Brian's Big Day

December 19, 2012

7:30 this morning we hopped in the car and left Charleston.  We are on our way to St Louis for Christmas with the whole family!!!!  But, before we leave South Carolina we have a stop in Spartansburg planned....Brian's belated birthday gift.  We are going to the BMW factory for a tour and a visit to their museum.  My gift isn't the $3.50 entry fee.  My gift is a promise not to whine or complain for the entire visit.  Wow, I understand there is a wagering pool to see how long I'll last!     



You can't see his expression, but he's beaming!

BMW engines through the years.

Motorcycles --- Guess what?  They are all BMW's.

Racing BMW's

Isetta -- A very funky vehicle.
The front of the car opens and the steering wheel rotates
so passengers can enter and exit the car.
We're thinking that when we give up the boat this may be
our next adventure! 
 

Well, no need for wagers.  The whole day was extremely interesting.  The factory tour was amazing.  Unfortunately, no photos are allowed around the production line.  The cleanliness of the building, the robots, the efficiency were over the top.  Great time and no complaints -- really!

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

Charleston -- A Grand Old City

November 4 - December 18, 2012

After a month and a half in Charleston, we are beginning to feel like natives!  I finally had to let Brian run errands one day by himself so I could stay home and clean the boat.  Every day we find new places to explore.  Some days we are driving through neighborhoods, other days we are walking through an old section reading the historical markers that seem to be on every residence.  And then, of course, we get hungry and have to find another restaurant.  This retired life is really wonderful!  It helps that the weather is very comfortable with most days in the mid 70's and sunny. 


Charleston, South Carolina is nicknamed "The Holy City".
Perhaps this explains all of the churches and very old cemeteries.



Not every beautiful sunset is on the water.

Another trip to the Saturday Farmers' Market.
Holidays bring live music to the food, produce and
crafts' tents.

Cobblestone streets and homes that
date back to the early 1700's.



The Citadel -- The Military College of South Carolina

 

Barnes and Noble has become a regular stop for us.
We have extremely poor wifi at the boat in this location.
A very friendly group are regulars here.  We now know
each other by first names.  An interesting subculture. 

Trolleys circulate in downtown Charleston

Our new favorite dive.  Fabulous southern food
including the best fried dill pickles.

High tide in low country.
The tide has been so high that some streets were
flooded in Charleston.

We're still amazed to see palm trees, Christmas
decorations and flowers blooming everywhere
we go!

Limb of a live oak extends over the road with a
warning of low clearance for drivers.

We are back in the land of beautiful live oaks.
This one is a host to Spanish Moss, ferns, fungus,
lichen and a small palm tree! 






 

 
Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

Brian's Birthday Celebration

December 4, 2012

Brian's birthday began with a trip to meet my new physical therapist. She is going to try and build up my ankle and knee muscles.  We're not sure there is enough time in my life to complete what needs to be accomplished!  That done we were off for breakfast. Our first choice was closed for remodeling.  But, there is no shortage of good places to eat in Charleston. We found a bakery with great options!

Bonnie and Jon had the afternoon totally planned.  They picked us up and drove to the fresh fish market and wine store.  Brian was to pick out the fish, wine and dessert for his birthday dinner.  Next stop -- a movie theater that serves food and drinks while we watched Lincoln.  What a great movie and fun place to see it!  To end the evening, Bonnie fixed a delicious dinner.   We are lucky to have  friends that are so thoughtful and fun.  I got the bonus of a perfect day and I didn't turn a year older!!!!!   
 
Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

Home For Thanksgiving

November 14 – December 3, 2012

We just returned to Charleston after a whirlwind Thanksgiving trip to see the whole family and then some!  First phase – fly to St Louis to spend a few days with Jennifer and her family and pick up one of our cars.  Second phase – drive to Afton, Minnesota to Steve’s house.  Brian and 6 year old, Christopher, in one car.  Jennifer, 3 year old JAC (Jacqueline) and I drove in car number two.  Ten hours later we arrived to total chaos.  Niko and Addison, 4 year old twins, were near bedtime when we entered the front door.  They had been anticipating our arrival all day!  Combine two kids  that have been in car seats for ten hours with two kids that have been anxiously waiting – unbelievable loud screaming, running and laughing.  It’s a good thing I love all of them!  10 days with Steve’s family included THE DINNER and visits with friends.  Third phase – drive to Rochester, MN to have our two day physicals at Mayo Clinic.  Phase four – three day drive to Charleston.  Phase five – relax at home, revel in the quiet and recharge for Christmas! 

Professional Lego art at the
Magic House in St Louis.

 

Does this look like a budding romance?

Caper & olive pizza vetoed by Mom.

Addison and JAC at MN playground



Stone soup with Niko, Addison and Erin at preschool 

Hike through the woods to the lake at Steve & Erin's. 

Annual family photo

No pilgrams and indians at Thanksgiving dinner,
but lots of scary pirates!

Mayo Clinic is a premier health facility and
it has an amazing art collection.
Chihuly Glass -- just one of the spectacular exhibits.

Close up of Chihuly glass cluster.

A stop at the Bass Pro Shop.
Looking through the cookbook section,
I realized this is not my kind of store! 
 

Driving through the Smokie Mountains

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!

WOW -- Charleston!

November 4 - 13, 2012

We arrived in Charleston expecting to stay two days.  After the first day, we changed our reservation to two months!  The following morning the Today Show announced the best city to visit in the USA is Charleston!  Extending our stay was definitely the right decision.  It has been a phenomenal week:  architecture, history, shopping, gardens, the most delicious food and super nice friendly people!  If you have never made a visit to this city, you really must! 

 

Historical notes: 

The Slave Market
This is where the slaves shopped. 
It is not where slaves were sold.

In 1669 the first settlers arrived in Charleston. The first American Jews arrived through this port along with 1/3 of the slaves brought into the country. 

The shops inside the Slave Market. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Sumter was an early loss during the Civil War.  The Union fort was forced to surrender when it caught fire after a 34 hour artillery exchange.  The surrendering troops were granted permission to fire a 100 gun salute before lowering the Stars and Stripes.  One of the shots misfired and killed two Union soldiers.  Ironically, the first two official deaths of the Civil War were friendly fire.

 

 

The lavish lifestyle of the plantation owners and merchants crashed after the Civil War and the collapse of the rice market.  Luckily, the city was too poor to tear down and rebuild the homes.  Today those homes are selling for up to 20 million!  

Unique Style
What appears to be the front door, opens
to the porches on the side of the house.
If this door is open -- the owners are receiving
guests.  The real front door to the home is
midway on the main floor porch.

 

Pineapples are a symbol of hospitality.
Satellite dish is a sign of modern living.

The first submarine to sink an enemy ship was the hand cranked vessel H.L. Hunley.   It sank in 1863 and the crew drowned at it's Charleston mooring when the wake from a passing steamer flooded it.  The submarine was rediscovered in 1995 and raised in 2000.

Huge Saturday morning farmers' market in
Marian Park:  arts, crafts, vegetables and
food booths. 

 

   

Second Sunday of the month King Street (the main
shopping street downtown) is closed to traffic. 



Jennifer and her trusty stead, Amos. 
They gave us a wonderful tour and history lesson.

Two of the great restaurants we ate at.

While lost, we drove past this restaurant four
times.  We decided it must be an omen.  Great
sandwiches and homemade soups. 

Charleston is second only to Rome for the most
preserved city in the world. 

The Dock Theater built in 1736.  It is
 the oldest building constructed for the
sole use as a theater in the US. 
The theater is still in use today.

Walking the beach we were greeted by this warning!

South Carolina low country waterfront.

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!