Kath and I chatted about the tour of the Exchange on our way down East Bay street to the Battery. We had learned more fun history, and we had a whole new perspective on the wars and how they affected the city, the lives, and the South in general. No wonder they are so unsettled about relationships with the North. We learned a lot of new names, heroes and facts.
Our second tour was the Edmondston-Alston House – built in 1825. There is a magnificent view of the Charleston Harbor. Dave, our tour guide, told us about the families and how they intermarried for generations to keep the land and houses (they owned three!) in the family. The first two floors (which could not be photographed) had original furnishing and were included in the tour. The third floor was occupied by the last descendant of the Alston family – it would then pass to the foundation at his death. An addition at the back served as a Bed and Breakfast. Dave was excited when he heard we were from Greensburg – his mother was born in Latrobe! Small world!
The piazza on the second floor was used by P G T Beauregard as he watched the fierce bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, signaling the start of the Civil War. On December 11 the same year, the house gave refuge to General Robert E Lee after a fire at his hotel. The view from the piazza is stunning! More history!!
Paul txt Kathy that he found a place to eat – turned out to be the Hyman Seafood Co that my neighbor’s son worked at. So Kath and I trudged up about 6 blocks to meet Paul – then another 3 to Hyman’s! But the food was good and worth the walk and the wait (40 minutes). It was very near the Market, so we walked through there for about half an hour, where I bought my Charleston Historic Homes coffee table book.
Four blocks of this!
Once we were seated and looking at the menus, I glanced down at the table to see ‘who sat at this table.’ There were photos (some autographed) of the famous and infamous people who had dined there. Imagine my delight and amazement when I was sitting where the BEACH BOYS had sat! Be still my heart! I felt like I didn’t even need dinner – just sitting there was enough. But…. I ate my hushpuppies and fish and chips anyway! What a fun lunch!
We were glad to get back to the car, but very sorry to leave Charleston to head home. I could have stayed several more days, easy! It had been a perfect morning – bright and sunny, not too hot, a lazy breeze off the harbor. The city was quaint and charming and easy to navigate, and felt welcoming and certainly not imposing! I would go back in a heartbeat! So if you want to go – call me! I can be packed in a hour!
We drove until about 9pm, where we stopped for the night at a Sleep Inn in Wytheville. My room had purple prints as headboards! Perfect! I fell asleep thinking happy thoughts of ‘my’ Charleston!
On this day in 1936 Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind was published, and in 1952 ‘The Guiding Light’ soap opera moved from radio to TV (My mom loved that show – watched it every day!). In 1955 the Johnny Carson Show debuted. Susan Hayward (actress) was born in 1917, and Mike Tyson (boxer) in 1966. In 1831 Robert E Lee and Mary Custis were married, and Cher married Gregg Allman 4 days after divorcing Sonny Bono.
TOMORROW July 1st is:
- National Postal Worker Day
- National U.S. Postage Stamp Day
- National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day
- National Gingersnap Day
Half of 2021 is already done! Where is this year going? Ugh… Check in tomorrow for the LAST DAY of Vacation! God bless….
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