There
is something special about Charleston, South Carolina and I think it
has something that has to do with good ole' southern charm. I always
wish I could take Seattleites on a tour of Charleston to experience the
South that I love instead of the South they see in Nascar
races. Charleston is a bastion of the Old South and retains a load of
southern charm and beauty that is unrivaled. It's also where the first
shots of the Civil War were fired.
JJ
and Shannon, a couple of our best friends, moved from Seattle to
Charleston recently and we're staying with them (and their dogs Pooch
and Murphy) for a couple of days. This is JJ and Murphy on the right)
The
aside from the charm of the people, it's the historical architecture
that sets Charleston apart. It's a city that is situated on a
peninsula with the majority of the historical homes toward the tip of
the peninsula. Back in the mid-to-late 1700's and early
1800's Charleston became one of the biggest cities in what was becoming
America.
The land owners from all over the south built huge houses in Charleston
as their "places in the city"; places to go and socialize with other rich land owners.
It should be mentioned that this was a time of slavery in the South and
the spoils of land ownership, including the homes in Charleston, were
built upon the labor of slaves. Though not a proud history, slavery is
very much a part of the history of Charleston.
Today, the homes of land owners still exist in Charleston and the vast majority are private residences. Walking around the
"Battery" or the tip of the peninsula, is perhaps the biggest draw
among tourists and for good reason-- the area has block after block of
impeccably maintained homes and gardens build in the late 1700's. The
place just bleeds with southern charm and historical societies play a big part in maintaining the history of the city.
The
downtown area of Charleston is also home of the College of Charleston
which is famous among many males in the South for having a very
favorable female to male ratio. I've heard 1:4 and 1:6 female to male
estimates. Having lived in Charleston for a couple of years, I can
vouch for both the number and beauty of the residents- unlike any other
place I've seen, honestly.
I'll come back to Charleston one day when I'm ready for my life to be slower and more laid back. It will be a while. :)
