Charleston

Despite the heat, we had a good time exploring Charleston.  We had the bikes to get around the old part of the city.  We also took a guided tour that gave a quick windshield look at several centuries of houses and businesses.  It was fun exploring nooks and crannies and then reading up on what we had seen.  The highlight was getting to see our friends Amy and Jude who retired from the Air Force there.  We spent 3 years with them on our second tour of Okinawa and hadn't seen them since 2004 even though we've kept in touch with Facebook and cards.  We look forward to coming back in cooler weather and seeing even more of the city.

The waterfront as we approached Charleston.

Some houses along the way.  They whetted our appetite to go back
and see them up close.

One of our bike rides took us all along the water from our marina on the Cooper
the Coast Guard station on the Ashley River.  The peninsula that makes up old
Charleston lies between these two rivers then empties into the Atlantic.  

One of the streets was paved with ballast stones.  Ships would arrive full of
stones to keep them floating upright then offload the stone and replace the
weight with cargo.  The stones were frequently used for paving or building
foundations.  Waste not want not.

One of the beautiful pathways through a waterfront park.

Many Irish came to Charleston to escape economic and political
oppression.  The Hibernian Society is still quite active in town and
we came across this park dedicated to all the Irish immigrants who
came to the colonies and built the US.  This is the outline of Ireland with
all the counties and major cities named.  The tiles around it
are the names of the major contributors of the pavilion,descendants of the
original colonists.

The gate is also part of the park and a stunning example of
ornate metalwork common throughout the city.

Notice the date of the quote.  This group of Irish were not late comers
to the colonies!

There are so many centuries of houses to see.  They are all quite well kept
and all but a few are current private residences.  This town knows how
to cherish it's heritage.

One of the grander old houses. You can imagine many generations
sitting on the porch sipping mint juleps over  the centuries.

Rich planters of rice and cotton kept town houses (houses in town)
to spend the summer months and escape the oppressive heat of the interior
of the state.  The weather may be hot but there is usually a breeze to cool you off.

On the end of the peninsula is a park featuring heroes from wars
from the Revolutionary to current.

Whimsical art always catches my fancy and this frog just seemed to
need a friend.

The attempt at a selfie.

Better to let the bartender take one that we're not all
squinting from the sun.