August 2010 Trip!

I just typed up a huge post, stupid me, not on word, and for some reason it didn't take. Ugh! I'll have to start again later. I'm sorry for the fragmented posts but we are visiting halls, family, and the church trying to organize everythign before school goes back in NJ for us, before my grad classes start up again, and before Lou's busy season with the Key Club he runs at his school begins! I'll retype the post and try again later!

Millie- That sounds AWFUL! We avoid that bridge at all costs around here!

LifeIsForLiving- Evil Time Vortex! I love it! I'm going to use that. It gets the point across but sound smuch nicer than the words we used!

On the way home I also re-named South Carolina. By then I was done with the car and getting into a new state is exciting because it feels like progress! However, SC into NC.....long, look the same, practically the same name. I got antsty, and grouchy and we now refer to SC as Palmetto because it makes me feel better and I felt like more progress was made when it had a different name. lol

With school getting ready to start and wedding plans getting a bit hectic to try and accomplish lots before school, I've opted not to re-type up my deleted post. It was just my short, nostalgic stop at South of the Border.



Charleston!
I had never done much in the south before besides drive through it. Lou went to college at NC state and developed a love for its charm, architecture, and of courseâ¦..food. He wanted me to see Charleston very badly. He said it was beautiful, magical, and he knew I would love it. I replied, fine, weâll go. But itâs not as magical as Disney World.
We left Raleigh fairly early to get to Charleston early enough to have the whole day ahead of us. A light rain had come through before we arrived leaving the air sweet smelling and slightly stuffy. The temperature was not as bad as I expected at this point.
We checked into the French Quarter Inn. It was GORGEOUS! I had never stayed somewhere so elegant in my life! The people at the desk were so kind and helpful. They explained that they had continental breakfast in the morning, served wine and cheese in the lobby at 5, and served cookies and milk around 8-10 before bed. Well, hello Charleston- I love you already.

After checking into the room, which was very nice, we went out and hit the street exploring. Our first stop was the street market which was full of neat vendors showcases their handmade pieces. I purchased some colored pencils carved by hand and looking like twigs for my classroom. We walked through looking at hand woven baskets, colorful tapestries and painting, hand carved wooden boxes, and all sort of assortments of thing.
After about an hour or so Lou began to get hungryâ¦.and hungry is usually followed by unhappy. We put shopping in hold and went over to A.W. Shucks to get some eats. We were seated outside which was not prime. It was sooo hot and humid by this point. Iâm from NJâ¦this summer was hot here and unbearable but our weather is nothing like this. Even in Disney the humidity cannot compare to Charleston. I was soo sticky. Thank goodness we had a fan over our table! Lou ordered a shrimp sandwich and I had a good old turkey wrap with cucumber dressing. Mine was so fantastic (I thinkâ¦or maybe I was just starving) and Lou liked his sandwich, too.



Full and content, we decided to walk over and see if we could take a carriage ride which details the history of Charleston for you and lets you see the beautiful sites without having to walk too much. We figured we would be doing plenty of that in Disney.

Our carriage ride was very fun! As you ride you hear history, take pictures, and our driver, Jackson, was quite the comedian as well. He told us how JFK worked and lived there, the prices and architecture styles of homes, about battles, cannon fire, and churches. He noted that the shutters on building with hearts on them signified that men could go there for a good time with women and shutters with moons signified a place women and men could go. The ride was about an hour and very fun.
After the carriage ride, Louâs cold was bothering him we walked blocks and blocks to a CVS to find some medicine. We then opted to go back to the room and shower before dinner. We showered and made it in time to have some yummy wine and cheese at the hotel. We then walked around and explored a bit before dinner.

Dinner was at a place called Blossom. We had looked at the menu online before going because Iâm very picky. I donât eat anything from the sea, not much into beef, and eat almost all chickens. When we are seated and handed menus, Iâm shocked. Itâs all seafood and one steak. We asked the waiter about the online menu and he said they just changed a week ago. Boo. Lou had been so excited about the seafood here. He wanted to leave and go somewhere else but how could I deny him his seafood fix. I said not to worry Iâd eat the steak. After hearing this the waiter feels bad and brings us a complimentary appetizerâ¦..scallops. Apparently, he was only half paying attention to us.
Lou loved the scallops. I dipped bread in the sauce which was a lemony garlic mix. Very tasty. For dinner I had a steak with some creamy mashed potatoes. I was a steak â¦but still very good. Lou had grilled mahi mahi and absolutely loved it. He cleared his plate! We had a nice wine to go with dinner and it was the first truly relaxing part of our trip.


After dinner he brought out the dessert menu. I had been waiting months for their gingerbread cheesecake. Oh well, they changed the dessert menu, too. There was nothing on the menu I was really into for dessert and Lou was full anyway. We decided to head back to the hotel for cookies and milk instead. The cookiesâ¦..were amazing.

If you are heading to Charleston, definitely stay at the French Quarter Inn!
*We were going to do a ghost tour that night but with a 5 am wake-up call we opted out. Itâ something to look forward to next time.

I'll post some pics I took on the carriage ride, also.

I just posted a bunch of webshots on here. They either come out tiny or not at all. So....if you would like to see any of my photos of the French Quarer Inn, Charleston, or food here is a link to my webshots page.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/578397044ofQaBd

Definitely not as magical but definitely somewhere I plan on going back. The hotel was magical! Cookies and milk?! Wine and Cheese?! And wait until I show you the breakfast spread. A+ for the French Quarter Inn. Charleston is truly a beautiful place and we met such kind people while there. I can't wait to go back...on my way to Disney. hehe