Wimpy San Franciscans

I know that this is a cliche beyond belief, but, boy, the South sure is hot. I guess I sort of thought we'd be spared the Southern heat by traveling to Charleston and Savannah in early October. But nope, still pretty freaking hot.

The temperature in Savannah today was 87 degrees, with 100 percent humidity. To a native Georgian this is probably considered a very pleasant autumn day, but to us wimpy San Franciscans, this was some seriously brutal weather, the kind where you randomly jump into stores that you have absolutely no interest in just so you can enjoy 90 seconds of air conditioning and feel human again.

This weather makes me understand why all those movies that take place in the south always feature scenes with women fanning themselves on their shaded porch swings with a pitcher of iced tea by their side. (Don't they? Maybe I'm over-generalizing.) Kathy and I between us drank about 3 gallons of iced tea today, and though the tea was yummy and everything, I don't think that's a normal level of consumption for two humans. It was hot.

End of rant.

Charleston and Savannah are really beautiful and charming. Another cliche, but dammit, it's true. There are some unbelievably charming gardens, squares, and houses. Again, the pictures don't really do these cities justice, but here's one typical picture:


That one was from Charleston. Here's one from Savannah:


It almost makes you want to live in the South. Kathy won't go for it, though -- the bugs are too big.