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- Jan 19, 2006
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Day 5: Part Dos
So after the near Cr@pper disaster, we were all glad to be ready for some walking and sightseeing. Kizzy was now in air conditioned bliss, which eliminated a concern we were going to have as well.
We had to drive around a bit before we found a perfect spot. I also need to help you have a visual of a Booger that now was fully loaded with all the camping gear we did not need anymore, on top.
That's right, we had a grill, camping chairs, boogie boards and the like, all strapped down on top of the van. We looked like a rolling ghetto. Really awesome for a fancy downtown area. You had people in heels and business suites, coming out of their downtown office buildings, looking at us like we were straight out of Compton. Straight out of Brooklyn. (Name that song!)
We got out fast and ran away very fast!
We did some research and found out that the trolleys indeed were just a type of bus service and so if we did not want to simply get somewhere new, they would not be useful. We wanted info. We wanted history.
That was a service the horse drawn carriages provided but alas, due to the ten million degree heat, the horses were not being forced to carry a bunch of tourists. Good for them and the right call but this meant we knew we would just have to come back again! Oh darn!
Then we thought, well at least a trolley would mean we would all get to look around and not be driving. So we waited in line for about 15 minutes, a trolley came and as we were nice letting a few people go first, we were about to board and were told we were too big of a party for what they had room for!
The kids said it was my fault for being nice!
Carsyn just before we were hoping to ride!
So instead, we walked the marketplace first. Tons of open air vendors, in old buildings that sold the typical tourist stuff and hand sewn Gullah sweetgrass baskets.
Here is a picture I pulled from the internet since I did not have one to show you all!
Again, Gullah people are derived from various places in Africa, Bahamas etc. that were former slaves and after emancipation, headed to the coastal areas of SC to start a new life. They have a unique dialect and have incorporated terms and language from all the different countries their ancestors had came from. Some people we met sounded French, others West Indies. It was heart touching to hear the tones in their voice that made them unique and know that many had tried hard not to become Westernized and just fade into typical American slang and culture.
The baskets although lovely, were very spendy here and so minus a ring for Leah, we did not buy anything. We did take a minute to rest in a local bakery. We enjoyed the air conditioning and the eclairs!
We found some great places to take some pics. There is just beautiful architecture and detail everywhere.
We walked into one shop and out the back door instead of back out to the street. Amazingly, it was one of the neatest things we found. if you had just walked past the shop from the main street, you would have never found it. Another example of off the beaten path travel leads to the best memories.
This great courtyard beckoned us and was like walking into another country. I felt like we had been transported to Italy and should be off some piazza, enjoying a gelato. The courtyard had wrought iron details around the windows and this beautiful fountain with Koi fish. I know there are several other of these outdoor living spaces in Charleston. Just an oasis amongst buildings.
It was also here that Carsyn asked to take some pics of Treyner and I. For once, I was more happy about getting the sentiment than what I looked like.
I am so glad I have these.
The crew!
Cont'd
So after the near Cr@pper disaster, we were all glad to be ready for some walking and sightseeing. Kizzy was now in air conditioned bliss, which eliminated a concern we were going to have as well.
We had to drive around a bit before we found a perfect spot. I also need to help you have a visual of a Booger that now was fully loaded with all the camping gear we did not need anymore, on top.
That's right, we had a grill, camping chairs, boogie boards and the like, all strapped down on top of the van. We looked like a rolling ghetto. Really awesome for a fancy downtown area. You had people in heels and business suites, coming out of their downtown office buildings, looking at us like we were straight out of Compton. Straight out of Brooklyn. (Name that song!)
We got out fast and ran away very fast!
We did some research and found out that the trolleys indeed were just a type of bus service and so if we did not want to simply get somewhere new, they would not be useful. We wanted info. We wanted history.
That was a service the horse drawn carriages provided but alas, due to the ten million degree heat, the horses were not being forced to carry a bunch of tourists. Good for them and the right call but this meant we knew we would just have to come back again! Oh darn!
Then we thought, well at least a trolley would mean we would all get to look around and not be driving. So we waited in line for about 15 minutes, a trolley came and as we were nice letting a few people go first, we were about to board and were told we were too big of a party for what they had room for!
The kids said it was my fault for being nice!
Carsyn just before we were hoping to ride!
So instead, we walked the marketplace first. Tons of open air vendors, in old buildings that sold the typical tourist stuff and hand sewn Gullah sweetgrass baskets.
Here is a picture I pulled from the internet since I did not have one to show you all!
Again, Gullah people are derived from various places in Africa, Bahamas etc. that were former slaves and after emancipation, headed to the coastal areas of SC to start a new life. They have a unique dialect and have incorporated terms and language from all the different countries their ancestors had came from. Some people we met sounded French, others West Indies. It was heart touching to hear the tones in their voice that made them unique and know that many had tried hard not to become Westernized and just fade into typical American slang and culture.
The baskets although lovely, were very spendy here and so minus a ring for Leah, we did not buy anything. We did take a minute to rest in a local bakery. We enjoyed the air conditioning and the eclairs!
We found some great places to take some pics. There is just beautiful architecture and detail everywhere.
We walked into one shop and out the back door instead of back out to the street. Amazingly, it was one of the neatest things we found. if you had just walked past the shop from the main street, you would have never found it. Another example of off the beaten path travel leads to the best memories.
This great courtyard beckoned us and was like walking into another country. I felt like we had been transported to Italy and should be off some piazza, enjoying a gelato. The courtyard had wrought iron details around the windows and this beautiful fountain with Koi fish. I know there are several other of these outdoor living spaces in Charleston. Just an oasis amongst buildings.
It was also here that Carsyn asked to take some pics of Treyner and I. For once, I was more happy about getting the sentiment than what I looked like.
I am so glad I have these.
The crew!
Cont'd
.....to the clogged up toilet. Yikes!
Ya know, I found you just get a bit nicer being down there. Laid back in mood and tude! 
from when these were taken and hopefully will have some more gone before we go in October. I will have to use the slimmed down ones for me ya know! 
but enjoying it nonetheless!
