Ah I love it!! I'm settling in at the resort late my last day and who calls but Sheila?! She's got Ragnar in the car and we chat away for about 30 minutes! They managed to meet up for a bit in Atlanta - 5 solid hours of driving away from where I am. AND have I mentioned yet that there's been an issue getting GAS out here in the South? We've come across a few gas stations who have RUN OUT OF GAS. w t FUCK?!?! Scary. I can't believe how the world has changed since I've been here. The markets righted themselves but at the expense of the continued devaluing currency...

Well, I've just missed them by a few days but it couldn't be helped as my reason for coming here was to see a different set of people. But if I could have stayed 2 extra days it would have been most excellent and I would have had the opportunity to see 4 TBs instead of 2! Actually this trip has been surprisingly central to a lot of people. I came to see Andi and Marc, my Habitat roommate Mary lives in Charlotte and we were supposed to get together for a couple of hours before I left for my flight, Will lives not too far away (when he's not traveling - grr!), and Sheila and Ragnar were in Atlanta! There are also a couple other TBs in Charleston that are super sweet and that I'd like to meet in person one day! If we were all free as birds without responsibilities, this would have made for one of the COOLEST MEETUPS EVER with 6 of my favorite people EVER! Looks like I'll have to come back this way to round out seeing Will and Mary for sure as bugging Andi and Marc again =) Oh, and to eat some fried chicken =)

Our last day was so interesting. It was the perfect end to a really sweet trip to the Southeast. Marc and Andi have this wonderful habit of listening to NPR on the radio while driving. As our drive back to Charlotte from Hilton Head took 5 hours due to a GPS kerfuffle, we had a LOT of politics to listen to, and arguments, and fun fun debates. I don't consider myself very political, but I guess the fact that I've taken some political science classes recently (and everyone knows most academic institutions teach a liberal view of politics and economic theory) and then come back to work and chat with one of my bosses who is extremely conservative about the things I've learned. I'm really blessed to have all these influences in my life and have the privilege to figure out what my own belief system is, in my own time.

Felt really bad - Andi and Marc are HUGE Obama fans and guess who was in Charlotte (Andi's home town over the weekend??) THAT'S RIGHT - OBAMA. Aaahhh I'm so sorry!! It was kind of funny. Watching Wall St and its banks just tank, I felt really out of the loop not being in LA. But there is no doubt that where I was at the moment, whether influenced by the company.. I felt like I was in the political thicke of things. There is no doubt in my mind that this is precisely what people talk about when they talk about "America" and it was an incredible experience stepping foot into it. I hope this is the first of many trips for me to the South, not only to visit and sightsee, but just to feel at one with my own country. =)

I love you Andi - thank you so much for sacrificing your weekend, missing out on Obama and being the most congenial hostess I've ever met. You are a gem, my Southern Belle, and such a delight to discuss politics and gossip about boys with! =) It is always so incredibly fabulous being around you!! I love you with all my heart!! It is hard to describe how wonderful it is to travel far and be in an unknown city and get to see a familiar face attached to someone you adore!! =) What a wonderful time I had!

I couldn't believe it! I have to admit, I spent a lot of my childhood in blissful ignorance about most parts of the US. I'd never been east of Las Vegas or west of Boston, and I didn't even like Boston!! If you asked me a few years ago one part of America that I had no desire to see, it would be the South. I wouldn't know what to do with myself there, and being an immigrant myself, racism in any minutae really angers me. In large cities, classism prevails in addition to racism, as everyone is sort of given a chance to make better of themselves, but at least this way you're not judged at first glance. I didn't feel this idea ever carried into the confederate states despite having 3 generations to change this.

But then Travbuddy happened, and I explored the world for about five years and met more and more people from this area. And then a handful of people I really respect and admire returned here and I had the opportunity to visit them. All of a sudden I found myself so excited to see the part of the country that was basically foreign to me but was home to such amazing people and rife with historical context!!

