Of Carriages, Characters, and Co-incidences

It was hot and steamy on Tuesday, but since it was one of our last days in Charleston, we decided to go downtown and get a taste of history. Our journey took us to Classic Carriages, one of several companies providing carriage rides throughout the city.

We were given the best seat on the carriage as we left the barn...

Bud (the horse) and John (the guide) took us by some points of interest that we had not had a chance to visit. An area of town known as New Town has homes with lots and lots of ironwork. This particular home was completely rebuilt several years ago, and the original ironwork was saved and the new home designed around it.

Even though the homes exhibit a stately exterior, we found that the original inhabitants may not have been quite as pristine as the house is! An unscrupulous carpetbagger built this home after the Civil War.

At least one convention was in town (!).

Returning to the historic barn off of Market Street, Bud needed to cool down. He's reaching for a red bucket of water.

Remember the couple that we met in Savannah and joined in Hampton County for the Watermelon Festival? John, our guide, is from the town of Hampton, and had our friend Linda as a sixth grade math teacher! Somehow the conversation started about where we were all from, and we said that we were from the West Coast. John allowed as how he was a local boy, and there we went. he explained to the rest of the riders that "that's the way it is in South Carolina: we're all family!" Small world!

John is wearing a ribbon celebrating Carolina Day, marking the date of the first decisive victory during the Revolutionary War by the colonists.

Buds temporary home is this historic barn that has been a stable for as long as anyone could remember. Bud and his stablemates do three "runs" a day, with a long cool-down in between, and after three months are transported to a farm for a vacation!

In the midst of thousands of people, hundreds of cars, and 90 degree plus heat, this small flower manages to grow next to the sidewalk!

As I write this, on Wednesday morning, its our last day in Charleston. We need to do some shopping and such, so we won't do much in town. We'll be sorry to leave the city where so much history has occurred, including, John told us, the first game of golf in the United States was played.

We were blessed with a severe thunderstorm last evening, lowering the temperature from 96 to 76 immediately. More T-storms predicted for today, but clearing for our next journey tomorrow. Hope that's true!