybee Island/Savannah Tiktoks) and found that the Back River Beach access on Chatham Avenue is the best spot on Tybee to watch the sunset. We were racing against the clock after dinner to get there. To our dismay, the Chatham Avenue access was closed, so we quickly drove to 19th Street instead. While it took a minute for us to walk across crunchy, sharp sand, we found our spot on the beach and had a clear view of the sunset. It wasn’t crowded. There were a few couples with the same idea in mind, just with beers and wine in their hands. A vacation rental home behind us was playing Con Te Partio alongside the sun’s descent.
1×
0:00
-4:11
As I was preparing this section of the blog, I looked into the meaning of this popular Italian song. Here’s what I found from ClassicFM.com:
But, despite the seemingly lyrical ‘goodbye’, there are conflicting thoughts as to what the lyrics of ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ are actually trying to say.
In English, the lyrics seem to tell the story of a protagonist who is saying goodbye to countries they never saw or shared with his lover. But then halfway through the song, it seems the lovers will in fact go to those countries... except they’ll be travelling on ships that don’t exist anymore. So it’s time to say goodbye again.
Not the clearest of translations. However, due to the romantic and hopeful nature of the melody, many have interpreted the song as not being on the theme of ‘goodbyes’ but rather, new chapters.
The literal translation of the Italian tune, Con te partirò is I will leave with you, suggesting instead that no matter where the lovers in the song are going, they will be going together.
What did I say about the ocean representing changes/new chapters in my life? In retrospect, hearing this song while watching the sunset almost seemed like my soul was coming back into alignment with the earth. On top of that, I was doing my favorite activity with my favorite person, the one other person on this earth I hope to always share a sunset with.
Aside from the realization of this fantastic moment on the beach, the sunset was beautiful. I hunted for seashells and Brandon read in what little sunlight remained for the next twenty minutes. My heart was full as we made our way back to our tiny motel room.
On our last day, I woke up early and left Brandon behind to sleep in. Our sleep habits and cycles are still not yet in sync, so I let him rest as I knew the upcoming four-hour drive was going to be tiring for him. The walk to the beach was a silent reminder that were leaving in just a few short hours.
The sunrise was set at 7:14 AM that chilly Sunday morning. My favorite part of watching a beach sunrise is the people you’re watching it with. Sunrise chasers know that the best time of day to hunt for shark teeth is the morning time. We’re goal-setters! We know what we want and we’re ready to take on the day!
I was dramatically somber during my walk, but I brightened up as the sun woke up. If you can’t tell by now, my favorite nature moments are sunrises and sunsets. I can type about it for ten more pages! Watch the sunrise and I promise you won’t regret it.
Upon first steps in Savannah, Brandon and I fell in love. It was nearly 10 am, but the city was still quiet (actually, the city stayed quiet the whole day. More on that later). Our first stop was Dottie’s!
If you want to know what Heaven tastes like, then get the smoked salmon breakfast bagel. Dottie’s makes their OWN bagels and SMOKES their own salmon. We didn’t eat lunch this day, because this breakfast and our coffee from across the street was just enough.
I had a plan to utilize the free bus system throughout the day. All of the plans, actually, that I had in mind, went out the window because we decided to walk the entirety of the city instead (well, maybe not the full city, but we did walk from Broughton Street all the way to Forsyth Park). By the end of the day, I had taken about 14,600+ steps! Which is about 12,000+ more than I do on an average day.
I can’t remember every detail of the morning, but Forsyth Park was beautiful. From the young families hosting picnics in the sunlight to the farmers' and craft market taking up the sidewalks and to the soccer games happening on the side, a lot was going on. Not in a bad way whatsoever, but in a this-is-what-life-should-be-like-everyday-sort of way. I made my purchases at some of the crafters’ tables and we decided to make our way back towards the main city. On the way, we stopped at the Beach Institute.
I work in Black public history. I was a history major in college. I’ve toured museums and historic homes before. The Beach Institute was one of the best Black history tours I’ve ever received.
Mr. Johnathan, the manager, heard us walk in and proceeded to give us a nearly two-hour tour. He kept apologizing for his phone ringing (he’s one of the only full-time employees) and for going off on tangents (which were all relevant to the tour and history), but we kept reassuring him that we were loving the tour. The Beach Institute was the first Black school in the Savannah area and was built by freed people. The building now serves as a public museum and cultural center that shares Black stories and histories through contemporary and folk art. The place is beautiful and well-maintained. Mr. Johnathan pulled us aside to wrap up the tour with his life philosophy and perspectives on Black history. Brandon shared a little bit of his family’s history in the Upstate and I shared about my descendancy to South Carolina and my current work in Black public history. Between the three of us, there was a deep connection and feeling of honor of being in each other’s presence. Brandon and I walked away with so much more knowledge. I (can only hope and) think Mr. Johnathan walked away knowing that there are at least two more people supporting him in his projects and personal journey to making Black history accessible to all.
We walked to a bookstore that I had on my list of places to visit in Savannah. As we were browsing the shelves, Brandon pulled me aside and said, “Thank you. For choosing the Beach Institute, for taking me on this trip, for everything. Thank you.” There are a lot of historic sites in Savannah, but after this little affirmation from Brandon, I knew that the Beach Institute was healing and enlightening for both of us.
By the end of the day (which was only about 4 PM), we were HUNGRY. All of the restaurant recommendations we received were either closed (down) or didn’t have the type of menu we were looking for. I can tell that my blood sugar was getting low by the way my attitude was getting high. Brandon found a local spot called Simple Soul right outside of the city and in a residential area.
Sushi is my all-time favorite food. Black soul food comes in at a second and this menu was perfect. The mac and cheese was divine, so I ordered an extra side. The fish was fried to perfection and the cabbage was sweet and salty just how I like it. I prefer small, local places like this because this is what the real Savannah, Georiga tastes like!
There are probably many more details that I am forgetting to share or want to keep to myself. This trip was needed for both myself and Brandon in so many more ways than we expected. I love that I got to share this experience with B and that we got to try new things together. I hope that no matter where we’re going, we’ll always be going together.
