Charleston, SC: Another Beautiful Southern City

Hello All! After two weeks with almost no wi-fi access we are back 'on the net'. We are in the Oaks Plantation Campground about ten miles outside of the historical city center, and it has a pay as you go internet service, which works pretty well.

Charleston is another beautiful southern city with lots of history. As usual we started at the visitor's center to get oriented. Lots of museums, tours, markets and, especially popular with MLA, shopping to choose from.

Thank goodness for the #1 RV Rule: "Nothing new can come into the RV without something of similar size and weight going out". Not my rule; this is an Official RV'ing Rule. You have to agree to abide by these Official RV Rules in order to buy an RV. At least that's what I told MLA and it does make sense since you pay a 'fuel tax' on everything you put in the RV.

MLA, as sharp as ever, pointed out jewelry is (almost) weightless. She's quick to take advantage of any loophole...

Yesterday we took a carriage tour, which are usually a great way to get a feel for an area. Except in Charleston, the carriage tours are so popular, the city regulates how many carriages can be touring the city at any one time. The city has been divided into three districts and you never know which district you'll be touring until the last minute. By that time, you have been loaded (packed and squeezed is more truthful) into the carriage for upwards of 20 minutes or more. Suffice it to say the carriage tours here in Charleston, once you get going, are very good. Not knowing how long you'll wait before starting or which portion of the city you'll be touring, is not.

The tours leave from the Slave Market. I thought, from the name Slave Market, that slave's had been bought and sold there. Turns out, the family (staunch abolitionists) that sold the property to the city had a stipulation in the contract that said if slaves were ever bought/sold in that market, ownership of the property would revert to family.

The name Slave Market comes from the fact the market sold all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and meats, and when the produce went bad the vendors simply threw the rotten food into the streets. In the heat & sun of Charleston the smell was atrocious. So the 'good people of Charleston' would not go to the market themselves, they sent their slaves. Hence, the name Slave Market.

Had dinner at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Restaurant. I know, I know, here we are surrounded by establishments that had been in business forever, and we choose a movie knock-off restaurant. I don't care; food was excellent and the outdoor ambiance was a lot of fun. You'll never guess what was on the menu: Steamed Shrimp, Fried Shrimp, Shrimp Hush Puppies, Shrimp Scampi, Shrimp ..... well you get the idea. What does MLA order? A pulled pork BBQ sandwich. Next time we'll hit something a little more authentic to Charleston.

Next we plan to visit some of the plantation's along the Ashley River. There are three of them fairly close together that look to be spectacular. Closer to the campground there's also a tea plantation, reportedly the only tea plantation in the country in the early 1800's.

Good friends of ours, Jack and Cathy S. are coming down from Myrtle Beach tomorrow. I worked with Jack for many, many years and can't wait to see the two of them. Have to find a good place for lunch.

Back to 'Internet Access'. Amazing how much MLA and I have come to depend on the Internet. It is the perfect travel companion/tool except it is not available everywhere.

I'm in the process of ordering a cellular based wi-fi access system that will provide Internet access where ever I can get a cellular signal. Still not everywhere however much improved. The only thing better is a satellite system which costs about $5K; much too much when you consider the cellular system is only about $500. Plus, of course, those irritating monthly fees of ~$60-80 for either a cellular or a satellite system.

The geek in me says "satellite"; the tight fisted money manager says "free internet hot spots"; the realist in me says "cellular internet". So many voices inside my head I can hardly hear anyone else....

See Ya!