Sara and Padmini's most excellent Southern States adventure

Charleston. What a city. I am not sure what I expected, but I didn't expect what I got, which is fine by me, because I like Charleston! I just need to remember when Padmini says we are going to take a walk, we are going to take a wwwwwwaaaaaaaaaallllllllkkkkkkkkkkk....(you think I would have learned after the Grand Canyon) but her walks always turns out to be the most amazing things I do. Bless her for putting up with the whining while I accomplish the walk.

However, walking is the best way to see the city, so walk or wander aimlessly through alleys and streets is what we did. Luckily for me Padmini had been doing her research and reading and knew all about the city, its history and the buildings. With that incredible memory and brain of hers she was able to give me a lot of the details and understanding of what we were seeing and experiencing. I also got frequent French lessons and we compared how to pronounce the words...the conversations usually went like this.

Padmini "We are looking for Pierpont (with french pronunciation, so drop the nt and add french flair)"

Sara "Pierpont? (said with non french accent, and with own pronunciation not related to the actual word)"

Padmini "Pierpont." (said slower, and louder for friend with no language skills)

Sara "ummm...Pier pon wha?"

Padmini "Pierpont"

Sara "I think we passed it"

I am so amazing at languages, you should hear my one word of Russian.

Back to Charleston. We meandered through the streets with houses dating back to the 1700's and 1800's. They were owned by plantation masters, merchants, hotel moguls, politicians and others. They were colorful, tasteful and magnificent. The gardens were stunning, and I was enamored with the windows and window boxes.

It is a charming and delightful city. We need a few more days, weeks, etc, to be able to see and do all that we wanted, but for now our little taste of Charleston will live within our memories for many years to come.

Belgian Chocolate gelato on the streets of Charleston, yes please!

I love old graveyards and gravestones

the horses often stole the show as they drag us tourist around the city. The one Padmini and I had was named Montegue. He was slow, methodical, stubborn and opinionated...my type of a horse...

Circular Congregational Church of Charleston, SC was founded in 1681 and is one of the oldest continuously worshipping congregations in the South

wrought iron is found frequently in Charleston, both decoratively and for protection

I told you I love windows, even old wooden ones!

even the alley is lovely

One of the forts to protect Charleston

cobblestone streets, only a little of the original remains

an excellent example of the best of Charleston's grand houses

good-bye Charleston

white ibis

Today was Charleston day! We planned on spending all day visiting the grand old city of Charleston, South Carolina. We accomplished that feat, because my feet will never be the same. We started our grand tour at plantation houses and gardens. Padmini and I went to different ones, because each house had its own personality that our personalities found intriguing. I will tell the stories of both. I will start with me. I chose to go to the Magnolia Plantation. Yes, the name was a draw, but so were the gardens and story behind the house. The plantation has been owned by the same family since the 1630's. The original house burned down after a lightning strike in 1810. Reverend Drayton, who was the property owner at the time, because of the death of his older brother in a hunting accident, rebuilt the house. The house was burned again during the Civil War. Drayton rebuilt, on a much smaller scale since most of the plantation owners were now mostly residing in the city of Charleston, and only coming out to the plantation as needed. The war cost made him and most of the other plantation owners broke, so he sold all of his property, and part of Magnolia, and used that money to rebuild the house and re do the gardens. He was the first to bring in Japanese camellias that now fill the south. He brought in close to 2000 varieties. He opened his gardens to the public and became the first tourist attraction in Charleston. Now that the history lesson has concluded, let the pictures begin!

live oaks along the Ashley river, the plantation grew rice, and they transported using the Ashley river

reflective turtles

so like, I really love this bridge okay, you should see how many I didn't put up on the blog!


azaleas

Cloudy Sulfur is his name

cherry blossoms, one tree contains pink, white and mixed...I didn't know that!

cannonball fired on Ft. Sumter. Rev. Drayton collected them because he said, "you never know which might have been the one that started the war."

magnolia plantation house

look!! I made it into my blog....

My favorite part of the trip was the swamp gardens on the plantation. I really really love wildlife. This was the perfect place for me, the swampier the better!! So I present the swamp gardens of magnolia plantation in all its wild swampiness!

black gum swamp

swampy flowers

flight of the blue winged teals

green heron hunting

yellow bellied sliders,

green anole strutting his stuff

rookery...heron, cormorant, egret nests

little gator

almost stepped on him

-
Padmini's trip to Middleton Place

Middleton Place has the oldest terraced gardens in the United States. It was part of a dowry that was given to Henry Middleton when he married his bride. Henry planned and created the gardens for ten years. The family was very political. They participated in the continental congresses, acted as senators and governors and were very politically connected.

One of the Middletons built several wings upon the house with a music conservatory and rooms called gentlemen’s quarters for businessmen traveling back and forth on the Ashley River. At the time of the Civil War, the owner of the house was a backer of the Confederacy. When the Union army was headed that way, the family fled and returned to find the house burned down. They rebuilt the north flank of the house, and supported themselves through lumber trade. The family was able to get back some of the documents and paintings from a Union doctor who was with the army as they took over the house. He saved a lot of the items and kept them in his possession, and later sold them back to the family and left the rest to a college.

Middleton Place stayed in the family, including the Pringles, who restored the gardens and opened the gardens in 1919.

The most beautiful part of Middleton Place is how it is situated on a bend in the Ashley River, so the layout of the house and gardens is a natural flow to the river.