Sydney here,
As we discussed in our last posting, we had just left Maebell Coakleys with all our baskets and were heading into Charleston. Charleston, South Carolina is a short drive North of Savannah, Georgia and is right on the Atlantic Ocean. Charleston got its start way back in 1663 when King Charles II gave eight English Lord Proprietors all the land from Virginia to Florida. However, it wasn’t until April, 1670 that the ship CAROLINA anchored in what would become Charleston Harbor. The colonists have arrived and ten years later, settlers would move to and settle what would become Charles Towne, the oldest English city south of Virginia. During the American Revolutionary War Charles Towne was the fourth largest municipality in the colonies and the richest on a per capita basis. The revolution led to the birth of the State of South Carolina with Charles Towne as its capital. In 1783, after the end of the Revolutionary War, Charles Towne was renamed Charleston. Charleston thrived with shipping and cotton during the nineteeth century. But it was in Charleston that the secession of the American South from its cousins in the North began. In 1860 the Ordinance of Secession was signed and six months later the Civil War began when troops in Charleston bombed Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. After the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, Charleston was forever changed. The production of wealth withers. Left at the edge of American history, sultry, decaying, until the 1930's when concerned citizens began the first historic preservation program and Charleston was saved.
Our first stop was the farmers market held in Marion Square where we always stop when we are in Charleston to buy some really good grits. For those of you who don't know what grits are, I'll have to explain later. After leaving the market we walked down to the Battery overlooking Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter. Along the way we passed some incredibly beautiful old homes and stopped and visited with a lot of people who commented on what cute doggies we are and what was our breed. Forgetting where we were, Ruby started to tell them, until I stopped her and reminded her that Mom and Dad were standing right there. Mom and Dad told them we were Cavalier King Charles Spaniels named after the English King from which their town is named. Of course whenever we go, we always get stopped and complimented on our looks. But whenever anyone asks about us Mom and Dad always take the time to educate people on being very careful when wanting to buy a Cavalier. They will tell them if they are ever interested in buying one of us to be very diligent when talking to Cavalier breeders and question them extensively on some of the health issues we face. They also tell them to never, ever buy one of us over the Internet or a newspaper ad. They also give them the web site for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club here in the US to get more information and get a list of breeders who have agreed to abide by very specific breeding protocols.
Sorry, back to Charleston. Arriving at the Battery, we stopped for a rest and a few photos. This peaceful park offers unprecedented views of Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter, while a look back across the
street promises fantastic images of beautiful Charleston mansions. Enormous oak trees provide serene shade to the park and is a great place to take a break and cool off. The park has cannons used to shell Fort Sumter in 1861, two seacoast mortars, and lots more. During the early 18th century, the park was used as the home of the gallows, where Stede Bonnet - the "gentleman pirate" - and dozens of others were hanged. That was scary but Mom said there weren't anymore pirates. Here we are with the park and one of the beautiful homes behind us.
I really like the color pink and so couldn't resist having my picture taken in front of a really pretty home along the Battery walk. I've always suggested to Ruby that we should paint our house pink while Mom and Dad are at work. Our only problem is we can never remember to buy the paint while we are out on one our late night trips. Besides, Ruby doesn't think we can get the whole house painted and get everything cleaned by the time Mom and Dad get home.
Here we are in front of the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. Built by the British as the Exchange and Customs House in 1771, American Patriots were held prisoner here during the Revolutionary War, playing a huge role in American history; and is one of the three most historically significant buildings of colonial America to include Philadelphia’s Town Hall and Boston’s Faneuil Hall.
After a quick tour of the Old Exchange, we stopped off at the Old City Market. Built in 1841, it stretches back for several blocks and features small shops, restaurants and a flea market with everything from produce to antiques. And, if you can't make it out to Miss Coakley's, you can hear the dialect of Gullah ladies as they weave and sell handmade sweetgrass baskets.
Here we are in front of St. Michael's Episcopal Church. Completed in 1761, St. Michael's Episcopal Church is the oldest church edifice in the city and one of the few city churches in America to retain its original design. It was here that George Washington worshipped during his tour of the South in 1791. The clock and ring of eight bells in St. Michael's steeple were imported in 1764. Except for short absences (during the Revolution they were returned to England as a prize of war, and during the Civil War they were burned and had to be sent to England for recasting), these bells have shared the lives of Charlestonians for over 200 years. I think all this history was getting a little boring to Ruby though. Mom and Dad had promised to take us to the beach on Sullivan Island and we were ready to go.
We were really glad to get out the ocean. We were really hot and couldn't wait to get into the water. Ruby was splashing around in the water trying to catch sea gulls and after she came out, I told her she looked really silly all wet and took this picture of her while Mom was looking for sea glass.
Excuse me! Ruby's here. I might have looked funny all wet and Sydney laughed but before she finished laughing, I snatched the camera from her paws and took this little gem. Sydney didn't laugh at me much after this.
The next day, we headed home to Virginia and a long awaited rest. I think next weekend we are headed off to somewhere in Virginia. We'll let everyone know where that might be when we get back and post our pictures. Have a happy Father's Day and we'll see you all very soon.
Bark On!
Ruby and Sydney in Virginia