Andi (AndiPerullo) had recently relocated back home from NY to set up her acupuncture practice and I haven't seen her since her stop from Australia back to NY as she decided to spend the layover in LA with me!!! =) Mary who I met on my Habitat for Humanity build in Portugal lived probably minutes away from Andi. Andi's boyfriend was here for a few months from Australia, and would you believe it - Ragnar (Goldfishflosser) and Sheila (Sheila_0808) happened to be a few hours away in Atlanta starting Saturday and Sheila said she would try to hit Savannah although highly unlikely as Ragnar is there for work. Very happy to see everyone, I couldn't fall asleep on the plane! But I forgot my laptop cord so I was essentially internet-less the entire time!! I have stolen Andi's bf's laptop for the night to upload some pics and blog a little =)

Andi was kind enough to pick me up from the airport at 6am!! After chatting for about 2 hours, I fell asleep sprawled out in the backseat. I couldn't help it I was so tired!! We arrived in Hilton Head just before noon and couldn't check in quite yet, but they gave us some beach towels and we headed to the beach which was on the edge of the property. They had gorgeous cabanas for rent for $65 a day as well as beach chairs and umbrellas for rent. We didn't realize we had to pay for those two and just took the pair on the end and nobody came to charge us - oh well! =)

Andi and I sat at the beach catching up while Marc took a walk down the beach. It was so great catching up with her in person although we email back and forth a lot. She's one of my closest, most precious friends and after this weekend, I have to call her my "belle" because she embodies all that is good and kind and considerate, but that Southern charm really radiates within her!

Beaches in the southeast were really nice. Sea oats were growing about 2 meters away on the shore and the water was green. The waves looked like.. well the closest approximation I can come up with is a layered petticoat - lots of ruffles heading in all sorts of directions, but very soft and flowing with some nice curls. The property was also very nice - there were almost a dozen BBQs outdoors, a few pools and plenty of swingy benches for 2-3 people to sit on! I love swinging things!

Marc and I went to get some food while Andi guarded our free beach chairs! The vibe was very relaxed and the water was so pretty you could watch it for ages. But the bugs! Ooh dear so there are these awful little black bugs with red tails in the southeast called "lovebugs" not sure what they really are, but they get stuck tail-to-tail and fly around like that - icky! Not lovely at all, really! Yucky bugs! They're everywhere but at least they don't bother people too much. Marc and I did a quick scan of the guests and decided we didn't really jive too well with Hilton Head. At least where we were, the people were old, very very obese and sunworshippers so everyone's skin was an awful red since all the guests were white Americans or white Europeans. There seemed to be a very defined class difference - there were those that worked/served and there were those that got served. Marc pointed out one particularly obese man and said "what kind of job could he possibly have?! I wouldn't buy anything from him!!" I have yet to wrap my mind around the omnipresent obesity - perhaps it's genetic here??

We finally got to check in around 1pm and our villa is really nice! 2 bedrooms, huge living room, a nice kitchen and large jacuzzi-tubs in both bathrooms! Too bad we would end up spending almost no time in the villa! But it was a wonderful place to come back to. Even the porch was large enough for four to hang out comfortably.

We got a recommendation from the sweetest front desk attendant at the resort who found us a nice place with a view and good food. We headed to dinner in Andi's Prius with a special guest that night to Charlie's Crab something-or-other which had a wonderful view of a pier and sound. We got there just after sunset so it was still light out but cooler. The humidity was high but not at an uncomfortable level. I didn't really bring nice dresses on this trip but Andi looked so beautiful in a blue dress that really brought out her eyes. We ordered lots of nice seafood and I tried shrimp, okra and grits for the first time! It was really good! =) We each took walks along the pier and generally just had a wonderful and romantic dinner on the water, without bugs! =) I haven't been this happy, settled and enchanted with the company in quite some time. Rather wished the night would not end, but alas.. !

I just returned for a week on Hilton Head Island. The originally purpose for the trip was actually to attend my cousin's wedding, but I took a few days extra to make a vacation out of it. It is not my first visit to the Island, and probably not the last. I was first there probably over 25 years ago, and it has gown a lot since then.  Hilton Head is a golfers paradise. Everywhere you look are world-class courses. You are always just minutes from pristine beaches. I rented a bike from a place behind Java Joes (a morning ritual for locals and tourists alike) at Coligny Plaza to ride on the beach.. just $10 bucks a day. However, if you contact Pedals, they charge a bit less, and even deliver and pick up the bike. It couldn’t be easier. Just don’t ride them into the ocean, or you will lose your deposit... Apparently, bike and salt water don’t mix well!

