One of our stops was at New Bern, NC, and we visited the Firemen's Museum there. The pieces on exhibit are original from their city. New Bern was the 1st city in North Carolina to charter a fire company, and one of the 1st in the nation. The Fire Dept there is comprised of 3 companies, one 1st chartered in 1845 became inactive becuase of members volunteering for military service in the war between the states. the 2nd company established in 1865 by Union Soldiers, and a rivalry started between them when they both received steam engines, replacing the Horse-drawn engines (Fred, the Firehorse had worked the station for 25 years until his death). The 2 companies raced to a fire, and at one time competition was so fierce that the building burned while they fought. This rivalry continued until 1928 when the town decided to house them both in the same station. The streets had been paved with oyster shells before being repaved with brick, and in 1914 the department had its first motorize
d truck.
Oh, yes, their safety net (see "target-like photo)
hung on the wall.
Then, we visited the Nathaniel Russell House in Charleston, SC, a beautiful old mansion built in 1908 with a free-flying staircase (cantelievered 3 floors), and refurnished with period furniture. The architecture and ornate detail of light
fixtures, plasterwork, etc, were exquisite. And only Mr and Mrs Russell and their servants lived there in this huge home. Bummer that photos were not allowed and I can't share anything but the outside. Wonderful experience, though. We had wanted to explore Charleston further, but finding places to park the RV were tough, and we decided to head south to Georgia where we 
stopped in Savannah and took a trolley tour. The OLD homes are too magnificient for words here in the south. The end of the Christmas 
tour was at a fancy hotel that displayed children's gingerbread house competetion entries. They 
were quite incredible, and really showed imagination!
From Savannah, we went to St. Augustine, not knowing it is the Christmas Capitol of the East! Everything was decorated for Christmas, and many activities. We took another trolley tour and also a Holly Jolly Christmas train at night. Really fun and so beautiful. Wandered through some of the many shops, had a wonderful slice of pizza with salad at a pizzeria (which I seldom eat, but was great, quick and affordable). One of the things one of the tour guides explained was about the beautiful hanging spanish moss on the trees. It is actually filled with bugs and bacteria, and before people realized that, they used to stuff their pillows and mattresses with it....hence the term, "don't let the bedbugs bite".
Also watched a re-enactment of a civil war changing of the guard ceremony which was quite interesting and entertaining. they
showed how they needed to load 
their muskets and if it misfired, 
would have to re-load while enemy was shooting at them from close range. Fortunately, these rifles were not very a
ccurate, while the big canons on top of their fort wall could fire accurately at 300 yards.
We are currently at Kissimee, Florida, (just outside Orlando) where we will stay until after the New Year. I will fly to Seattle to see family (Al will Kittysit), then we will decide where to head next, but hope to find a fun place to enjoy the warm winter here in FLorida. Today it was about 78, and so beautiful. Will blog more about this area next time I write. Just don't like to get too far strung out as it's too hard to remember.
Well, it is now Dec 22, and I have been working on this for 2 weeks, and I know more won't get done til I get back from Seattle. So, here it is such as it is. We are enjoying the warm weather and exploring the area. Just booked ourselves into another RV Park here in Kissimmee that is a lot nicer than where we are. Al will move there while I am gone and we will stay there at least until mid-January, and through the month if they have room. It is definitely their busy time here.
We never did get our cards out for Christmas, so this will have to suffice. Please know we love you all, and wish you the Merriest of Christmases and a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous 2012.
d truck.
Oh, yes, their safety net (see "target-like photo)
hung on the wall.
Then, we visited the Nathaniel Russell House in Charleston, SC, a beautiful old mansion built in 1908 with a free-flying staircase (cantelievered 3 floors), and refurnished with period furniture. The architecture and ornate detail of light
fixtures, plasterwork, etc, were exquisite. And only Mr and Mrs Russell and their servants lived there in this huge home. Bummer that photos were not allowed and I can't share anything but the outside. Wonderful experience, though. We had wanted to explore Charleston further, but finding places to park the RV were tough, and we decided to head south to Georgia where we 
stopped in Savannah and took a trolley tour. The OLD homes are too magnificient for words here in the south. The end of the Christmas 
tour was at a fancy hotel that displayed children's gingerbread house competetion entries. They 
were quite incredible, and really showed imagination!Another stop was the Paris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot Paris Island, South Carolina. Brought back many training memories for Al, and educational for me. 
From Savannah, we went to St. Augustine, not knowing it is the Christmas Capitol of the East! Everything was decorated for Christmas, and many activities. We took another trolley tour and also a Holly Jolly Christmas train at night. Really fun and so beautiful. Wandered through some of the many shops, had a wonderful slice of pizza with salad at a pizzeria (which I seldom eat, but was great, quick and affordable). One of the things one of the tour guides explained was about the beautiful hanging spanish moss on the trees. It is actually filled with bugs and bacteria, and before people realized that, they used to stuff their pillows and mattresses with it....hence the term, "don't let the bedbugs bite".Also watched a re-enactment of a civil war changing of the guard ceremony which was quite interesting and entertaining. they
showed how they needed to load 
their muskets and if it misfired, 
would have to re-load while enemy was shooting at them from close range. Fortunately, these rifles were not very a
ccurate, while the big canons on top of their fort wall could fire accurately at 300 yards.We are currently at Kissimee, Florida, (just outside Orlando) where we will stay until after the New Year. I will fly to Seattle to see family (Al will Kittysit), then we will decide where to head next, but hope to find a fun place to enjoy the warm winter here in FLorida. Today it was about 78, and so beautiful. Will blog more about this area next time I write. Just don't like to get too far strung out as it's too hard to remember.
Well, it is now Dec 22, and I have been working on this for 2 weeks, and I know more won't get done til I get back from Seattle. So, here it is such as it is. We are enjoying the warm weather and exploring the area. Just booked ourselves into another RV Park here in Kissimmee that is a lot nicer than where we are. Al will move there while I am gone and we will stay there at least until mid-January, and through the month if they have room. It is definitely their busy time here.
We never did get our cards out for Christmas, so this will have to suffice. Please know we love you all, and wish you the Merriest of Christmases and a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous 2012.
More next year! Al & Sylvia
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