Charming Charleston

One of the first things I said to my family as I encountered the beautiful, colourful buildings of downtown Charleston was, “I can see why my friend never left.” Plus, it did not hurt that our first meals in town were amazing, heartwarming, southern food. As I am writing this blog, I am here in Charelston to attend my cousin’s wedding (it was spectacular), and to visit one of my long time friends. Which, speaking of weddings, this friend was the Maid of Honour at my wedding. Truly though, Charleston is a city that has a charming blend of nature, art, history, lovely people, and food, all wrapped up into this one part of South Carolina.

If I had to break down why Charleston is able to captivate me so, I would probably start off with the delectable food. I have been able to consume a large quantity of southern fried chicken that has livened my soul and warmed my belly. In addition, numerous cold sweet teas cleanse my pallete and almost make me forget that I am a coffee drinker. Then, there is the barbeque that melts in my mouth and reminds me of the first time I had soft and juicy brisket in Virginia. Food in this area is not only sustenance, but a way of storytelling. As I eat a fresh square of cornbread, I taste the chef’s family recipe. Or, with a spoonful of She Crab soup, I can hear the fishermen out on the water reeling in their catch, and sorting crabs to be served. Throughout this weekend, this food has drawn my family and friends in around a table to slowly and gracefully enjoy precious moments together. Is that not, though, the purpose of food; gathering around a table to break bread and enjoy each other’s company?

Another aspect of Charleston that will draw people in, especially art lovers, is the pastel, elegant architecture with intricate wrought iron decorating every building. Balconies, balustrades, and entrances utilise iron to create orante designs on ordinary buildings. Floral motifs, neo-gothic windows, and neo-classical entrances provide a plethora of artistic features to admire. The French Quarter exhibited numerous picturesque aspects, including working gas lamps decorating both streets and entryways to establishments. Pastel paint colours brighten up many of the streets, yet, the most iconic street of pastel buildings can be found along Rainbow Row (not Rainbow Road). Here, you can find the longest set of Georgian row houses from the 17th century that are still intact and in use. However, the bright colours are a more recent facade restoration decoration. There is another way in which you can encounter the artistic vibe of the town, and that is in the Charleston City Market. My friend, my husband, and I walked through the market and were met with endless stalls of painters, weavers, artisans, and leather makers utilising every colour of the rainbow in their goods. With all of this talent centralised into one space, I wonder if I should join the artists that flock to this epicenter of inspiration. All in all, there is beauty and splendour embedded into every part of the city to view.

To complement the charming architecture, the breath-taking nature within greater Charleston provides a reprieve from the busy city streets. By walking around the edges of the city, calm water and smooth breezes greet you as you look out to the nearby islands. At the Battery, trees mask the sun above as branches reach out to one another to construct a shady canopy. Drooping, interlocking branches both accentuate the canopy, as well as create a magical environment. Outside of the city in Moncks Cornner is Cyprus Gardens, where swamps are speckled with lily pads, water lilies, and algae to fabricate a floor for solitary trees and mountain-like roots rising from the water. As I look out across the water, hearing the frogs croak, I can imagine Allie and Noah from The Notebook rowing in this magestic landscape. (Once I said this out loud, my friend noticed quotes from The Notebook along the dock; we confirmed that this scene was filmed here!) The serenity of the water and trees brings an overwhelming sense of peace as we walked through the easy nature trails. In addition to the gardens, the beaches in Charelston are another escape, where life moves at the pace of waves washing onto the shore. The variety of environments and wildlife Charleston holds are incredible to experience.

Lastly, the cherry on top for me of this adventure is the people. From seeing family and friends, making new friends, and the kindness of people in the area, you start to feel at home. These individuals have lifted my spirit, and warmed my heart like a spoonful of hot honey. With my family and friends, I thoroughly enjoyed the easy going pace of spending time together alongside relaxed conversations while looking out to the water. Time appeared to be moving slowly as we all caught up on silly stories, danced to rocking music, and enjoyed sunsets. These are the types of moments you want to relive again and again in your memories; precious moments with loved ones.

Provided all of the aforementioned qualties of this area, and the conglomeration of these experiences, this trip has solidified that I will have to visit Charleston again sometime soon. I hope you are able to visit this city too. Until next time.

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Since Charleston is a city full of inspiration, I have been working on a series of watercolours inspired by my trip. In a couple of weeks, they should be posted on my Etsy store, if you are interested!