Other than the wedding, most of the time was spent lounging on the beach or drinking coffee here and there!. I did take a side trip to Beaufort, SC, as well as to Tybee Island, GA, and visited the famous Tybee Island Light House. It has an interesting history, dating to pre-unionization of the states. It played an important role in the Civil War, too. The island itself is not much to write about. kind of old, and run down. nothing I would visit again.

Beaufort or the other hand is much nicer. There are elegant homes facing the waterfront, and a small historic downtown. If you are a film buff, you might like to know that much of the filming of the movies The Big Chill, as well as Forrest Gump were filmed in Beaufort and the surrounding areas.

Hilton Head is a great vacation destination.  Its best in the spring before schools get out and the hoards come to visit. The island boasts 8 Marriot hotels. On getting around, the are two main roads... The William Hilton Parkway, and the Cross Island Parkway. The Cross Island is a toll road ($1.25) in each direction, but is a huge timesaver, especially is you are staying in the southern end of the island. Much of the Islands residential areas are in private communities called plantations, with guards at the gate. You cant enter unless you are a guest or a resident, or if you are going to a shopping district (Such as in Sea Pines Plantation, the entry fee is 5 dollars, and the pass expires by about 10:00 in the evening. you can only park in certain areas, etc. Some establishments will credit you back some or the entire entry fee).

Hello, my friends.   It's been a little while since Jerry and I have been anywhere together.  By that I mean, just the two of us.  You know what I mean.  It seems we are always with our family or friends.  So on this short three-day trip, we decided to be adventurous and head out alone.  The weather was really nice for early December and, as usual, I packed entirely too many clothes.  Why do I do that?  I'm always afraid that I might "need" something that was left back at home.  What if it turns really cold, or maybe it will rain, or what if I want to get in the hot tub.   We travel so much on the GoldWing, I have learned to really pack light for those trips.   But when we take the car, well, that is a horse of a different color.

We arrived at the Oceanfront Holiday Inn on Hilton Head Island right about dusky dark.  There was just enough time for us to check in and make our way to our fourth-story room to freshen up before dinner.  It was a pleasant night with no wind and moderate temperatures, so we decided to walk down the street and find a place to eat.   Early December is really the off season for Hilton Head, so there was little traffic and few folks out and about.  We were able to find a nice eatery with good food and service.  It would be an early-to-bed night for us; we were tired from the 8-hour drive.

The next morning I peeked out of our window to see the Atlantic Ocean, just as smooth as a baby's behind.  Small waves were lapping up on the beach and it reminded me more of a lake than an ocean.  The sky was clear and the temperature was supposed to climb up into the low 80's by lunch time.  Great day for exploring.   I've got to be truthful with you.  Hilton Head is a golfers paradise.  If golf is your game, then this is the place for you.  However, Jerry and I don't play golf.  We don't even know the proper way to hold a golf club.  So it was up to us to find something else of interest on the island.  

Hilton Head is a beautiful place.  It was fun to explore the different parts of the island.  Since it was off season, the restaurants and shops weren't crowded and we were able to negotiate through the round-abouts without a problem.   Those of you that have traveled through Europe know all about round-abouts, but this was something new for Jerry.   Do you stop or go?  Whose turn is it anyways?  I got a good laugh out of it and fortunately for us, we weren't threatened with ugly words or hand gestures.    I saw a brochure about Harbour Town and thought it might be a good place to eat lunch.  This is a private neighborhood and yacht club, but visitors are allowed through for a small price.  We drove up to the guard house, paid our entrance fee for a one-day pass, and drove out to the end of Lighthouse Road.  Jerry pulled into an "end" parking spot (he's really anal about his car getting bumped) and we were ready to explore. 

The first thing I wanted to see was the famous sailboat, "Stars & Stripes" made famous in the 1987 America's Cup when it won the cup back for the USA.  After winning the trials and choosing its challenger, it went on to beat the Australian defender, the "Kooaburra III" by four races to nil.   Jerry pointed out a small sailboat in one of the boatslips at the marina and said, "There it is."  I was quick to come back with, "No, that can't be it.  It's too small."   As usual, I take off to find someone that can point me in the right direction and Jerry is right on my heels.   There were some pleasant looking waitresses at one of the outdoor cafes that I just knew would be able to help me.  "Where is the famous sailboat, The Stars & Stripes, docked?  Do you know?"  Well, true to form, no one could tell me or even knew what I was talking about.   That is, until I asked the lady in the visitor center.  She said, "Lady, you just passed it.  Turn around and go back down to the pier and it's the small blue sailboat in the first slip."  Why is Jerry always right?  Can you tell me that?

