Trolley

 We decided to head down town to just check it out and ride the trolley (free!) with our friends.  I took pictures of things along the way.  I love going to the french quarter of the peninsula.   The grand houses and the history are captivating.  It was a VERY hot day.  That is not so fun to walk two or three miles in.  But I guess it makes it a little more realistic to what Charleston would have felt like a hundred years ago.

The sidewalks are no match for the ancient trees in the area.  This is definitely a umbrella stroller area.  Double strollers are really hard to push on the walks.

Almost all the shutters are used.  They are almost always painted black.  After the civil war supplies were scarce.  The northerners sent down paint but the southerners wouldn't use it.  They got desperate and would add in some 'rebel yellow' creating this dark green that was almost black.  The shutters are functional and held in place with iron bars when not in use.

Here are a few of the grand houses found on the peninsula.  Large porches and windows were common.  I really like the iron work.

This is the park on the battery.  When we arrived there was some hubbub going on.  We found out later that is was Carolina Day for the Daughters of the Confederacy.  They had a band playing and a public prayer.  We ate lunch under the oak trees.

We walked a few blocks and found St. Michaels.  There are two signers of the Declaration of Independence buried here.  One being Charles Pinckney.

This is a Tiffany stained glass window of the ArcAngel Micheal.

Another stained glass window.

 After cooling down in the fountain we got on the trolley.  Kalia was thrilled.  I think it was the highlight of her day.

 We passed market street on our ride.  This was the old Slave market.  Now it's used to see to tourists.  On the corner is the Crab House.  We've eaten there a few times.  It's delicious.

 They loved the trolley.  Nothing better than getting a ride with your best friend.  The smiles say it all.