FRIDAY 9.20.19 SOUTH CAROLINA (Charleston) Part 2

We took a ride on a horse drawn carriage through the streets of downtown Charleston today.

 Same as with the trolley, the ride didn't lend itself to picture taking. I snapped a few but mostly of buildings because, I truly believe, I was an award winning architect in a previous life. I'm just so taken with these old buildings and the detail put into them. 

And wrought iron, we both just love the wrought iron work on the balconies. 

We passed this one set of buildings and the driver pointed out this tree.  Seems that when the land was sold the owner of one of the lots wouldn't see because of this tree.  He was promised the tree would live.  As you can see it is growing out between two buildings.

These two buildings have been for sale for a long time and the price dropped several times.  Seems as though because of building codes and for some reason these can't be updated, the owners can't sell them.  So year after year they pay the insurance, the property taxes and hope they always have tenants.

We did take the time to walk through the Market.  This is a long, one story building that is just vendor after vendor selling everything you can imagine.  We bought Eagles coasters and several "flowers" made from reeds.  And fudge.  We bought fudge.

If you visit Charleston, one of the have to see, can't leave without visiting, must do things is go to Rainbow Row. This is a group of 13 homes all painted bright pastel colors.

These homes were built around 1740 and were first places of business with the proprietors living in the upper floors.

After the Civil War the area was rundown and considered a slum area. This all changed when Judge Lionel Legge and his wife Dorothy bought a section of housing. Mrs. Legge had one of the houses painted a pretty shade of pink in hopes of making the area more attractive. Soon after other residents starting painting their homes pastel colors.

Many have speculated over the true reason for the color transformation of Rainbow Row. One theory is that the homes were painted various pastel colors so that drunk sailors might find their way home easier. Others believe that the various hues were the merchants’ way of indicating what types of items they sold there. One other theory is that the homes were painted lighter colors to keep them cooler during the hot Charleston summers. City ordinances are in place to insure the homes keep their pastel colors intact.

Charleston is a beautiful city and we wish had more time here. Next trip though here we'll spend more time for sure.