Browning Vignettes: Charleston

I really try not to have favorites, but Charleston, you were our favorite. Maybe the amazing weather helped, but all we know is we LOVED you, even though Savannah beat you in the food department. Our mini-road trip from Wormsloe to Charleston was uneventful other than some of the grossest bathrooms I have ever used in my existence.

Although everything was planned out, occasionally, things didn't go according to plan. When we arrived at a plantation we wanted to tour outside Charleston, we walked to the booth to look at the prices (the one place I didn't research cost), and we were blown away by the expense. However, we had seen signs for a place called Magnolia Plantation down the road, looked up the much more reasonable prices, and decided to go there. We both weren't expecting much, especially since we were disappointed by not touring Middleton Place. So Magnolia became even sweeter to us because we loved every minute of it--a wonderful, unexpected surprise. We went on a tour of the swamp areas, which used to be rice fields and were able to tour the huge gardens with natural lakes (and alligators--yikes!)

This is (apparently) a famous bridge. It was picturesque.

I loved all the bridges at this place.

The view from the lookout--so beautiful.

These swamp lands were beautiful in a mossy type of way.

Flowering trees like this were everywhere.

Just another alligator basking in the sun. There are no fences or anything. These alligators have lived here for hundreds of years. The tour guide kept telling us that if we didn't bother them, they wouldn't bother us, especially since they primarily hunt at night. I really wanted to trust him. The alligators like basking in the sun during the day and so they utilize their little platforms, making a win-win situation--we could see them better, and they could get more sunilght. Except there were some we would randomly see swimming in the lakes and ponds. All I know is, I kept thinking of the Spiritual Crocodiles seminary video with President Packer and how sneaky animals like that could be and was terrified!

They told us alligators are really fast...

One of my favorite parts of Magnoila was watching Ben use his camera skills. He gets so excited when he sees a good shot, and I love it!

Our time at Magnolia ended too soon. We drove into Charleston, just as the sun was setting, to take the new atmosphere in. Charleston felt cleaner than Savannah, and I was very impressed with the architecture there. It also helps that Charleston has the most magnificent views of the ocean.

The next morning we started bright and early to explore Charleston.

We walked along the water-front and saw the amazing old homes facing the ocean.

Don't worry about me; I am just the crazy house stalker that is taking pictures of other people's homes.

We then walked (ten zillion miles) to the other side of Charleston to see The College of Charleston, which was established in 1770. The founders of the college were three signers of the Declaration of Independence. The college's buildings were all build in the early 1800s/late 1700s. This was the English Department building:

The main part of the college

It was fun to walk around campus and, of course, look like college students. We then found the cemetery in the middle of the city with headstones dating back to the late 1600s and early 1700s.

We also toured two homes in Charleston. One was fascinating because it had never been restored, and so furniture, walls, and carpets were just as they were left a hundred years ago, and the home was built in the early 1800s. The other home we saw, the Nathaniel Russell home, was the prettiest home we had seen and had the most amazing staircase. It was so interesting to tour these old homes and hear about the lifestyles these people led. Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures at either home.

While we explored the city streets, we went to City Market, which has tons of home made crafts, foods etc. every day and has been there since the late 1700s. We finished off the night by going to Sullivan's Island (fifteen minutes from Charleston). Again, the water was crazy warm, and the sand was the softest. So we walked along the beach and soaked it all in.

Let me rephrase that...I walked along the beach while Ben ran (he had too much energy).

It was a perfect day. The next morning we went to Boone Hall/Plantation. We learned a lot about the history of slaves in America and the progression. These were actual slave quarters:

It breaks my heart when I learn about slavery; it really is unfathomable how people ever thought that was right. At Boone Hall, even after the slaves were freed, they continued to live there and work there for little pay.