Publish Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Location: Cumberland Island, GA
Imagine yourself 100 years ago. Rich fabrics are draped over every limb of yours, making the humidity hard to bear. The carriage pulls up to the front of a grand house. Towering oaks surround it. The house itself is a clean white. steps lead up to the glorious porch, adorned with columns and huge doors. The door opens to lead you into a grand entryway. Dark wood furnishings line the magnificent hallway. Portraits of stiff ladies and men hang on the walls. You are here to have tea with the Carnegies.
Ok, you have that image, so lets transport 100 years forward to 2008. Minus the carriage and the gowns, it looks exactly the same. This place is the Greyfield Inn, once home of the Carnegies. I was lucky enough to visit this amazing place, and experience the wonders of it. It was fantastic sitting by the fire place, reading and drinking tea. I felt just like a southern lady from the victorian era.
Ok, so its not all that pristine, as I found out the next day, being bounced along on a pick up truck. It was a wild ride through the dense groves and forgotten woods. Several times, I came very near to being knocked off by a low hanging branch. It wasn’t just the undergrowth we experienced. It was animals too, some of which, were terribly funny looking. I mean the armadillo. What an odd little creature! Of course, some were amazingly beautiful. Like the wild horses. Strong and magnificent. Lucky for me, we didn’t run across any wild boars or alligator, although they do have those.
it was not just the pretty house or the wild ride. It was the people. In fact, we walked away with several new friends. Mary Jo, the inn’s owner, was incredibly kind and welcoming to us. She made so many arrangements and made us feel so welcome. We also met another couple. They are big travelers and we spent many hours gathered around a table sharing stories of our adventures. All together, Cumberland Island was one of the most amazing experiences for me, ever.