Charleston, SC

We have arrived in Charleston, South Carolina.  We will spend four nights here.  Today we went down to South Battery Street, parked the car and strolled through the park that fronts the street separating the houses from the seawall and Charleston Harbor beyond.  Ft. Sumter was visible in the harbor but it is closed to tours due to the government shutdown.

The weather was pleasant in spite of the threat of rain and we strolled the streets near the Harbor admiring the historic houses, restaurants, the water and City Market with cobble streets here and there and a multitude of horse drawn carriages on tour.  City Market is several blocks long consisting of a building per block filled with vendors of all descriptions on either side of the central aisle in each building. 

Entry to the first of several buildings.

Lunch was in order during our time down town and we enjoyed brunch at one of the restaurants specializing in authentic southern cuisine sampling biscuits with chicken fried steak (Jim) and shrimp etouffee with grits (Chris) before striking out again to photograph the streets.  The moss hanging from oak trees, hibiscus flowers and pastel colored buildings all contributed to the southern atmosphere.  It was a midday well spent.

Chris walking in Battery Park

Tour carriage.

Oak trees of Battery Park

Historic homes on South Battery Street.

Brick buildings are abundant here.

Window boxes with lovely flowers along the sidewalk.

Jim in Battery Park

Hibiscus