This is an unabashed plug for the Old South Carriage company, with the red sashes.
I asked the chatty carriage driver if he had to take a test of his knowledge of Charleston.
"Yes, m'am. Two hundred questions out of two hundred, right!"
It was a grand tour.
This woman filled the carriages with passengers.
This friendly equine rested his head on my shoulder as I stood in line for the loo. The lav. You know.
Our hundred percent driver. Over his shoulder, the route assigner. There are five carriage routes, dispensed in order, to the next carriage company that sets out.
From here on in I know little.
An important old church.
Wrought iron work. Brick patio.
Church, cemetery, wrought iron, red umbrella in the cooling drizzle.
Pink tree.
Tree roots.
Arches and doors.
Wrought iron swords. Pretty cool house light, too.
Newly relaid driveway.
More wrought iron.
At last, a red door with the wrought iron.
Everywhere, the brick is covered by a plaster veneer.
A tiny house. Street number is something like 100 1/4. I think it was a summer kitchen.
Wrought iron.
Same house, leaded glass.
Row houses.
A hawk.
A selfie. The yellow shirt.
Laura had a good time, too.
Ah, how I laughed when you got to the part following "from here on I know little" ... this is why I don't take pictures in other places anymore. When I look back I don't have a sweet clue what the stuff is :)
ReplyDeletecharleston looks wonderful, I confess I always hate to see the horses drawing carriages across pavement as I think they are overworked and under paid
ReplyDeleteThe horses work five hours a day,five days a week; one hour shifts. It was our horse's last shift of the day and he knew it. According to the guide, he was reluctantly stopping at some stops and leaving the stop before sent on. Consequently, the guide took us past a section called Rainbow Row, not a part of our tour, but he had to fill the hour. Probably for his own paycheck, as well. That's all I know, but I didn't feel it was propaganda.
DeleteI've only been on a horse drawn carriage tour once or twice. It was fun. Charleston looks like a pretty city.
ReplyDeleteLove Charleston.
ReplyDeleteI went on a carriage tour of Charleston many years ago, when I was a kid. Nowadays, I hate going to Charleston because of all the one way streets--it's a difficult place to drive.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a marvelous way to see the city. Although I think I would prefer a carriage with fewer people in it.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE taking tours of cities in a horse drawn carriage or wagon. It's the best way to see certain sights! Your tour looks delightful.
ReplyDeleteLooks like it was a great tour!
ReplyDeletebetty
that was the most hilarious tour ever , thank you. Not sure I would go out of my way and I do feel sorry for the horse. A nice look around, however.
ReplyDeleteIt looks delightful - and I loved hearing that the horses work limited hours and that yours was anxious to knock off for the day.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful wrought iron fences - just a tad fancier than our village blacksmith used to make, I fancy!
ReplyDeleteI have taken a few of these tours. I learn something new with each one. I am so glad that you are enjoying that great city. Suggestion: visit an old cemetery, they are so interesting.
ReplyDeleteHari om
ReplyDeleteGreat fun and it does sound as though there is decent care for the horses. YAM xx
It's so pretty! I love all the wrought iron and arches.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very large horse - and a pretty town.
ReplyDeleteso Joanne, did you see any wrought iron on your tour?
ReplyDeleteLol. Great tour! Lots of wrought iron. I always take the carriage rides too.
ReplyDeleteI could have added, and will here, many of the horses, ours included, are Amish rescues. If you are not familiar with Amish horse practices, their horses are worked six days a week, all day, until their useful life ends. They generally are auctioned, often to kill buyers who ship them to Canada. The stable for these carriage horses was large, had half a dozen workers cleaning the stables. These horses are huge old draft horses, and all seemed well cared for. I looked at hooves going by, and all I saw looked well trimmed and neatly shod.
ReplyDeletewell THAT is joyous! So glad they have been rescued !
DeleteCharleston is on my list along with Savannah. My favorite pic was the driveway one. What is it about a nicely kept, curved driveway? Are you still coming North, Joanne?
ReplyDeleteAny ghost tours? Haints?
ReplyDeleteCloser to Halloween would probably be better for ghost tours. That being said, we have the BEST ghost stories and legends down here in the South!
Deletehttps://www.oldsouthcarriage.com/
DeleteI didn't set out to promote this company, but I will. The web site addresses the horses, who live in box stalls. I was impressed by the stable, in which we entered the carriage and started the ride. They don't mention a 'haint' ride, but I did see such a flyer posted on the board.
Lovely, my hubs ancestors hail from there but neither of us have been.
ReplyDeleteCharleston has an intriguing sort of Old World charm, doesn't it? The horse looks like it's in the pokey. :D
ReplyDeleteWrought iron and brick the best building material.
ReplyDeleteMerle..........
Yes, the horse looks like a friendly soul. And the stained/leaded glass on that front door is amazing. So was the carriage driver able to answer all your questions?
ReplyDeleteAll. I asked teasingly about a "test" because he was so well prepared. His interest in the city, or the job, was apparent. He called out attention to so much, and much he only knew from watching the city. Like, the just paved driveway.
DeleteTours like that are so interesting. Not that I have a tour exactly of that type, but you know.
ReplyDeleteNever been there, this might be the closest I get!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the best way to get a feel for the city. Thankyou for sharing it.
ReplyDelete(That horse is hoping for an apple … hope he got one)