TravelStream™ news feed for member marty_chrissie on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/marty_chrissie en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:56:27 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191170160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191170160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191170160/tpod.html Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:56:27 -0400 USA 2007 - Gulf Coast, Mississippi, Lewis&Clark, Oregon Coast, Sierra Nevada, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Salt Lake City, Denver, New Mexico, Texas, along I-40 to the east coast and out thru Orlando

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Savannah, Georgia, United States

Today we headed slightly further out of town down the river to Fort Jackson which was built, along with many other river forts e.g. Fort Sumter in Charleston, after the 1812 War with England to protect the coastal cities. It's major history tho' is during the Civil War when it allowed the South access to a port so they could trade. It was not until Sherman came over from Atlanta that it had to be abandoned. Here's an extract from the Fort's web-site: <img class="yui-img" height="194" alt="Sally port, Fort Jackson, Savannah, Georgia" src="http://roadsidegeorgia.com/images/fortjackson2.jpg" width="200"> Entrance to Fort Jackson (above) Climb the ramparts of Fort Jackson and it is easy to see why this site was chosen to build a brick fort to protect Savannah on this spot. The year was 1808 and our relationship with Britain had worsened considerably over the past few years. Authorized by President Thomas Jefferson, Fort Jackson was built in Thunderbolt (now a section of Savannah) to protect the city from naval attack. Named for James Jackson, the fort is the oldest standing fort in Georgia. It was not the first fort to occupy the site, however. In 1776 Savannah residents built an earthen fort, which was destroyed by the construction of Fort Jackson. <img class="yui-img" height="227" alt="Enlisted men's barracks, Fort Jackson, Savannah, Georgia" src="http://roadsidegeorgia.com/images/fortjackson_enlisted_barracks.jpg" width="200"> Fort Jackson The fort was manned almost continuously during the first months of the War of 1812, when British privateers were setting fire to American sloops and schooners just off the coast of Georgia, and again near the end of the war when a British fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane was reportedly in the area (Georgia and the War of 1812). Residents of Savannah turned to old Fort Jackson for protection from the Union Navy during the War Between the States (Civil War). In addition to Fort Jackson, there were ironclads, (the Georgia and the Savannah), and a line of obstrutions. The Navy never made it inland from Fort Pulaski. General Sherman did though, after completing his March to the Sea. <img class="yui-img" height="214" alt="Ramparts cannon takes aim at a modern day ship" src="http://roadsidegeorgia.com/images/fortjackson_cannon.jpg" width="200"> Old Fort JacksonOn December 17, 1864, General William T. Sherman demanded the surrender of "the surrender of the city of Savannah and its dependent forts." The surrender demand was received by General William Hardee, who commanded the Confederate forces in Savannah. Rather than fight (Hardee was overwhelmingly outnumbered), the Confederates pulled back from the city. On December 20, 1864, Sherman captured the the city of Savannah and Fort Jackson. Afterwards we headed back into the City for another wander and found an excellent bar on the waterfront doing a bucket of oysters for $12 - it was a complete steal. Evening meal was a roasted chicken whilst watching a Gene Simmons marathon of the most recent 13 episodes.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1213565160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1213565160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1213565160/tpod.html Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:29:42 -0400 Tuscany

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San Giamangio, Italy

Throughly recommend Le Locanda di Pietracupa on the road between San Donato and Chiesellege
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1213046640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1213046640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1213046640/tpod.html Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:25:27 -0400 Tuscany

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Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

hwrgh
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1213132620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1213132620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1213132620/tpod.html Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:19:32 -0400 Tuscany

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San Donato in Poggio, Italy

jHJKH
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1212958200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1212958200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/2/1212958200/tpod.html Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:04:30 -0400 Tuscany

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Pisa, Italy

You fly into Pisa with the beautiful hills of Tuscany in the near distance. The airport is full of UK airlines and appears to be located right next to a standard street.A totally inappropriate transfer bus takes you to the hire car location about 50m away!!But drive to the River and the view is just amazingly beautiful.We stayed in Hotel Bologna which is on a side street very close to the river - it was good standard and the staff we're very friendly. As a tip I'd recommend hiring your car from the following day and take the taxi in/out as the City is so close to the airport - we paid &euro;20 for parking in the hotel (about the same as two taxi rides - and you save a day car hire).After dumping the bags we headed out to find the tower - which is dead easy. It started to rain and we were inundated with street-sellers wanting to sell us brollies. Be warned pavement cafe drinks are very expensive.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1192550700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1192550700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1192550700/tpod.html Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:21:30 -0400 USA 2007 - Gulf Coast, Mississippi, Lewis&Clark, Oregon Coast, Sierra Nevada, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Salt Lake City, Denver, New Mexico, Texas, along I-40 to the east coast and out thru Orlando

