“They tell me she is beautiful, my city.
That she is colorful and quaint,
alone among the cities.”
-Dubose Heyward
(speaking of his home town of Charleston)
We were diverted to Charleston on our flight home from Europe last fall because of Hurricane Sandy.
We were “stuck” there for 2 days.
As with many travelers, a good portion of our travel adventures come about by accident, and many, like this one, end up being fortuitous and serendipitous.
What a charming city. I was naive to its history. Had never been.
Charleston was founded in 1670 and some of the historic buildings and streets there show those years.
We didn’t have time on our brief layover for the Mansion/Plantation tour but because we walked and walked for hours, mesmerized and entranced, we turned a corner to find this one in the center of town.
We enjoyed Rainbow Row down by the waterfront, aptly named for its colorful homes.
Many buildings and homes where we walked displayed plaques explaining their historical significance.
Like this one at the former home of Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first Ambassador to Mexico, explaining that he was responsible for bringing the Poinsetta to the United States. Who knew that’s where a Christmas staple got its name?
We strolled in perfect temperatures along the beautiful waterfront.
I always notice bikes.
And fun places to take a peek inside.
But especially fun stops AND a bike:
We had a hearty lunch at this deli:
Where we sat and people watched.
A city that introduces itself to you, so charmingly, begs to be visited again. Charleston hosts a home and garden tour of many beautiful mansions in Charleston, when Honeysuckle and Confederate Jasmine bloom so abundantly their fragrance fills the springtime air. Sounds like the time to return.
Dubose Heyward, the author who penned the quote above about Charleston, wrote Porgy (which Gershwin later adapted to the musical, Porgy and Bess). He also wrote Mambo’s Daughters in 1929 and Lost Morning in 1936, among others. Don’t those sound enticing?
Another Charleston side note: HGTV’s current Dream Home Giveaway is located just outside Charleston – on Kiawah Island. The home is beautiful, and the prize includes 500K cash and a GMC Acadia Denali. Simply go to this link, and enter once a day until February 15th for a chance to win. I say, if one of us wins, we have a party there and “do” Charleston right.
Charleston. My, my, my – what a happy diversion it was. Heyward was right, Charleston is colorful and quaint, alone among cities.
What or where have you had a fortunate accident in your travels?
Have you found that being flexible makes all the difference?
What a wonderful place to be stranded for two days. I have been, and found it to be as wonderful as you. We went with our friends from Kentucky on vacation to Hilton Head. We took a day trip to Charleston. Our friends had been there many times so no tours were necessary. We just walked around town enjoying the gracious homes with their summer porches. Such different architecture than we have here in the West. It was in May, so the humidity hadn’t hit yet. It seemed almost perfect to me. October, November would also be perfect because it would have cooled down by then. We went to Savannah (another incredible must see city) on the same trip but two weeks later. By then the heat and humidity had moved in. The city was still fascinating, but I believe I would have enjoyed it more in May.
Love the pictures!
Gracious. That’s a perfect word to describe Charleston, Karen. And yes, you’re correct, October/November was a lovely time to be there.
I never knew how picturesque and beautiful Charleston is. Your pictures are terrific!! I love the rich history peeking out in the exposed brick and the charming colours!!
Have a beautiful week,
Jennifer
I never knew either. I thought of revolutionary times as being in the New England states and was surprised (shows my ignorance) at the rich history dating back just as far back in Charleston.
Gorgeous photos! (A place I’ve always wanted to visit…)
BigLittleWolf recently posted..Turnaround
I’d love to go back, BLW. Perhaps we can get some fabulous girls together and make it there sometime.
That’s a great idea! I know there’s antiquing in Charleston… Any discount designer shoe shopping?
BigLittleWolf recently posted..Lonely, Shmonely
I lived outside Charleston for for close to a year. It is a beautiful city. I’ve been to Goat Sheep Cow! Thank you for the trip back in time. Although I wasn’t in a good place mentally when I lived there, thanks to the passage of time I can think back fondly to my playing tourist (or even getting lost while trying to find the center where I would be taking the GRE).
