Walking tour of Charleston

Wednesday, June 21

I had booked a city walking tour, Charleston Footprints with 8th generation Charlestonian  Michael Trouche, for this morning, and wondered if we should cancel, given the  forecast, plus the Tropical Storm approaching the gulf coast.  But it was cloudy but dry, so we drove in and met our guide and the rest of the group to begin our exploration of the historic district.    We were enjoying his stories and the sights in the historic district, but about an hour into the 2 hour tour, and it started raining.  And it rained harder and harder!  Streets quickly filled, and our feet were soon soaked, as it became impossible to miss the puddles!   He ducked us under porticos and onto porches where possible, and altered his route, but we pushed on.  I have to say he was very good, very knowledgeable and entertaining, even changing his itinerary, to allow us a bit of shelter, and it was as enjoyable as it could be in our sodden state!   But we were soaked, and pretty miserable! 

Entrepreneurial little girls selling drinks in spite of the rain.  

The market, now, and then!

Old slave market

Of course, it stopped raining just as we finished!  We headed for some lunch, but found the talk of the town  spot called Husk had  an hour wait, so we found Elie’s table around the corner.  I asked the hostess if she had room for two soggy patrons, and she happily seated us right away.  At the recommendation of our waiter, we chose crab cakes, and I had a mushroom and swiss omelet, both of which were very good.  

Husk

Poogan's Porch

Being sated, and  having dried out a bit.....except for our feet.......  we decided to go to the  Nathaniel Russell house for a tour of what is recognized as  one of America's most important Neoclassical houses and a National Historic Landmark.  Built in the early 1800's at a cost of $80,000, it is a beautiful large home, with ornate details which reflected the family's wealth.   Russell made his fortune in the slave trade, but little was made of that on the tour! I was surprised to learn that the majority of the slaves that came into the country, did so through the port of Charleston, once the richest city in the country, and the fifth largest.  All the beautiful old homes are testament to the wealth that was once here.  The home had beautiful gardens, and huge magnolia trees.  Gardening was a favorite pastime of the ladies, and there are many lovely gardens tucked away and sometimes visible through gates throughout the area.  Our docent informed us that most of the plants were non native, brought in from other countries, and often at a cost of more than the residence! 

Beautiful staircase in Nathaniel Russel House....but this silly woman would not stand still so I could get a shot without her in it!

 

Gorgeous trim work throughout.

Still soggy feet!

 It was now around 4pm, and I  thought a treat was in order....feet STILL soaked.....and had read that the best ice cream could be found at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream shop  on King Street.  Clem was not up for the walk, so we drove, found a parking spot, amazingly, and enjoyed the interestingly flavored  ice cream (salted peanut butter with chocolate chunks and Brambleberry Crisp)  as well as  the neat old buildings with interesting architecture which housed the shops there. 







We passed the  Charleston college and dorm buildings  on the way, so that area is great for the students to walk to and enjoy, and I am sure the shops may have been interesting, but Clem was having none of it! 

Socks drying on entry bar of coach!

 We headed back to the coach, anxious to dry our feet, which were now chilled to the bone despite the warm temps outside, and change into some really dry clothing and relax for the evening.  Tomorrow is another day!