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Orlando, Florida, United States

We had a great week with out friends Kathy and Garry in Destin in an excellent condo overlooking the beach.We then had a few days in Orlando in a massive appt at Star Island and enjoyed the weather and a trip to Disney Magic Kingdom. It was a timeshare offer and we got Disney and the room for $54 a night. Excellent.The flight home was a 747-400 which was only a quarter full - so we had plenty of space albeit MJ had a cold.Now we're home what do we think of it all? - well overall it was fantastic although we'd suggest others only go for 3-4 months because you will get fed up with cookie-cutter hotel rooms and the US chain/brand name environment.Good Thingsa) Amazing sceneryb) Fantastic roadsc) Huck and Kathyd) Dollar Exchange Rate (better than $2 to £1)e) Bill Mayerf) Cinema Theatres and pricesg) Texas Roadhouseh) Wal-MartBad Thingsa) Fox Newsb) Pres. Bushc) American Beerd) American TV adverts (especially the medical drug ads)e) Unattractive peoplef) Large engined SUVs and Pickups wasting the world's scarce oilg) American politics - they seem to recognise the problems but can't get round to fixing them
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191616320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191616320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191616320/tpod.html Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:33:44 -0400 USA 2007 - Gulf Coast, Mississippi, Lewis&Clark, Oregon Coast, Sierra Nevada, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Salt Lake City, Denver, New Mexico, Texas, along I-40 to the east coast and out thru Orlando

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Destin, Florida, United States

We got to Destin about 1pm and got into the appt easily.After getting settled in we headed to Pompano Joe's which is a fish restuarant right on the beach. The beach is lovely - miles of really fine sand.We're probably not gonna write much more as it has become a Florida holiday on the beach in beautiful sunny 85F weather - why do we live in cloudy 55F England&nbsp;I wonder?
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191370560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191370560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191370560/tpod.html Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:20:00 -0400 USA 2007 - Gulf Coast, Mississippi, Lewis&Clark, Oregon Coast, Sierra Nevada, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Salt Lake City, Denver, New Mexico, Texas, along I-40 to the east coast and out thru Orlando

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Brunswick, Georgia, United States

Woke to gray skies and rain which stayed with us most of the day.We went back to the Club and walked about in the rain for a while plus got a lasagne for evening meal.Back in the room we ate nachos and drunk beer - it was that kinda day.We wished the weather had been nicer here as the views over the beach and the beach itself would have lended themselves to a great relaxing stay here.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191456540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191456540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191456540/tpod.html Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:15:50 -0400 USA 2007 - Gulf Coast, Mississippi, Lewis&Clark, Oregon Coast, Sierra Nevada, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Salt Lake City, Denver, New Mexico, Texas, along I-40 to the east coast and out thru Orlando

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Lake City, Florida, United States

Headed south down I-95 to Jackonville in overcast skies and then took I-10 west to Lake City where we got a little lost trying to cut thru the town and ended up at a Starbucks.We had an ok room in the Super8 off I-75 where MJ got some sun and pool time after which we headed for the cinema and watched the new Jodie Foster film about a vigilante which was ok - another empty theatre.There was a Texas Roadhouse over the road where we got a couple of steaks and then back to the hotel where along with the excellent Bill Meyer we also watched "curb your enthusiasm" which is about this mid 50yr old jewish guy who always seems to get into fixes of his own making - it is very funny and we hope it gets onto UK TV at some point.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191542760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191542760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marty_chrissie/usa_2007/1191542760/tpod.html Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:09:14 -0400 USA 2007 - Gulf Coast, Mississippi, Lewis&Clark, Oregon Coast, Sierra Nevada, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Salt Lake City, Denver, New Mexico, Texas, along I-40 to the east coast and out thru Orlando

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Marianna, Florida, United States

Drove 170 miles west along I-10 to Marianne in overcast skies.Had a Waffle House breakfast and got a couple of books at a seond hand book shop.Hung around the pool in warm sunshine in the afternoon.We're in the Super8 which is ok - took a KFC for evening meal.
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