After a wonderful day of exploring and shopping, it was time for dinner.  That is probably my favorite time of day, when we get to sit down and relax and have conversation while someone else brings us our drinks and well-prepared food.  What could be better?  I asked around to get some ideas about where to eat and several folks suggested the same restaurant.  Sounds like a good idea and it turned out to be really, really delicious.  A wonderful way to end the day.

Dolphins, Dolphins, Dolphins: We were able to see a ton of dolphins frolicking about in the bay. We used the Commander Zodiac for dolphin watching and they were great. I would highly recommend them. It is basically a raft, not a boat, and the guide was very good about knowing were to go to find the dolphins. He was excellent. I would go back to this place again. I would also highly recommend them, even if you have kids.

We got back to hotel and had a late breakfast, which led to not eating lunch. We did get changed and went to the beach and took about a 2 hour walk along the beach. The beach was nicer today, and Andy was less crabby about it! We did find the place to rent beach chairs too. Now that we know the drill, it wasn’t so bad.

We went to the pizza place across the street from our hotel for dinner, Mangiamo’s. It was very good. The sauce was pretty sweet though, if you don’t like it that way, this would not be for you, but I thought it was great. Good pizza, and good service.

Rain, rain, go away! It rained all day. Not some of the day, not an hour or two, which I hear is the norm, but all day and night. Andy and I didn’t do much, played on the computer, read, watched TV, took a nap. Finally we went to lunch, Chic-fil-a for Andy, and then we went to the outlet mall and shopped. We didn’t need to, but we needed to do something. We bought a bunch of stuff, and we ended up having to ship it off home, lightened our load a little bit. It was no sales tax weekend though, so everyone else in South Carolina was there shopping also.

We went to Outback for dinner, it was still raining. Kinda of a crummy day, but it was good to relax.

Today once we got up we went to the beach. Andy was crabby, although he would tell you he wasn’t. I know crabby! He was mad we didn’t have a PLAN. The beaches were public (however it’s hell trying to actually get to it because most access points are private). Anyway, we didn’t have chairs, only a towel, and he also didn’t like the “hard sand” and wanted to go almost as soon as we got there. We left and went to “South Beach” then “Harbor Town”. There isn’t much at either of these places. Unless you want to kayak, boat, fish, parasail, or jet ski. Which we don’t do. So we went to the Coastal Discovery Museum. Not really a Museum, could be walked through in 10 minutes. Which we did. After that, we went back to the hotel and took a nap and got ready for dinner.

We had dinner at the Old Fort Pub. It was ranked #1 in Hilton Head. It was GOOD. Scallops were really good, good shrimp, good shrimp bisque, and strawberry shortcake. The waiter was very attentive, almost too attentive, and the place was very nice. Also, you get food enough for 3 people per dish. Hoping to see dolphins soon!

Today was a travel day, and it didn’t start off well. We had to get up early, which we did, only to find out that our flight was cancelled (thanks Orbitz for the phone call). Boo US Air. Thankfully, they got us another flight. However, when we got to the airport we had to wait in a huge line. (Another Boo or USAir). Finally we were almost to the counter (they had two people working for over 100 people in line), when someone came up and moved the people in line that were on our flight. We barely made that flight. By the way, I hate people who think that they should be able to get on the plane before their area is called. Anyway, another flight to Philly, and a three hour wait there. The plane to Charleston was nice, one of those all first class types (minus the meal).

We stayed in Charleston and ate at a place that I think was Southern D Brewery. It was gross. Then we walked around a bit, it is a very quaint town. We later went on a ghost walk. It was fun. I’d do another one. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, but it took forever for him to get to the point. That was my only complaint.

The drive to Hilton Head is only about 2 hours. It looks like you’re going no where, but we got here okay. Our hotel, Main Street Inn, is great. I love it. However, the bed is not as nice as I’d like. We all know I can sleep anywhere so it’s not like I am not getting enough sleep, but the beds at the Boston Hampton Inn were fantastic. Great bedding, just the right amount of softness. That is the only complaint of this hotel.