The day started with laundry and me blogging for yesterday, then a huge thunderstorm dropped torrential rain on us. We had intended to go to a tea plantation, but they were not even open because most touristy stuff is outdoors. Sooooo, using a website for rainy days in Charleston which Ashlie found, we decided to go to the Aquarium after finishing laundry. We stopped at the #1 rated deli, East Bay, for lunch enroute to the great aquarium, as it turned out to be!
We were greeted by this column of fish as we entered the aquarium. David was fascinated by the brownish striped fish which propelled itself with its rear fins.
These chain dogfish just laid quietly on the bottom!
This lookdown fish has always enthralled me!
What military family wouldn't like the sergeant major fish!
David and I had flounder for dinner tonight. Doubt it was this variety, though.
By the time we finished at the aquarium, which had many excellent other displays besides the fish tanks, the rain had departed and the sun was trying to peak through. So we went to the Battery to view the lovely homes and their pastel colors for which Charleston is famous.
We decided to tour the Edmondson-Alston House which dates to 1825. It was owned by Charles Edmondson who made his money as a merchant, but lost a lot of business in the Panic of 1837. He sold the house to Charles Alston who was probably one of the wealthiest men in America prior to the Civil War. He had numerous rice plantations which supplied the world and used the house for summer business and social commitments. The home is filled with antiques and many different styles of architecture. From the piazza, BG Beauregard watched the taking of Ft Sumter, referenced in yesterday's blog.
Our last stop of the day before dinner at Hyman's was to the pineapple fountain in Waterfront Park. We have all been very impressed by the hospitality of Charlestonians and the pineapple is the symbol of welcome. Unseen in this photo is the Charleston Harbor from which we could just barely see Ft Sumter.
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