Join me on INSTAGRAM, my name is ecuadorchick.

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Charleston, South Carolina and Boone Hall Plantation

Dear Family and Friends,

This day we headed north to Charleston, South Carolina.  We took a tour of the city on a bus. It was difficult to take pictures, but I tried.

We saw beautiful old homes...






Actually, after touring Beaufort just the day before, the beautiful homes were anti climatic.

The City Market was loads of fun.  Lots of items for sell, especially since it was close to Christmas.




These baskets are woven from sweet grass.  It is a tradition that has been passed down through generations in the Gullah people of the low country.  These baskets are a Charleston treasure. They are quite spendy = (I didn't buy one).  These are all handmade and take many hours, days to complete.


There were other woven items that caught my eye.  These Panama hats are from Ecuador.  Their name would make you think they come from Panama, but actually true Panama hats are and have always been made in Ecuador.  I think they got the name Panama hat because they became very popular in Panama while the Panama Canal was being built.

The reason I am showing these hats, along with the price, is because Chuck is wearing a Panama hat he bought in Cuenca.  He paid less than $25 for it.  These hats are hand woven.  The women that weave them make very little money.  The sign on the hats in Charleston said they were "fair trade,"  I certainly hope the women who weave them are receiving a descent wage.


Tourists were enjoying touring this city in horse drawn carriages.


However, the carriages had a little competition.  LOL


During our tour we went to see the Citadel.  The Citadel is a military college of South Carolina.  It is a landmark in Charleston.


It was established in 1842, it is one of six senior military colleges in the United States.


Inside the Summerall Chapel


Last but not least is the Citadel Ring Statue.  It was a gift to the alumni from the current supplier of the coveted Citadel class ring.


We were fortunate to spend the afternoon at Boone Hall Plantation.  

The plantation is one of America's oldest plantations still in operation.  It has continually produced agricultural crops for over 320 years.

One of the prettiest things about this plantation is the live oak lined drive. 



The current plantation house is quite new compared to the age of the actual  plantation. It was built in 1936 to replace the original one which had deteriorated.

Photo of the original plantation house.


The newer plantation house.



While we were there, we were fortunate to see a Gullah people presentation given by a direct descendant of the Gullah, Veronica Gillard. The history of these enslaved central and western Africans is very fascinating,  I made a video of the presentation and put it on YouTube.  If you would like to see it you can click here.  Very interesting!

After having our farewell dinner, our tour was officially over.

Chuck and I were not quite through.  We had family to visit.  My nephew, Dan Simmons and his family, live on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.  My sister, Mary Anne and husband Larry were there also.  The family was starting to gather for Christmas.  Mary Anne's and Larry's other son, James and his family joined them after we left.  




It had been a very long time since we had seen Dan and this was our first chance to see our great nephews.  

This stop made our trip extra special.  

Thank you for sharing our trip with us.  

Now that the holidays are over, we are off on another short adventure next week.

Love you all.

Nancy

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments are welcome.