Sunshine, Southern Cooking and Fort Sumter
What do you think when you think of Charleston, SC? The firing of Fort Sumter and the start of the civil war? Barbecue? Southern Hospitality? Plantations? Slave trade? Great cocktails? Graceful women perfectly dressed and made up for every occasion? All or none, and you would be correct. SC has long been a bucket list item. It seems that every travel magazine has it on their top list of US cities to visit, and for those of us a bit longer in the tooth it comes up in the top list of places to retire as well.
Life is Better on the Road crew is trying to sample the whole country in a defined space of time so we had just one day to soak it all in. The strategy was to take an Uber from the RV park to the historic part of town, and just wander. We did upload a free walking tour app, but we did not stick to it. Because, well, why would we? Besides the app, there are trolly tours, horse drawn carriage tours, Segway tours, and many, many more. Our priorities were clear, so we started at Husk restaurant on Queen street. Review of Husk can be found under Food and Drink!
The weather was practically perfect for a walking tour. The sunshine was spectacular when it was shining, and the wind only picked up now and then. It was easy to distinguish local women from tourists like me, or at least tourists not from the South. Clearly, one simply does not step outside the house without hair perfectly in place, and a fully made up face. I do not mean tacky or heavy, just clearly made up. Full foundation, eyes, lipstick. Manicures and pedicures are a must, and casual Friday would never be acceptable attire.
We walked 7. 4 miles and experienced the history of the city. The old slave market, the confederate museum, Fort Sumter, City Market, Historic King street which is now shopping and bar and restaurant heaven, historic homes, and the oldest African American Church in the South. I was saddened that it was identified on the tour as the site of a recent mass shooting, rather than for its powerful historic significance. We walked by as well dressed worshipers of all ages were entering the church. God bless them all.
We did have some lighter moments, like the cat cafe, amazing ice cream from Jeni’s (Wildberry lavender with orange zest had me swooning), and 2 great Uber drivers. Mark, a D.C. transplant, was very informative, and knowledgeable about marine biology. Brandon was a young man, native of James Island, just over the bridge from Charleston. Friendly, conversational, and pleasantly irritated with the Northerners (Mostly New Yorkers) who move here and then act like northerners, honking their horns and being impatient. “If they don’t like the traffic, why move here?” I say, good point. Relax, stop honking. Well, except for the one guy who was clearly trying to save lives by honking at the tourist going the wrong way on a one way street. Save your toot for important stuff people!
