Charleston, South Carolina

Our friends the Cluderay's told us that Charleston, SC is far more interesting and beautiful than Savannah. As we would soon learn, they were right.

We are staying in an old, sort of run-down, but clean and quiet, RV park in Hollywood, SC just slightly south of Charleston. We are wearing shorts because it is 76 degrees outside. Yes, it is November 7.

Today we took a boat out to Fort Sumter. It is on a man-made island at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. On April 12, 1861, at 4:30 AM, the first shots of the Civil War were fired here. We visited Appomatox a couple of weeks ago, where the war ended...so we have come full-circle (although backwards, which is not unusual for us).

Jack in Charleston Harbor

Fort Sumpter's southern facing wall, ruins from the Civil War bombardment

The parade grounds of Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter, with the 5 flags which have flown over it in its history

Really BIG cannons at Fort Sumter

We then strolled through historic Charleston. What a beautiful city! It reminded me of Paris... but decidedly more American.

Charleston Harbor is amazing.  There is historic Charleston (see photos above), huge freighters sailing in and out, an ethereal bridge spanning the harbor, and a maritime museum featuring the USS Yorktown, which began service during WWII and ended it retrieving the Space Shuttle.

The USS Yorktown, decommissioned...now a museum