Charleston Reunion

Charleston, South Carolina, September 1988. Charleston and Venice have this in common: tourists rarely imagine people living in an historic city.

Cobbled Reunion

Charleston, South Carolina, September 1988. We've wandered into a residential neighborhood.

Labor-Day Tourism

Charleston, South Carolina, September 1988. Mr. Irene and I spent one day in the city that year.

Palmetto Reunion

Charleston, South Carolina, September 1988. The trees grow throughout the city.

Residential Reunion

Charleston, South Carolina, September 1988. Mr. Irene visits me in Columbia, and we make a day trip to Charleston.

The State of the Palmettos

Charleston, South Carolina, September 1988. Mr. Irene and I make a day trip to the charming city in the Palmetto State.

Hurricane Havoc

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Charleston, South Carolina, October 1989. I visit the city one month after Hurricane Hugo's arrival.

"Kiss My / Grits"

Charleston, South Carolina, November 1989. A sign encourages shoppers to visit the shopping district in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo.

Pirates Courtyard

During the two years that I lived in Columbia, South Carolina, Mr. Irene often flew down for a visit. One weekend we drove to Charleston. Because I had grown up in Chicago, I was not accustomed to seeing so many historical buildings in an American city. During that time, I also was an historian, and my area of focus was medieval, Mediterranean piracy.

Charleston is full of pirate-themed tourist attractions. I nonetheless was quite charmed when Mr. Irene and I stumbled on the Pirates Courtyard: 

Charleston, South Carolina, September 4, 1989. I stop at the Pirates Courtyard, on Church Street.

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Charleston, South Carolina, November 1989. I returned to the same spot, shortly after Hurricane Hugo struck the city.