Once I accidentally missed my train stop while traveling in Switzerland. I was all upset at myself for the mistake. It took a few minutes before it dawned on me that I WAS IN SWITZERLAND! How bad could it be? I got to see a bonus (unexpected) city that trip.
Tammy recently posted..The Love of Now
You’re right, Tammy. When “mishaps” occur while traveling, it is good to stop, take a breath, really look around yourself, and take it all in for what it is. Serendipity. Adventure. Life. Luck. Real travel.
I adore Charleston. The SC beaches around the city are fabulous too!
Can’t wait to go back, Amy. On a scheduled, longer visit.
It always amazes me how beautifully serendipity works. Finding yourself in this gem of a city with such a gorgeous weather…Thank you for taking us along Barbara, I am crossing my fingers you win the HGTV house and once you announce it here, I am coming over
Anyes – Far Away in the Sunshine recently posted..A Sunday Party
Me smiling, Anyes, and keeping my fingers crossed too – for all of us.
My husband would tell you that no one loves a side trip like I do. Drives Mr. Point A to Point B a little crazy! My best was probably New Harmony, IN a Utopian society I had always read about. My daughter and I worked that in on one of our college visiting excursions. But now you have me hankering for a trip down South!
May recently posted..The Soup Pot
Ha! May, my husband too, says I’m so easily distracted. I’ve pulled off many a highway because a beautiful field or rustic barn that begs to be photographed. Much less, an intriguing sounding town. A Utopian society in New Harmony, Indiana? I’m so intrigued! Your daughter sounds like mine as far as being a like-minded traveling companion.
A few years back I traveled to Charleston regularly. It’s a diverse and complicated city, but full of beauty. And yes, I found be flexible and easy going helped me quite a bit when I was sent to India for three weeks. If I gone with an agenda, a list of must dos.. I would never have accomplished them. BTW, your photos are lovely. I had completely forgotten I had been there until seeing your captivating photos. Good eye.
Brenda recently posted..Letter From My Childhood
Thank you Brenda. I’ve learned to go with fewer “stops” in mind and spend a little longer savoring one or two spots on a trip. Makes the “mishaps” fun too.
I haven’t been there but have always wanted to go! The other place that has always been on my list is Savannah. I guess I just haven’t spent enough time in the South.
You are helping me feel less guilty about two of my favorite trips. One was on Maui in 1991 when Hurricane Iniki was wiping out Kauai. We had just left Kauai the day before, and we experienced the incredible winds and waves and drama but no danger on the neighboring island. Didn’t know until we returned to the mainland what devastation there was.
The other trip was to New Orleans one week after 9/11/01. The trip had been planned for months, and although we were in mourning along with the rest of the country, there seemed no reason not to go. It was like the entire city belonged to us – no tourists, and we could walk into any restaurant! Wonderful, in spite of the tragedy.
Katrina Blanchalle recently posted..Turning Disaster into Dinner
That’s exactly what I had to suppress, Katrina; a guilty feeling that while Sandy was pummeling the northern US coast, we were enjoying soft breezes and such a beautiful city. We were lucky to have gotten out of Germany when we did – with only a southern diversion – ended up being revelatory for us to be in the South. I’m SO unfamiliar with the southern states too. I’m glad my appetite was whetted.
Love how you took what could have been construed as misfortune and turned it into a delightful memory! I’ve never been to Charleston, but it sounds and looks like a place I’d like to see. The colorful homes, the plantations, the waterfront — all splendid. Thanks for sharing, thanks for being so brave to venture around strange streets when you could just as easily have holed up and cursed the storm!
Debbie recently posted..Thoughts about Manti
Wink, wink, Debbie. We’re so glad too – lemons into lemonade and all.
I love goat sheep cow! It was so surprising–and nice!–to see a bit of Lowcountry on your blog. Glad you got stuck there.
Bethany recently posted..Days off
Me too, Bethany. Me too. And yes, with a name like goat, sheep, cow, you kind of HAVE to step inside, right?