Charleston and our first carriage ride was fun...

Charleston was very interesting, and much history here.

We didn't know what it would be like, but we had been told to tour town in a buggy, a private tour was best. Not wanting to be scrunched in with 16 people in a buggy, shoulder to shoulder 4 a seat, we decided this was the time to do a private tour.

Bosco was with us today, we could stay as long as we wanted then.

Bosco liked it too

First of the day was parking at the Visitor center, where we were told the parking was free. Not, we paid like others $2.00 per hour. We went inside and got some info about the Market area, and where to get a buggy ride, and how many there were. We also picked up tickets to Patriots point, and a tour of the Aircraft carrier, 2 Battle ships, and a Submarine, and a Vietnam memorial. Now we take Kings street to the market, and slowly walk our way there. We pass a few plaques telling of what happened here years ago, and we stop and read them, one even says (continued on other side), that was a first. What I have learned is that the Civil War was much less than Civil. Also that even though the war was lost by the Confederates, the beliefs are still deeply ingrained in many people of the south, no matter what colour, or what religion, they have the south as a separate entity than the rest of the USA.
Kinda reminds me of the French and English in our country. As I write this they have been tearing down statues in New Orleans that are based in confederacy, and there are people on both sides of this thinking demonstrating, with at least 2 different flags. I don't know this will ever die, as is passed down from parents to parents, and parents to children, and on and on.

 

We meet a man selling buggy rides as we made the turn to Market street, he was nice, and called to find a ride that day, and we booked in at 1pm. Now we continue...

We get to Market and read the signs here about the past, and see that this was a market years ago, and that much was marketed here, more than just products for consumption here, much was marketed that was shipped around the world.
Tobacco was a big seller, and much was produced here. I didn't see any but there were a few cigar shops close by. Mostly we saw baskets that people would buy as souvenirs, and clothes, and trinkets. I talked with a man that was making baskets, and he told me the light coloured grass was sweet grass, and the dark was bull rush grass. Both were very smooth, round, and strong. This was how products in the past were transported, and served. Beautiful work.

We saw many on the street here, 

Beginning of the Market area

Used to be the meat market, now a museum

Market building on the left, buggy on the right

Lunch came before the ride, and we stopped into Bubba Gumps Shrimp, and had a nice lunch with Bosco sitting under the table, was different as never had him out to lunch at a restaurant before. Was a real good lunch Gumbo and salad for me, and a fish bunwich for Polly. Was nice to eat before we went on the ride.

Bosco did get a little bored.

Old run down home, still worth
close to $600,000.00 he says

We made or way to the Red Barn and found our ride, and had some info to learn before we went, The route we would go on was not chosen by us, as the neighbours were tired of too many buggies in one place, so the city made a draw that chose random which buggy went when. The way it was chosen was from the past, a old bingo draw machine was used, made me laugh, all here that is old is valued, and preserved!

Our tour number decided by the
Bingo machine to the left

The ride was great, and would recommend it to all, was much nicer than being scrunched in with 14 others. We had a good driver, he explained some of the intricacy's of the city, past and now as well as some of the trees and bushes that were planted here. He missed most of the bumps, and made it just a little easier than bumping all around the city.

After we had toured we new would be a long hot walk back to the truck, so we caught a Peddi-Cab ride back, another first. He was fast, and fun to talk with as we were wisked up the street among the traffic fast and efficient, may have to try this again.

All in all a good day, and was nice to have Bosco with us.

Loving life here in Charleston...

Savanna was fun, and Happy Acres RV was funny!

We pulled into Happy Acres RV Sunday afternoon, Wow colours were wild here, and the theme was Happy alright!  We were surprised to find no one available to check in with, and not sure where to go, so we picked a spot that was easy to back into, and was nice a level and made it ours! After setting up we sat outside for awhile and enjoyed the quiet, just birds and a dog bark once in awhile. Nice to have quiet here. Polly and I took Bosco for a walk later in the evening and were surprised to see all the trailers were the same vintage, and all had different colours on them, and all were bright and cheery. Never have we seen this kind of colour in a trailer park. Was not really an RV Resort. Was a trailer park with a small amount of RV spots. Polly says you have to get a picture of this, and of course I do.

Office

Laundry Room

Many Colours here...

