Charleston Vacation. Patriots Point

Today Joe and I visited Patriots Point, which consists of a Naval and Maritime Museum. We toured the Yorktown, which is an aircraft carrier that served in WWII, and the Clamagore, which is a submarine.

We spent about 4 hours touring both vessels, and we could have easily spent another 4. This is a picture heavy post, because there was just SO much to see and do! I really recommend heading out to Patriots Point if you ever get the chance, it is well worth the time!

Joe and I with the USS Yorktown (CV-10) in the background.


FIRE!


View of the Ravenel Bridge. The picture really doesn't do it justice.


The USS Yorktown


The USS Clamagore


Joe and I getting ready to defend the country.



A few of the countless memorials on the Yorktown. I wish I would have had time to read it one, they really bring home the fact that people have died to protect our freedom. I teared up a few times.





Some of the sights on the ship.






Me getting my flight briefing.


On the Flight Deck









Sleep peacefully America, Joe and I will protect you.



Instructions for burial at sea.


In the captain's chair. This really rad old man offered to take our picture. Thanks Pops.



Actual debris from a Japanese Kamikaze


Where a Marine contingent slept on the ship. Note that they sleep right across the hall from the guns. Sweet.



The ship had TONS of models of the ships. This was a Japanese ship. Check out all the guns on this bad boy!



We win!


The Brig aka the way prisons should be on land.


Some photos from the Medal of Honor Museum. I wish I could have spent more time reading their stories. Wonderful tribute to those who went above and beyond. I don't know why, but this kid was so cute to me.





DIVE! DIVE! Just a few pics from the submarine. Trust me, it would SUCK to have to live in this baby for months at a time. Cramped!

Charleston Vacation. Aiken-Rhett House

Today we visited the Aiken-Rhett House, which was built in 1820. It was expanded by Governor Aiken Jr in the 1830s and its considered a time capsule that has remained almost unaltered since 1858. It was great to see all a traditional South Carolina home, in the original style. Governor Aiken was a businessman and planter who owned about 700 slaves, most of them residing at his plantation. We got to see the slave quarters, which are considered to be the best preserved slave quarters in the country.

We went on a 45 minute audio tour, where Joe and I each had an MP3 player that guided you through the rooms and told stories about the people that lived there. We couldn't take any pictures inside the house, so we only have pictures of the outside areas.

The house is huge, with lots of windows and fireplaces in every room. I am sure at the height of its time, the house would have been absolutely gorgeous.


The downstairs of this building is the kitchen, with the upstairs being the slave quarters. There were 4 small rooms upstairs where the slaves slept. The stairs leading up to the rooms were the smallest stairs I have ever been on.


The "room" on the left is one of the outhouses. There was an identical one on the right side of the yard as well. The gates lead to the street behind the house, and this is where the horse and carriage would enter and leave the property.


Piazza's (porches) off of the drawing room. The "doors" that you go through are actually large windows. It is still common in Charleston to build houses with multiple wrap around piazzas.

A little under the weather

Sorry for the lack of updates this week. Between some late nights at work and my new cold (hopefully not the flu) I haven't had much time to blog.

But.

Our vacation starts this weekend! Joe and I have an unheard of 9 days off together! Let's see if we don't kill each other, shall we? I kid, Joe and I usually get along pretty good. We have some plans to check out some sights downtown, and a trip to the zoo planned if it's not too hot. I am ready for fall!

Well, I am off to do the dishes and head back to bed, I worked half a day today before I just felt too crappy to go on. After a 5 hour nap, I got up for about 2 hours, and now I am wiped out again. Stupid illness.

Skin Care Update, Week 1

So here we are after 1 week on an antibiotic, Retin-A and BenzaClin. No stinging, and only a little peeling around my eyes. The texture has really improved already, my skin feels soft. I know its going to get worse before it gets better, but so far I am really pleased.

Left Side:

 

Right Side: