And so you are children of rich parents who promise you a house as a wedding present, but you just cannot decide on a style......
So split the house and build one half rounded and the other square !
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Charleston man made out of hats
I just love the Charleston Hat Man. You see him painted on the side of a building on the corner of Broad Street and maybe State or Church Street? At any rate, he's the little fellow made out of hats and he's so cute and clever. (from the web)
our transport
The city has so many of these transporting visitors that they pay a 'tax' to the city whole legislate where they can go by handing them a 'route card' before they set out. There is also a municipal 'equine' cleaning van which goes around disinfecting the streets!
Our guide was good, although listening to CSI:New York for a few months helped as that was her home town.
Our guide was good, although listening to CSI:New York for a few months helped as that was her home town.
Church
The main Downtown area has a large number of municipal buildings from the past 200 years, we took a guided tour on a horse drawn carriage which gave us a good look at some of them. Look at the sky and remember this was late december - temperatures in the high 60s.
Charleston - narrow house
Our last visit was to Charleston, full of historic houses, museums and sights.
There are two extremes of houses from the 1800's, narrow like this one which has been left surrounded by modern roads and buildings.
There are two extremes of houses from the 1800's, narrow like this one which has been left surrounded by modern roads and buildings.
USA Christmas
The locals make less of Christmas than we do, mind you we met a lady in Wal-Mart stocking up with '24 hundred' lights in the sale ready for next year.
We had a very good traditional English Christmas, entertaining a friend of Alison's for dinner. It was pleasant to have a few less frantic days.
We had a very good traditional English Christmas, entertaining a friend of Alison's for dinner. It was pleasant to have a few less frantic days.
Cape Fear River Walk
Alison thought we ought to walk off our Christmas dinner (English with all the trimmings), so we went off to explore the local walk. Unlike a walk through the woods at home this was on a well made path complete with seats, drinking fountains and loos!
We also visited and were made very welcome by the family of the girl Alison lived with last year.
We also visited and were made very welcome by the family of the girl Alison lived with last year.
Local guide pointing out steep hill
And so we left Philadelphia after seeing such a lot of America's history - including the house where the first 'Stars and Stripes' was created.
Back on to the I95 (motorway) for an 8 hour drive back to Alison's home in Fayetteville.
We started early to avoid the Christmas traffic but by our standards of holiday traffic the roads were empty. We had an easy trip, helped by a large car, automatic gearbox and cruise control !
Luckily we bought the Christmas dinner the day before as by the time we got back the shops were shut.
Back on to the I95 (motorway) for an 8 hour drive back to Alison's home in Fayetteville.
We started early to avoid the Christmas traffic but by our standards of holiday traffic the roads were empty. We had an easy trip, helped by a large car, automatic gearbox and cruise control !
Luckily we bought the Christmas dinner the day before as by the time we got back the shops were shut.
Monday, December 25, 2006
HMV tower NJ2
Much of the dockside in NJ and Philadelphia is derelict,including this building with the tower boasting a stained glass window showing the HMV dog and phonogram.
NJ Waterfront looking back at Philadelphia
And then we crossed to New Jersey and the wonderful Aquarium, this is the view looking back to Philadelphia, our hotel is probably by my left shoulder.
Phili_shipbuilders
The maritime museum also has and active ship repair section, used to repair and rebuild historic craft, it is possible to stand on a vistitors gallery and watch real craftsman at work.
liberty bell
And of course a lot of American history was formed here, so a great deal is made of the constitution and the 'Libert y Bell'. A shame that is was made in England and then cracked.
not_our_hotel
The waterfront had an excellent maritime museum with the history of shipping around Philadelphia. There are also a couple of historic ships, we thought the narrowboaters amongst you would like this bathroom.
typical transport
We didn't actually use one of these, but on our last day here (saturday) they had all come out on the streets looking for the xmas shoppers to take a ride.
street of narrow houses
Many of the original house of this historic place were built around 1800 and as houses were taxed by width, they are built narrow and tall, imagine this street 200 hundred years ago, with coaches down the middle., today it is just wide enough for one car (american) between the posts.
Benjamin Franklin Bridge
And so on to Philadelphia.
To a hotel right on the waterfront - between the I95 highway and Christopher Columbas Blvd. With the Benjamin Franklin bridge and railroad just feet away! Very interesting, we got used to the noise after the first night, and it was certainly in a very convenient place
To a hotel right on the waterfront - between the I95 highway and Christopher Columbas Blvd. With the Benjamin Franklin bridge and railroad just feet away! Very interesting, we got used to the noise after the first night, and it was certainly in a very convenient place
Monday, December 18, 2006
xmas police horse
And just to show there is a lighter side to Washington, this was one of the many varieties of policeman we saw.
In cars, on sidecar motorcycles, and on pedal bike (going like the wind).
In cars, on sidecar motorcycles, and on pedal bike (going like the wind).
Jefferson Memorial
The whole of washington seems to be a memorial to something, great people who shaped the nation, or those who fought defending it.
The words of Thomas Jefferson, some written more than 200 years ago, have shaped American ideals. Today, many of these impressive, stirring words adorn the interior walls of his memorial. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial stands as a symbol of liberty and endures as a site for reflection and inspiration for all citizens of the United States and the world.
The words of Thomas Jefferson, some written more than 200 years ago, have shaped American ideals. Today, many of these impressive, stirring words adorn the interior walls of his memorial. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial stands as a symbol of liberty and endures as a site for reflection and inspiration for all citizens of the United States and the world.
north american native mask
Exhausted from the science we went to look at the Museum of the American Indian, a startling new building full of thousands of old and new artifacts. Assembled at the turn of the twentieth century by wealthy New Yorker George Gustav Heye (1874–1957).
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