A local's eye view
The distinguishing feature of the Charleston skyline is steeples, so much so that the city has the nickname of “The Holy City.” Here’s a bird’s eye view of three of the contributors to that nickname — from left to right, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the Unitarian Church and St. John’s Lutheran.
Oleanders are found all over Charleston, particularly along the Battery. This one on Lamboll Street is one of the largest I’ve ever seen. Many people don’t know that they are actually poisonous — and legend has it that tea made from oleander was used to knock off quite a few people over the years (from victims of Lavinia Fisher to Civil War soldiers).
An elegant Memorial Day flag display on Limehouse Street.
Memorial Day, when we remember all who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The Sword Gate is resplendent with its flags.
One of Charleston’s nicknames is “The Holy City,” due to the number of steeples that help form its skyline. Here are two of the oldest and prettiest — St. Philip’s on the left and St. Michael’s on the right.
Home to the oldest building in Charleston, the Pink House, the cobblestoned Chalmers Street runs between Meeting and State Streets
When Piccolo Spoleto and the Charleston Farmers Market take over Marion Square on Memorial Day Saturday, it’s always a rocking good time. The turrets of the Old Citadel (now an Embassy Suites Hotel) and the steeple of the Citadel Square Baptist Church provide a beautiful backdrop.
Peer through a beautiful Charleston wrought iron gate and the view getter better and better. You can find this beauty on Gibbes Street. If you could see the tops of the gate posts, there are concrete roosters — live ones used to live here and you would hear them crowing in the mornings.
Every year at this time, Charleston is transformed into a full city arts mecca with Spoleto Festival USA. The opening ceremonies are a joyous celebration. This year they were even more special as this was the last time Mayor Riley (in the dark suit at the podium) will ever open the festival as the mayor of Charleston. This was his 39th welcoming speech!
Charleston sunsets by themselves can be beautiful… add some wonderful colonial and antebellum buildings on Broad Street and look at what happens.