As we were having morning coffee today we heard a low rumbling and looked out to see what it was. It was a wall of steel slowing moving by. This shot doesn’t begin to give a feel for how the ship blocked out the sky, or how close it was to us as it slid into the dock. I am perplexed as to why they can’t build attractive cruise ships these days. I guess that if “form follows function” then these floating feeding stations should look at least as bloated as their passengers. By that measure the designs are just perfect. 
Yesterday, Sunday, we went for another walk through downtown Charleston and although we had visited some of the same neighborhoods the prior day, we found ourselves noticing things that we had not yet seen. Being here for a full week is very nice as it takes some of the pressure off and makes us feel less like “ohmyGod,ineedtoseeeverythinginasingleday”.
While I may not be, or may never be, in full cruisers mode, (I’ll get to that manana dude) I am trying REALLY, REALLY HARD not to overachieve. Wish me luck as it will be tough to unlearn a lifetime of time management in the extreme. I am not optimistic that “laid back” will ever be a phrase that others will use to describe me. Perhaps if I get a pierced ear with an anchor earring and a tatoo and let my hair grow out it will be a start. Hmm…
Not sure where that was going so I’ll just drop it. In any event, I thought that it would be fun yesterday to take photos of some of the nicer, as if that’s even possible to decide, doorways that we saw.
We also visited another mansion, one of several that are open to the public. This particular one, the Calhoun Mansion, is still in private hands and we were told that the owners, when they are in town, live there. Not sure that I buy that but it’s what we were told. They didn’t allow photos inside, but the website has an impressive slideshow that gives a feel for how much stuff is in the home. It’s PACKED in the extreme, the fashion of the day we were told, where the rich collected massive amounts of stuff to prove how rich they were. It seems that the current owner is making the same statement and I am convinced that he has firm footing as a member of the 1% club.
I like doorways as it tells you a lot about how the owner wants you to think about their home. Some are very spare and shabby chic. Old money perhaps?
Some make it clear that a 15 year old SAAB doesn’t live there. 
Some seem to say “I am above it all”.
Some, like this door onto a porch, seem to say “enter, but you aren’t there yet”.
Some seem to say “my life is very orderly and if you saw my sock drawer, which you never will, you’d agree”.
This seems to say “if you think my patio is nice, you wouldn’t believe how nice it is inside my home”. Me, I believe!!!
Ok, this isn’t a door, but it’s certainly a window into another world. No, it doesn’t really fit in this post but I like the shot.
This seems to say, “If you like this door, you can only imagine what’s behind it”. And, indeed it is an OMG moment when you enter this one, the front door of the Calhoun Mansion. 
This one? Not sure what it says. Me? I say it’s very nice.
I can only guess what is behind all the wonderful doors in Charleston. However, it’s fun wandering around and imagining. If there is a common theme here it’s probably “I have money and am not afraid to show it!” And, I expect that you won’t run into many of them at the buffet table on the cruise ship docked near by. “Go away you bloated thing, you. You are blocking my view!”