Savannah was a beautiful old city, which was the centre for shipping cotton from the USA to around the world we found out on our trolley tour Monday afternoon. We started late that day, and we got on the tour for the last of the day. The pilot was Tina she said, Tina with a "T"... LOL

Oldest Catholic Church in USA

 

 

 

She was a fun driver, and we did enjoy the tour. Much to see, and she made what we saw delightful, and fun. We wound ourselves around the town and around almost every Square, which there are many, and were told many facts, and much history in a fun way. We even had a Confederate Army Soldier get on at one point and tell of the problems the war brought to his family, made you think of how it still has deep roots here in the south. I have never seen so many park Squares in a town before, was laid out with this as a theme when they built this town years ago, I like it. After the tour we went for a walk to the waterfront and stopped into a pub for a drink at the bar. I start to talk with two women that were there for a trade show and Polly and I end up having a real good conversation with them. Sue & Jeanette are there names, as we told them of our trip, and how we have changed up our lives Jeanette was so interested, she says she was thinking of doing the same when her time comes to retire. Sue was just building a house. We all are doing what makes us happy, that's what I say.... All of a sudden there is a huge ship going by and I run outside and take a few pictures. The ship was so close it felt like you could touch it. It was huge, and full of containers... This port is still a huge part of shipping for the east coast of the USA.

We finished our conversations about the time we finished our drinks, and off we went, but exchanged our email's and gave them our Blog so we could connect later. Jeanette said "If you are ever in Baltimore give a call, would be nice to meet and talk again, was so nice to run into these two. Never knew where Baltimore was till now!

Polly and I then went for dinner at B Mathew's as suggested by a young woman I asked where to eat, and was fantastic food. Will ask again, as this is best way to find a good restaurant.

Was a quick trip to Savanna, but was good, we liked it, and saw most of what we wanted. I could have hung around the river a little longer, but Bosco was home so wanted to make our way back.

The south has many secrets we can hear and see that, will return and stay a little longer next time, and see more of these southern states.

Charleston next, Loving it here in Georgia...

St Augustine was interesting, and comercial

Saint Augustine, oldest city in America.

Formulating a plan

We had a good visit to Saint Augustine, and saw the Spanish and English army representatives change flags at the Fort to represent the loss by the Spanish to the British. This was a formal handing over of Fort Castillo de San Marcos from years ago that was change, and the beginning's of America. I paid more attention during the act to pictures then the words, and wish I had listened as was the first time I have heard CANADA in any of the history we have learned here in USA. As the man was reading out the decoration he said something about Canada, and both Polly and I heard it but not sure what our country did, or how we played a part. As the performance was taking place, in the background was the smoke rising from another fire as the south, especially Florida was so dry, and many fires happening. The declaration was read, with the two sides present, and the cannon fired and the Spanish flag brought down, then the cannon fired again and the English flag raised. I should have listened a little closer, but the kid in me was watching the cannon fire, and taking pictures of the whole presentation. Was a very well done show, and we were told after that all the people but 1 were volunteers, and some had been performing this ritual for many years. I'm guessing that as this is the beginning of the USA's start that people are very proud to be involved in this production. Best show we have seen in our trip, now looking back I wished I had listened a little closer, and took a few less pictures.

 

Declaration being read

The woman tells the men what to do! Like usual...

Now for the beers together...

After the fort we walked up the main street (no vehicles here) which had all the ice cream shops and touristy stuff to see and buy. Polly went and got a flag for the our camp spot, and I sat and watched people, and of course found someone to talk with. So many people were flocking here, and I look and wonder why? Not much of the real history represented here, just a few older buildings, but most new looking old, and selling something. After Polly makes her purchase, we walk a little farther and get to a pub for lunch, and a beer. Lets go out to the deck instead of inside, and we did. Was a nice place we stopped as could see the front of the fort, and the main road went by so we had a showing of all the old cars that were in town that day, was nice. We saw that dogs were allowed in the outside here, and felt bad we had left Bosco at home, will bring him next time.

Polly goes to the candles and takes a look

Oldest Catholic Church

Inside the church

Faces sent from Spain as a present for Saint Augustine.

History is interesting. Here on the south east coast it is what attracts so many people, along with the beautiful beaches... 

Loving this exploring of the south east USA....