Power of Yelp and Yellow Fever

We decided on a novel evening for our last visit to Savannah. Exhaustive research on Yelp and Trip Advisor led us to select a tiny, out-of-the-way Jamaican joint named Sweet Spice, rated #1 by Trip Advisor contributors.  This goes to show what being genuinely friendly will get a business owner.  

DK moved his family to Savannah and opened this little spot on a busy street 2 years ago.  it is nowhere near the historic downtown, and has only 6 tables.  The food is made with love.  His hardworking daughter Shanoy (a student aspiring to a degree in Sports Medicine), and his sweet 2-year-old Nia, along with DK's outgoing personality, make Sweet Spice a reviewer favorite.  They charm you and don't fail to ask you to like them online :)

We were back in Savannah to go to the Davenport House Museum, to attend an  historical reenactment about the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1820. In that year a terrible fire gutted hundreds of homes.  The following spring heavy rainfall left standing water trapped in burned out wooden houses.  This provided breeding ground for an African mosquito species that arrived by cargo ship.  No one suspected insects - they blamed, among other things,the marshes, poor Irish immigrants, and sanitation.  Many people resorted to voo-doo.  Desperate doctors employed draconian and useless treatments, that today we find ludicrous.

A cast of actors in period costume re-enacted scenes in various candlelit rooms, providing a dramatic way to learn about the period.

We walked into the museum with Siti and Robert, Savannahians who have attended these events in the past.  I mentioned getting a yellow fever vaccine for my Ghana trip, and it turns out Siti is dreaming of doing NGO work in Zambia. We had a lot in common and we were  soon evangelizing about home exchanging.  Robert had a few doubts.  We exchanged email addresses, so I can send Siti info about Global Mamas, a great model for her NGO ideas.

This morning was a flurry of house work to leave our borrowed home in good order.  There was one casualty during our stay - at 5 in the morning yesterday an antique mirror crashed to the floor while we were sleeping.  Honest!  We emailed a picture, and luckily our hosts don't seem to blame us.

A 2 hour drive and we met the Kennedys (Charleston exchangers) at Charleston Airport.  They kindly treated us to lunch.  We enjoyed hearing about their stay in SLO and telling them what we liked in Charleston. Handed over their car keys and hugs all around.

Now the slow journey home via Houston and LAX.  We arrive home at midnight.  

We appreciate all of you who took time to read the blog and we loved your occasional comments.  

Just think - in the old days people wrote diaries!

Jackie