We have got to leave all that behind

Sometimes a song gets stuck in my head.

Today, it's this...



And I'm totally ok with that.

In my mind I'm going to Carolina

It's been a while, but I haven't exactly been "living the life" lately.

I did, however, spend a weekend in Charleston, South Carolina recently.


I love Charleston! I'd live there if I could.

I stayed at The Mills House, a beautiful old hotel in the historic district.


(that open window on the 4th floor was my room)

Besides spending time with friends, I just wandered around the historic district...

an example of a classic "Charleston single" with side piazzas


sometimes the houses are set back from the road


a joggling board

The joggling board was invented near Charleston in the 1880s. Traditionally painted Charleston green (so dark it's almost black), the board is bouncy and dips in the middle. According to a popular myth, courting couples would sit at opposite ends and bounce towards each other until they met in the middle.

(Cute!)

Unfortunately, another aspect of Charleston history involves it's role in the slave trade.

Charleston was once a primary center for the transatlantic slave trade. But when the United States constitution was ratified, it contained a provision that led to a ban on the importation of African slaves. This created an increased demand in the domestic slave trade, which was carried out by local and regional slave traders and dealers.

The Old Slave Mart Museum tells the story of Charleston’s role as an urban slave-trading center during this domestic slave trade.



After touring the museum, and a quick lunch at Poogan's Porch, it was time to go home.

Leaving Charleston...


New York the next day...


Maybe I could live there.