Well, we packed the bags, loaded the car, got the maps and hit the road. We drove 750 miles to the Bay Area for Christmas with my daughter’s family. After a great holiday we looked at each other and said, “What the Hell are we thinking?” There was rain in Southern California, snow and sleet in Texas and freezing rain in the Southeast.
After much soul searching we opted to fly instead of driving. Although we miss Emma, we are certain that we made the right decision.
Charleston is a great city. The historical district is fabulous. We’ve just completed the 9 site museum tour.
87 East Bay St.
99 – 101 East Bay St.
Broad St. Shutters
The Belvedere Rutledge St. Charleston, SC.
Manigault House
Middleton Plantation
Middleton Plantation
Middleton Plantation
Drayton Hall Plantation
Drayton Hall Plantation
It’s very unnerving to realize that all this wealth was built on the backs of enslaved people. The Alken-Rhett House alone had 31 slaves to maintain a house for two adults and three children. They did all the physical labor. Those with specific skills were rented out to neighbors and associates for extra income. We tend to think of slavery as a short lived chapter in our history. In fact, slavery existed on the North American continent for over two centuries!
Aiken-Rhett House Slave Quarters – Interior
Slaves lived in small rooms above the kitchens and stables.
Aiken-Rhett House Slave Quarters – Interior
Alken-Rhett House Slave Quarters – Exterior
On summer evenings porches are a way of life.
Broad Street
Broad Street
Great photos, Bruce. Glad you guys opted to fly. The weather has been horrible all over the United States. Peninsula has had its share as well.
Enjoy your R&R.
Great photos. Miss you all. Since you have been gone…we’ve had some great weather, sunshining and blue skies right now. Have a great trip.
Great photos! Looks like the weather is cooperating for your trip.
Gorgeous photos! But you’re right, a terrifying legacy.
Thanks for sharing and what great photos! From the looks of it, you’re having a wonderful time. I hope the weather cooperates for you two. See you when you get back. Enjoy!
Thank You for sharing your photos and experiences. We had a horrible time just getting to Arizona with this big storm in CA. You left at a pretty good time. Mary and Rich
wow. great shots. you should be a photographer.
How excited am I to follow your adventures online? EXCITED! Congrats, guys. And thanks for the pics; is it really as beautiful as it looks through YOUR camera’s lens? Gorgeous.
I, too, forgot how l o n g slavery was an acceptable practice in this country. Stunning.
Hi Bruce & Wendi! This is a great idea to share your trip with us. Obviously, the pics are awesome and it sure puts things in perspective to learn how the history behind this. Sorry to hear that Emma couldn’t be part of the trip… I don’t like leaving my babies behind when I go back to visit my family in Quebec. Enjoy your trip!
Hi Bruce and Wendy! Looks like you are having far too much fun out there in S. Carolina. A wonderfully scary looking place with some equally scary history. Anyway, I think it’s about time you got back to the rain and winds of the Pacific NW and a sense of normality! They miss you up there! Catch you soon,. Have fun.
great light and color — what a sky. hope you get to experience all you traveled so far to see. you’re traveling on behalf of a bunch of house bound weather-obsessed folk, so make it good!
Looks like a tax right-off, to me. This country needs more communities with people sitting on the porch in the evening. Wish they would design houses that way, to include interaction. “Howdy, neighbor! How are your wife and my kids doin’?”
What a great idea…!!! Thanks for sharing. Keep it up. We are looking forward to the next installment.
Beautiful photos. Sounds like you are having fun. Thanks for sharing!
Bruce / Wendi –
Nice job!
You look like you’re having a blast living like Kerouac and enjoying lovely Charleston (of course, I don’t think there was a beat generation anywhere near SC).
I would love to see larger thumbnails on your page (widen that margin and let ‘er rip). This would make your excellent pics pop and truly feature your skills.
Keep ’em coming and safe travels –
Don, Michelle, Jackson & Ian
The photos are lovely and I like the look of your blog site (nice and clean!). I’d love to see more photos of the slave quarters. I have always found them to be amazing in their simplicity. They are in such contrast to the elaborateness of the southern plantation homes. Their indigenous design has resonated in American architecture far longer than the corinthian columns of the owners homes.
Not sure about these “larger thumb nail” requests. Where I grew up, if you wanted larger thumb nails, you became a roofer. “Damn, that hurts!”
This is the other Jim, you know, the one without the thumb nail because I have a hour and forty five minute commute home through scenic Silicon Valley. I’m glad you set sail and made the trip. Looks like good weather and sights. I remember the food was excellent. I look forward to seeing more images and stories.
Bruce, your beach pictures were exciting. There weren’t many people hanging out … and there wasn’t any rain either. Have you changed your westernized New England accent to a smooth drawl yet? Wendy, you’ve got to be thrilled with the trip.
Looking nice Bruce! Gorgeous shots.
No way anybody could have that much fun and be legitimate. What’s your secret? You are our idols.
I’m liking it a lot.
Great Pics as always, thanks for sharing them.
Hi great pictures of this fantastic city. When I lived near the ocean I too didn’t frequent it often. I guess I sort of take it for granted. Regarding slavery is a sad part of most country’s history. Let’s remember that it was not just a southern sin. Many northern communities prospered from that shameful trade. See this interesting article on just that… http://www.masshist.org/endofslavery/?queryID=60
Thank you for your work/play. Charleston’s history is rich.
Wendi / Bruce – What a great idea! Love the blog and the great photos. The history of the area is profound. So glad you guys could get out of the harsh weather. I have always wanted to go to Charleston for the history and architecture, now I want to go even more. One more for the bucket list! Wendi I know you are in heaven and have read every book on Charleston. Sorry I have been so out of touch had a tough year and happy to be starting a new one. I will fill you in later.
XOXO Patty
P’sons: Breathtaking. Are the people as gracious as we non-southerners are led to believe? It seems like such wonderful and historic surroundings could make a person genteel. Here’s hoping the weather and cameras hold up. GB
Charleston in one of my most favorite places in the world! Truly the most polite city in America. We were there last year at this time, your photos are stunning and convey the very essence of that wonderful and historic area. The feeling you get standing in the slave quarters at the Boone Plantation is incredibly humbling, with a feeling of life was really like back then… I am moved in that same way to be able to see it all again! Thank You and we look for ward to seeing more! Enjoy all that good Lowland cookin’!!!