CHARLESTON!

This week I'm traveling to Charleston, SC for work. I'm here for just under a week with a dear friend and co-worker Cristina. We left on Sunday and had a little adventure and very very quick layover in Atlanta. We were supposed to have about 50 minutes (supposedly enough time to get from one gate to another) but our flight from Seattle was late giving us approximately 15 minutes to get from one end of one gate, down two escalators, down three train stops, back up and down to the end of another terminal. Running. Lordy, our lungs were on fire. Thankfully we made it and found out the airplane wasn't actually there yet. Awesome. After waiting another 30 minutes to "board the plane" we were boarded onto a bus which then took us to our plane. I thought it was hysterical (and stupid) that they boarded us from the terminal in zones only to have it be a free for all getting on the bus AND boarding the plane. What the heck was the point of that? Oh well. We made it to Charleston about an hour off our original schedule and were just in time for a lovely sunset. 

Sunday night we had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Mercato. A lovely Italian restaurant in the historic center. Sadly, I forgot to take pictures (we were both EXHAUSTED from flying all day) but the food was amazing. Cristina had Osso Buco and I had Tagliatelle Bolognese. Again, amazing. If you are ever in Charleston, great place for dinner. Very mellow, low lighting, brick walls, yummy wine list and live jazz music most nights. 

Monday was a pretty good day at work. We worked a little late and then hit up another favorite spot in Charleston, Blossom, with a friend and co-worker Jenn. We all ended up getting fish (all were fantastic) and shared several desserts. The apple pie was by far our favorite, but the Crème Brûlée was quite good too. The third dessert was a Red Velvet bread budding. It was a little odd, but still rather interesting. 

Today, we got off work a little early and rented bikes!! What a fun way to wander around Charleston! Ended up only costing about $7 an hour (for a total of $15 and change for 2+ hours). We rented from a great little place down from our hotel called The Bicycle Shop. So fun! We just wandered around the city, checking out all the beautiful old (and sometimes decrepit) houses. We made our way down to the waterfront and biked along the Battery. It's a beautiful day to day at about 80+ with a lovely breeze. Perfect bike riding weather!

After biking for the better part of 2 hours we were hot and thirsty! Ice cream seemed like the perfect answer. We had been given several recommendations to try a ice cream shop on Market (of course I don't remember the name!) but it's right next to the Harley shop on Market street so you can't miss it (at least I hope not!). It's a fun local place with fudge, caramel apples and the whole lot. So yummy! Cristina had sorbet and I had toasted coconut. Again, SO GOOD! Just what the doctor ordered.

We're having a great time! Tonight, I think we're going to a place next to our hotel called Muse. I haven't been there before but we've had several good recommendations for here as well. Should be fun!