I’m sure my presence was sorely missed. While those of you in the New York metropolitan area were weathering the storm, I was down south this weekend at my cousin’s destination wedding. It was awesome y’all.
I arrived in Savannah, Georgia on Thursday afternoon on the smallest plane I ever flew on. After getting settled in, of course the first thing I thought was food. If you know me at all, this is a common thought process, and one which gives me constant anxiety that my tummy might rumble hours into the future. Turns out that even though there are only about 3200 Jews in all of Savannah, the local Publix has an entire kosher section. I bought out their selection of instant noodle soups and my fears were instantly quelled. It also turns out that the bride’s uncle is the only kosher caterer in all of Savannah! My first crack at real southern fried chicken was a wholehearted success. Grits – ehh, not so much (even though the My Cousin Vinny fan in me was really wanting to like it).
In an attempt to make the most symmetrical town in America, General Oglethorpe structured Savannah into 24 squares, with a park at the center of each. This proved for a really beautiful, albeit repetitive, tour of old town Savannah, especially with the amazing live oak trees all breeding this gloomy gray moss. Here are some other highlights from our tour:
1) We passed by a theater where John Wilkes Booth once played Julius Ceasar. Let me say that again. John Wilkes Booth. Theater. Julius Ceasar.
2) The tour guide referred to the Civil War as “The War of Recent Unpleasantness”. Check please! The reality kind.
3) It turns out the famous line “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get,” was first uttered by Tom Hanks on a bench in one of the parks we passed. Forrest Gump in Savannah!
4) The gas in Savannah is sold by El Cheapo. LOL.
5) We visited one of the oldest synagogues in America, which contains a Torah that was brought over from Spain in 1733 that dates back to the 14th-15th centuries. Oh, and the synagogue really really really looked like a church.
6) There were green fountains in honor of St. Patty’s. Apparently, Savannah has the second biggest St. Patty’s parade in American with over 400,000 people filing in to party.

The actual synagogue where our Sabbath festivities took place was a monstrosity. It seats 900 people and it is what my father rightfully explained was “built like an airport hangar.” There were about 50 people praying. Insane.
On Saturday night, I went on a Savannah-famed ghost tour, where participants ride in a hearse around town and hear “scary” stories about Savannah’s deadly, gory past. It was far from scary, but definitely an experience.
Drum roll please! During the drive up to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where the wedding took place, we passed by Beaufort County! Or at least, we passed a sign that said Beaufort County. Point is, I was excited. On that note, the wedding was very exciting and beautiful as well, and I was so happy to be there to share in the happiness of my first ever destination wedding.
Aside from my cousin’s futile attempt to pick up a southern accent in a matter of 5 days time, the trip was an all and out success. Hope y’all enjoyed hearing about it.

Till next week!

Rachel Lily