History comes to life

Once again, the weather man was wrong - it didn't rain today!  However, it was hot and humid but there were a lot of clouds and a breeze off the water. We drove into town and then took a free trolley that runs around the downtown area.  We got off at a stop and then walked, walked and walked.....finally catching it again and going to another part of downtown where we walked, walked and walked some more. We saw homes that were built in the early 1700's and are absolutely beautiful.  We walked down the middle of brick streets that were completely covered with large oaks. Charleston has done a wonderful job of maintaining their historic area. 

A highlight for me was visiting the St Michaels Church (pic at left). The original church was built in 1727 but was later destroyed by fire.  The current church was opened for services in 1761 which was 15 years BEFORE the Declaration of Independence was signed. The steeple is 186 ft high. The chandelier was ordered from London in 1803. It was first lighted with candles, later with gas and now with electricity.  The pulpit inside is England after the Revolution as a prize of war, bought by a merchant and then shipped back to Charleston. We were taking pictures inside the church when the janitor stopped vacuuming, led us into pew #43, handed us a pamphlet and said to read a particular paragraph on the church history. We were setting in the "Governor's Pew" that George Washington worshiped in on Sunday afternoon, May 8, 1791. General Robert E. Lee worshiped in the same pew 70 years later. I was impressed!!!! He insisted on taking our picture setting in the pew.

Lunch was at a British Pub that a local recommended to us. The food was wonderful. Then it was on to the Charleston City Market, an open air market that was established in 1807 and covers 4 city blocks. By now, our feet are numb so we caught the trolley back to the car.  Fun day!
Tommorrow is Folly Beach and a lighthouse, Charleston Tea Plantation (yes, where they grow tea) and the Firefly Distillery where they make Sweet Tea Vodka.