Thursday, April 16, 2015

Neighborhood

It is the day for "N" in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

My theme is America the Beautiful, and today, I return to South Carolina.

Do you have a favorite neighborhood? I should say my favorite neighborhood is the one I live in, but that's not entirely true.

In my dreams, I wander the neighborhood of Ansonborough, the first suburb of the small walled village of Charles Town, South Carolina, dating from 1696.  It was named after George Anson, who won the land (so it is said) in a card game in 1724.  Now, this neighborhood is on the edge of downtown Charleston.. This neighborhood, like too much of Charleston, South Carolina, was rundown once, but thrives once again.

In my dreams, I walk along its narrow streets, past houses built in the 1850's. (Some of the streets are quite narrow, and you are better off walking than driving.)
I walk on Meeting Street, past the areas where the tourists congregate, past a historic engine company with a dalmatian statue and dalmatian fire hydrant .  Not too far away, I walk on a sidewalk in front of a locksmith's store.  The sidewalk is studded with keys.
I pass a beautiful house on George Street.
Detail on a door.
I shop at the Charleston City Market, established in 1807.  I dream of visiting the outdoor Charleston City Farmers Market in nearby Marion Square.  It's outside of Ansonborough but in walking distance.

It's hard, in just a couple of pictures, to explain my love of Charleston.  Why would a city in the South enchant a native of New York City so?  Yet, it does.  I've visited Charleston four times now, and I always return to Ansonborough.


Charleston has hooks in my heart but so does a certain bridge that connects Charleston with another city, and I just may blog about that bridge in a few days, too.

If you could choose, where would you want to live?

17 comments:

  1. What an interesting neighbourhood you have. Love the pic of the dog.

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    1. That is such a beautiful statue. Wish it was my neighborhood (sometimes). It's about 800 miles from where I live. It's my dream neighborhood.

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  2. I've only been to Charleston once, and it was a LONG time ago. My grandparents were from NC and they would vacation to SC quite often.

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    1. Charleston is a ways away from you, but I think it would be well worth the trip.

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  3. I have no ideal why our neighborhood is called "pleasant valley" it was put in when they redid the highway in the mid 60's.

    Coffee is on

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    1. "Pleasant Valley" does sound like something a developer would have made up in the 1960's. The name of my neighborhood is a lot older but I actually don't know why it is named how it is named.

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  4. Hey Wishing Star! Grant my wish! Once, Atleast once, I would love to visit the above places !

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    1. Perhaps one day, the wishing star will grant your wish, and you will walk the streets of Ansonborough.

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  5. Hi Alana,
    I always enjoy your posts :) Love the pictures!! Great share on Charleston!

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  6. I'd say my current neighbors are the coolest I've had yet. Love old buildings. :)

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  7. I've only visited Charleston once, but I enjoyed it immensely. Seems like a beautiful place to live.

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    1. It would be a beautiful place to live, at least in the winter and early spring. By July, I would be exhausted by the summer heat. They call it "dog breath summer" there, and for good reason. That's why I visit in March and April.

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  8. I wonder what draws you back. Past life memories, perhaps?

    Liz A. from Laws of Gravity

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  9. It is indeed beautiful!! Happy A-Zing!

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  10. Such a beautiful and historic area! Love the Dalmatian statue. ☺

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