Doing Charleston - Day Two, Sunset Harbor Cruise

 I've mentioned many times in past travel posts how much Wife and I enjoy a harbor cruise. Maybe it is the relaxation compared to our normal trooping around places when we are visiting. We also like shooting at the end of the day. So getting the two in one seemed like a real bonus. 

Getting on our boat, we were surprised. It had been advertised as a narrated tour, but the crew said it wouldn't be (though in the end there was narration). It was a small boat with only a crew of three. The lead person doing the talking was named Victor. He was a high energy, 'hey let's party' kind of lead. I will admit to being turned off by this to begin with. But I will give credit where credit is due, he had everyone relaxed and having fun by the time we were halfway through the two hour cruise including Wife and I.

Victor - not a very good picture, but he took it of himself on my phone! LOL

Right off the dock we saw some automobile transport ships which look really weird

And we immediately saw some dolphins. Sadly I was not in a very good position to shoot them.

However, I did get a glimpse of the rare Espouses Fotograficus Marinus

Study of a Tanker

Study of a Bridge

Study of the Second Carrier Yorktown

The first was sunk at the Battle of Midway in WWII. The second was commissioned not long afterward and had a 40 year career in service, being retired here in Charleston Harbor.

NOT an aircraft carrier

Also NOT an aircraft carrier even though flying things are launched

Fort Sumter - Confrontation signaling the start of the Civil War

Mike, the senior operator on the boat was surprised by Wife and my photography. I guess they don't get may photo enthusiasts on this particular crew. I showed him the trick of getting a reflection off of one's (in this case his!) sunglasses.

The Main Event

Study of the Setting Sun

Wife and I won the prize as the longest married couple on the boat. Victor was taking couple's pictures and we decided to take advantage of it as we have very few pictures of ourselves together.

Estate houses lining the Charleston shore on our return

Saint Michael's in the sunset

The moon shining over the night water

Doing Charleston - Day Two

Wife and I are in full travel mode now. We did more of the GPSmyCity tour today and then we did a sunset harbor cruise in the evening. As this led to many, many pictures, I have divided them into two separate posts. 

Before I get on with the pictures from the first part of the day, I want to return to the subject of dealing with history of slavery. I am not going to go on a long polemic. I think I can sum up my opinion thusly. (You are entitled to your own opinion).

1. Slavery has been with humanity for as long as there has been history. There is no society that I have studied in all my readings on history (and I read a lot) that can say they have been slave free. So let's start with the idea 'let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.'
2. Yet, I don't think that means we should ignore what happened in the past, or whitewash it, or give ourselves a free pass because "everyone did it".
3. The reality is, however, nothing we do now will change the past. 
4. We can change where we are now!
5. But it needs to be things that are going to cause a real change. This is where I feel the focus on the ills of the past degenerates into actions that make those who feel guilty, feel better, but don't actually do anything to rectify the conditions that either allow human slavery today, or change the conditions for those who were enslaved in the past. 

The End.

Now on pictures.

We picked up our tour at a section of town called Rainbow Row. This is a series of Georgian style row houses (supposedly the longest in the Americas) that had gotten colorful paint put on them during restorations in the 1930's and 40's. When originally built, they were waterfront properties but there has been much filling and building of land out since then.

A Study of Lamps on the Rainbow Row

Espouses Fotograficus Charlstonia

A neighborhood next to the Rainbow Row

Heading back to the center of town with St. Michael's as our compass.

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

This was where you registered your trade goods and paid your duties. It was also used as a prison at various times especially by the British during the Revolutionary War. There was a good self-guided tour with a guided tour of the dungeon area.

The Old Slave Mart

This with a self-guided tour and presentation makes sure the history of the enslaved is not candy coated.

French Huguenot Church

The Huguenots were French Protestants who were forced out of France when Louis the XIV doubled down on Catholicism in the late 17th century. Many came to the United States.

Saint Phillips Episcopal Church

Not on our tour but worth a photo nonetheless. 

(There are a LOT of sizeable churches in this city)

When hunger struck us we realized we were only a block from where we ate on Wednesday. We had enjoyed it so much and knew there were things we still wanted to try, so we went back

I decided to take a picture of the full street art from which I only showed examples yesterday.

Shrimp and Grits with a poached egg (Thumbs up!)

Fried Grouper Sandwich

Wife has decided she needs to order these without the roll because it is just too much food. The fish was excellent. The fried potatoes were a little weird. Seemed like they were extruded mashed potatoes.