
My dearest friend suggested a long weekend in Charleston, S. C. to celebrate my birthday.
It is a lovely city, full of history, charm and great food. We stayed downtown in the French quarter so I was able to do as much walking as I normally do in NYC. The people were friendly, the flowers still blooming and the Spanish moss (or Spanish beard - named by the Native Americans when they saw the Spaniards' facial hair!) still hanging.
The anecdote that epitomizes our visit: As we were walking back to our hotel one afternoon, we noticed a horse being groomed on the sidewalk (center photo). We realized that it was being "gussied up" for the Blessing of the Animals ceremony a church on the corner was having in another hour. We began to notice several people bringing dogs towards the corner and as we passed one well-dressed man and his dachsund (also well-dressed in a pink bandana, collar and leash) we asked if she was going to be blessed. His answer, "Yes, although I think she needs something stronger." When he saw my puzzled look, he continued, "like an exorcism."


