Tomorrow, we fly to Charleston and return Monday (I got Tuesday in my head for some reason, but we’re coming back Monday). The good news is that both flights have only one stopover at DC, and are less than four hours. The bad news, well, the weather report is still hot and muggy. I decided rather than taking a suit, I’d take my linen sportcoat and trousers. That way, I won’t die of dehydration.
You will no doubt find it entertaining that I will probably be eating seafood there (what else is there to eat in Charleston?), though I like shellfish, so I won’t be choking anything down. No narsty salt water fish for me, no thank you very much. I do plan to try crawfish grits (or shrimp grits) while I’m there. That’s the local specialty, you know.
This will be the first time I’ve seen the Atlantic. That’s a priority, because no, the New York Harbor doesn’t count (I’ve been there), and yes, I’ve been to Charleston, but didn’t see the ocean. I’ve been to Savannah, but it’s not technically on the Atlantic. I’ve seen the Pacific many times. And the Gulf of Mexico.
No, we’ve been over that. I don’t swim in the ocean. Ever. Any ocean. Nope. Enjoy yourself. I’m not going in, thanks all the same.
The hotel supposedly has internet access, though that can mean lots of different things. I’ll be online some, probably just early in the mornings. We’ll have plenty to do. Whether internet access means wi-fi in the room or a public access terminal in the lobby we won’t know until we get there. The hotel is in the historic district, just a block from the Market, and only a few blocks from the ocean. And they do a breakfast buffet every day. That’s a good thing (well, usually it is, but this is supposed to be a nice hotel).
Speaking of breakfast, we went to the Waffle Shop this morning about nine (no students! no waiting for thirty minutes to get a table!) and I had my customary Belgian waffle and sausage. I’ve been starving all day ever since about an hour after we ate. Maybe it’s all the laundry I’ve been doing to get ready to leave tomorrow. I’m still starving. Maybe after we take the dogs to the dog spa this afternoon, we’ll swing by the new Thai place downtown (not bad, by the way). Or maybe the Indian place, also downtown (and not too bad, though it’s not Shanti). Or maybe just go to Quaker Steak and Lube, since the dog spa is on the other side of the mountain and downtown will be way out of our way and Quaker Steak and Lube is just down the road, for a big basket of those chipotle wings and those killer onion rings.
I’m hoping to find some good barbecue–the right kind, either vinegar- or mustard-based, free of tomato–while I’m there, but we’ll see. We’ll be downtown without a car, so eating options will be limited to what’s there. However, we’re in the shopping/tourist district, so there should be plenty of restaurants to choose from.
I’ll put up a trip free thread tomorrow morning before we leave. I’m sure the dryer cycle is finished by now . . .
