Charleston By Van, Carriage, And Foot

Charleston 

We did all of our provisioning yesterday so that we could explore today. I got my workout and stretching done in the morning before meeting Glenda and Greg to catch the noon marina shuttle van. Jaxon and Cooper got the day off and remained aboard Paradigm Shift. Our first stop was lunch at Henry's Rooftop Deck. The downtown historic district was busy with tourist activity and we were glad to get a table at the peak of midday rush. The view from the third floor was an added bonus. A clear sky and bright, warm sunshine enabled us to scan the skyline and pick out the many church steeples. After lunch we walked two blocks for the main event. I love the classic Charleston streetscapes with gas street lamps and flower boxes. An ivy-covered wall was an interesting surprise. We had a 2:00 reservation with the Old South Carriage Company for a horse-drawn tour of the city. Our names were called and we took our places on the second row of our carriage. I fail to remember the name of our tour guide, but Ricky, a 1900-pound Belgium draft horse, led the way.   

This was our third tour with this company, but all have been on different routes. Today we saw many churches, more elaborate window box displays, the commercial district, beautiful gated private gardens, and the ubiquitous Charleston Single houses.

Our guide pointed out historical features and modern construction. One colonial practice was to decorate the doorframe with symbols of the resident's trade. This particular house had a rope detail surrounding the door which represented a nautical occupation. Ornate trim had many variations. The circle gave off an Asian vibe. The dog statue on the porch was a nice touch. Our fact of the day was that the state tree of South Carolina, the palmetto palm, is not really a tree at all. It is a grass that grows in strands, not in rings as do an oak or pine. Our tour ended shortly after we passed alongside the station with a horse-through-the-window painting. As our group exited past Ricky, he gave the boys a Bronx cheer before turning and posing for the camera.

We all enjoyed ice cream cones before making the 30-minute walk across the peninsula and back to the marina. Our route took us through the College of Charleston campus. Along the way large hedges of the highly fragrant Star Jasmine lined the sidewalks. A bonus was spotting this elegant driveway lined by an impressive formal garden. As our tour guide told us, "people in Charleston don't have lawns, they have gardens." Before we knew it the sun was setting behind Crossroads, marking the end of another great day.