(Continued Charleston from Page 4)
college, a tour of the facility can take up to at least a half-day. Janet and I have been there on several occasions and think it is one of those MUST things. Exhibits begin in the stone-age and work up to modern times. I like the history of rice and indigo production. Of course, there is a lot of antebellum culture and relics of the “Great War of the Rebellion,” another name for you know what. It is one of the best organized and through museums I have been in short of the Smithsonian. Not far away from the Visitors’ Center is a small railroad museum with a full-scale replica of the Rocket, the first successful steam locomotive in America. It’s worth a look, too.
Right beside the Visitor’s Center is another large park. There is a lot of activity there and it’s a great stop and rest area. By the time you have been walking from one point to the other, these rest points are welcomed.
By the way, Charleston is also a college town. The College of Charleston, Charleston Medical College, the Charleston Hospital, and Charleston Culinary School, and are located in the fringes of what we call the downtown area. The end result of this is a vibrate energy with a twist of hustling enthusiasm of a college town.
The downtown streets of Charleston will lead you to old church yards, the home of John C. Calhoun, “The Great Compromiser”, the Dock Street Theater, one of America’s first acting associations, was formed in 1736. Antique stores are a specialty of the shopping areas. Some are fancy and some are my type, the more clutter, the better. Since Janet and I are both bookworms, we spend a lot of time in the used book stores. Once I found a copy of On Watch by CNO Elmo Zuwalt, signed by the great man himself. A local author of some fame is Pat Conroy---Prince of Tides, Beach Music, The Great Santeni, Lords of Discipline, and My Losing Season.
Oh, yes, you will see cadets in uniform on the streets of Charleston. The Citadel, the West Point of the South, is about two miles away, and is another tour recommendation.
Back to dinner, we will seek out an affordable restaurant, sometime on the Ashley side because they have good views which overlook the Ashley River. We can see all kinds of boats and water activity. Seafood is one of my favorites so there is no problem there. Prices are within an acceptable range. Nobody leaves hungry.
By the time you have walked the downtown area, seen the sites, shopped, looked, cooled the heels a couple of times its usually time to head back to the motel. We have stayed on the Ashley side and will be investigating what can be done to accommodate a reunion there.
Speaking of the 2008 reunion, the learning curve has begun. No promises can be made as to how close we can get to the downtown area but it may be said that it will be as close as affordably possible. As things develop, more will materialize on that subject. Needless to say, a target is to get our people out and on their own to Downtown Charleston. That’s going to be one of the highlights. Our next feature will be about what can be accomplished with an automobile for the area. This will include Old Charlestown Landing (of “The Patriot” fame), Patriots’ Point, Island of Palms, Sullivan’s Island and Fort Moultrie, and some of the Plantations, one of which was a setting for the making of “Gone With The Wind.” We’ll talk about golf and transportation later. Meantime, pass the word. Best wishes to all. Janet and Everett—Reunion 2008
