chuckography

"Kids do the darndest things..."

Well, I guess it's my fault.

I DID tell my grandson Aiden that kids were allowed to wade in the Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park downtown.

And, he did see others splashing and having watery fun.

At first, he heeded his mom's suggestion that he hold up his shorts so they would not get wet.

This was Day 3 of a 5-day visit by my daughter, who had driven from Sand Springs, Oklahoma, to visit me, relax and take in some of the sights.

We had been out to Sullivan's Island the day before and cruising over to the Isle of Palms, he got to see an ocean for the first time.

Living in a land-locked suburb of Tulsa, he could relate to lakes and rivers, but this was his first ocean.

I assured him it was big and he was seeing only the top.

Also probably the first time he had stepped into a fountain that had a sign: "NO LIFEGUARD.

It was a warm day, the end of April, and many other children had already been told they could be on the steps around the fountain.

This was the first time I had been here with a 5-year-old and I wisely stepped back and let his mom decide if Aiden could join the others.

Things were going swell until he spotted a boy in the deeper spot, beneath the fountain overhang, who was wearing swim goggles.

Maybe that sight caused him to miss a step and trip off the step he was on and submerge into the chilly water.

My grandson resignedly stepped out and dripped his way to his grandpop and mom who realized we did not have a change of dry clothes!

Poor planning.

A kid + a fountain + permission to wade should have made us more alert to the next logical step - or misstep - and have at least a towel.

But, as we found the day before at the beach, the sun was shining, clothes dry out and the fun continues.

One of the nearby oversize swings was a pleasant way to let the wind dry you as the tallest member of the trio used his long legs to push the swing higher and higher.

Grandson spotted the sign that said to be polite and limit your swing time to 20 minutes.

He asked me to tell him when the time was up.

We passed by "the other" fountain at Waterfront Park but he seemed less eager to get soaked and just passed his hands in front of one of the streams.

As he dried, we continued out onto the pier and I showed where the weekly cruise ship docked.

Then I spotted a red flag flapping in the breeze and suggested we take a Water Taxi round trip over the harbor with several stops along the way.

All agreed and we watched as a Taxi cruised by and then returned from the Maritime Center and headed to us standing at its berth on the pier.

L'il Man was excited to get on board and found us a seat...in the sun.

No problem as others boarded and we cast off. A few turns and we were now seated in the shade of the big overhead awning.

This was not a narrated tour - a basic maritime boat ride from Point A to Point B - but we scooted across the harbor to the Mt. Pleasant side.

I was able to share a tip on how to avoid getting seasick as we bounced along.

Aiden had ducked his head down onto his mom's lap and I suggested he sit up and keep an eye on the horizon.

Then I explained that the line between the water and the sky was called the horizon. He's a smart home-schooled youngster and digested that new fact.

He did sit up and the breeze in his face helped too. No sickness problem.

Soon we were looking up at the stern of the USS Yorktown. ...and two small sailing ships anchored in the marina.

I had seen an article in the paper that these were replicas of Christopher Columbus' Nina and the Pinta and were on public display.

It was a moody scene so I printed them in black and white instead of in color. I knew they were modeled after an Italian Caravel but I hope these were not actual size! They looked so small for such an extended exploration.

(Click on the links and the photos for more details.)

Thanks for spending some time with me and my family down by the famed Charleston Harbor.

I'll add some more, including a place where the drinks "are on the house."

Well, there's real money stapled all over the dive bar called The Griffon

Labels: Dive bar, drinks on the house, Harbor Resort Marina, his first ocean, Italian Caravel, Maritime Center, No Lifeguard, over-size swings, The Griffon, the Nina & the Pinta, USS Yorktown, water taxi

posted by chuckography @ 12:47 PM 0 Comments

Lost and Found...

Baltimore is known for its Harbor and for Ft. McHenry with its star-spangled banner.

Oh, did I mention jumbo lump crab cakes?

Yes, state slogans abound: "Virginia Is For Lovers" and "Maryland Is For Crabs".

The first stop - at 10 in the morning - was Faidley Seafood for its fist-sized specialty served with lettuce & tomato, saltines and a cold beer. A second crab cake was ordered so it was a two-fisted meal.

That is a BIG flag!

Don't know if Francis Scott Key could really see it at dawn's early light (he was on a ship about 2-3 miles away) but it inspires goose bumps.

Now a fleet of Water Taxis move visitors around to various points on the harbor.

Start at the top (27th floor) of the World Trade Center for the view then cruise around and alight to explore the American Visionary Art Museum. Catch another boat to continue sightseeing ... or stop for a beer.



At Fells Point there was an Irish pub named Slainte.

Cozy and friendly, it sat on a cobblestone street overlooking the harbor with stubby tug boats coming and going. Time to take a break.


Eventually wandered out to join a short line for a water taxi and headed toward the Aquarium area at twilight.

The city lights sparkled as we docked and went to a nearby Chipolte for a massive burrito.

Wanted quick service because the train to Philadelphia would leave in about 90 minutes but we were close to the railroad station.

"Hey want to save the leftover chips?" "Sure, just put them in your back pack."
Huh? What back pack? Looked down at the emptiest floor I've ever seen. Nothing. YIKES!
Did I have it on the Water Taxi? Don't remember that. At the Fort? Yeah, had it then.

Uh oh...the Irish pub. Pretty sure... but where was it? How far away? Go by boat or hop in a cab?

Have never shouted "Follow that cab," but now have breathlessly said "Gotta catch a train..can you get us quickly to Fell's Point and Slainte?"

Phyllis reminded me of Queen Latifah in the 2004 movie "TAXI" as she wheeled that car through changing yellow traffic lights, around slow drivers and up a one way street - the wrong way. Well, it was a short block.

We bounced on cobblestones and pulled up in front of the bar. "Keep the meter running, I'll be right back," I said as I sprinted for the front door.

The place now was packed and hanging on the front of the bar.... by the stools where I had sat.... was....a ladies purse.

The manager took my card and said he would also check upstairs. Oh, that's right, we also had gone up there!

Up the stairs, found a big "bouncer" size guy and started to explain. He said "Yeah, It's sitting behind the bar."

And it was.

I charged out the front door, the bag raised over my head and Phyllis started honking the horn in celebration. She knew all sorts of shortcuts to the train station and we arrived with 14 minutes to spare.

She got a VERY nice tip and the train pulled in on time.

Guess what closes in Philadelphia on Easter Sunday? Yep....all the restaurants. But, that's another story.

(Click on the photos to see massive enlargements! Amazing detail. I don't miss shooting with film.)

Labels: American Visionary Art, Baltimore Harbor, burrito, Chipolte, Faidley Seafood, Fells point, Francis Scott Key, Ft. McHenry, Maryland is for crabs, Queen Latifah, Slainte, water taxi

posted by chucker @ 10:36 AM 0 Comments