dispatches from the new world of work

Glorious Charleston!

Charleston, South Carolina! What a town/city! Arrived, awash in Brazilian friendship, from Belo Horizonte (via São Paulo and Miami) at 9 pm, and immediately changed into shorts so I could log my Wednesday power walk. What a wonderful hour-long walk! Charleston is magical at night! The sounds and smells of summer—and the humidity—still goin' strong! Such a beautiful and well preserved town center! Such amazing architecture! I'd judge that one out of every three houses/buildings has a fascinating historical marker—including one on the house of a principal Confederate blockade runner.

My treat to myself for pushing through exhaustion to rack up my exercise: a bowl of Charleston's best "She Crab Soup," courtesy Charleston Place hotel. The lingering question: Will he or won't he have "Shrimp and Grits" for breakfast? (I'll let you know.)

(Note to self: Got to get back here with Susan for the Spoleto Festival next spring.)

Tom Peters posted this on 09/29/05.

Comments

Tom;

Amazing travel--not sure your schedule coordinator has your best interest at heart. Would love to know how you spend your day--how you find the time to read when your not traveling, work out ect. I read your schedule and am convinced your working with more the 24 hours in the day...

Best of luck the next few days...

Michael

Posted by Michael Lombardi at September 29, 2005 9:12 AM

From a lowcountry man, welcome to the Holy City! When I wan an undergrad at the College of Charleston, I used to jog 3 - 5 miles through the downtown area three times a week. It is beautiful! Charleston has done a great job of retaining it's elegance and the Charleston Place complex is the centerpiece of Mayor Joe Riley's downtown revitalization that took place some years ago. To smell the marsh at low tide on the Battery is powerful medicine for the homesick soul (I now live in upstate SC).

If time permits...
1. See the new Cooper River Bridge, or better yet walk across it on the new pedestrian lanes - you will not be disappointed.
2. Enjoy the local food - which means shrimp, grits and black bean soup. Carolina's on Exchange would be my choice, other than Charleston Place (hard to beat a 4 Star on premises!).
3. Enjoy the art and artists. The local flair is unmistakable. You name it, this city has it.

And most of all, do come back in April - May. The smell of Wisteria and Magnolia at the gardens is memorable to say the least.

Posted by Barry at September 29, 2005 2:38 PM

As an (almost) lifelong Carolinian, I echo your love for Charleston, especially at night. I dub it "the most relaxing place on Earth." (At least that i've been too thus far in my short, but full 25 years.)

Posted by Joshua Blankenship at September 29, 2005 6:58 PM

Oh, I'm so jealous! I visited Charleston in 1995 and fell in love with the place. She Crab Soup is God's favorite food! And then there was the little place across the bay in Mt. Pleasant where they were unloading the shrimp from the little boats, cleaning it, cooking it, and serving it in piles on waxed paper.

I also loved Patriot's Point. Touring the Yorktown was just plain cool. Folly Beach and the rest of James Island is also great, but maybe has gone down a few notches in my "I want to retire there" list since I have become more hurricane aware.

Either way, Charleston is just so cool. Take the boat tour and watch the dolphins play in the bay while you cruise around Ft. Sumter. It don't get no better than that...

Posted by Mike at September 29, 2005 8:24 PM

Next time, don't forget to see the spot where the first cannon-shot of the Civil War was fired! And also the old customs house near the old port. If you walk around these spots you feel you are in Europe.

Posted by Mandar at September 30, 2005 12:09 PM

Was in Wilmington 2 weeks ago - definitly, try the shrimp and grits

Posted by Mike Swenson at September 30, 2005 8:49 PM