Charming Charleston!

What a wonderful surprise awaited us in Charleston! The historic town is resplendent in beautiful mansion, quaint shops, and amazing gardens, some of which can be glimpsed through ornate wrought iron gates and fences. I fell in love with the place... the beautiful avenues of wild olives and magnolia trees offering cool shade on an unusually warm December day; the art museums, and not least of all, the tour of the famous Calhoun Mansion made the trip entirely worthwhile!

Unfortunately no photography was permitted in the Calhoun mansion, but I have one or two pictures of the gardens showing one a multitude of fountains and perfectly trimmed topiaries. The current owner has graciously opened the first two storeys of his home to visitors, and it is a treasure trove of antiques from across the globe. It is totally worth a visit, the art work and chandeliers are especially amazing.

Wintertime...and the livin' is easy! Hammock in Battery Park

I was intrigued by the cart and the dogs being towed after their walk in the park!

Gateway to a hidden garden.

Colors of winter.

Graceful mansions of old town Charleston.

Wild olive trees in Battery Park

The entrance to the Calhoun Museum.

Glimpse of the garden at the mansion.

Basket weavers, they use saw grass.

From Asheville to Savannah

I loved my visit to Savannah! We stayed on Tybee Island so that we could enjoy the beach as well as the city. The warm embrace of southern hospitality is palpable in every friendly smile and helpful guide. We took a trolleybus tour and then walked around the waterfront. We decided to forego the famous Paula Deen restaurant in favor of a highly recommended Greek Restaurant. The food was good but the portions were overwhelmingly huge. A pity, indeed, I could only eat half of it... I hate to waste, but I could not carry around a box of food while walking and taking photographs.

Here are some of the pics:

 

We ended our brief trip with a visit to Zunzi's, a South African restaurant. Highly recommend it for ambiance, the food, live music and the great service!