Doin' the Charleston

Ahhh, Charleston. I love this city. We were the fifth and sixth people off the ship today to maximize our time here. Our day started with a horse drawn carriage tour with Dave the horse (who was a tad bit on the gassy side, I must say.) I forced Jim to stop and walk through an old, spooky graveyard, because you know me and my obsession with all things death related. We then toured one of the oldest private residences in the city, which happens to be the largest at 24,000 square feet. It happens to be owned by an international litigator from Washington DC and at $15 per person, I'm guessing we are helping to pay a very small part of his maintenance fees. This lawyer also happens to have an affinity for precious antiques and has one of the largest collections in the country. This house was packed, I mean PACKED to the gills with his antiques, so much so that it was hard to see the beauty and architecture of the actual building. For those in my family, think Aunt Goldy's house but instead of plastic lava lamps, there were Louis Comfort Tiffany chandeliers. I guess when poor people have a lot of stuff, we call them hoarders but when rich people fill up their homes, they're COLLECTORS. Our day continued at the old slave market (Jim later confessed that he was afraid I might trade him in) and then a quick stop at a yummy smelling candy shop. As I write this, we are enjoying a delicious caramel apple. I still love this city. Enjoy the pictures of some of charleston's great architecture. The picture that shows Catfish Row is where Porgy and Bess was written. We are due back on the ship shortly, so for now I'm signing off...(Don't want to be the ones running after the ship, you know!). Ps, Susanne, if you're reading this tell Elliot we saw 'Elliot' street today. It used to be the street where all the brothels were!