Columbia, SC
After escaping Blowing Rock and it's mountainous surroundings, I headed to the flatlands and drove past Charlotte, NC, and into South Carolina. I'm shocked that after all of the miles I clocked in North Carolina, I didn't see one hog farm. In fact, I don't even think I saw a pig, well, not unless you count the pig in the logo at Piggly Wiggly stores.
Crossing into South Carolina, I felt a little less secure than I felt in Georgia, Tennessee or North Carolina. But soon enough I discovered this was all mental. For some reason I assumed that South Carolina was the nastier state of the of the forementioned group, but I discovered I was wrong. Driving through remote sections of South Carolina I encountered little poverty and beautiful countryside. Sure, there were some trailers and pre-fab homes, but I saw those in the other states, too. In Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, I was driving primarily in the scenic areas frequented by tourists. Now I was now driving in the bowels of South Carolina headed even deeper into the deep south, and the land was beautiful. It was clean. And the old homes were amazing. South Carolina is an interesting place.
As I drove south, the weather cleared and it was getting hot and humid. For the first time on this trip I had to turn on the air conditioning. And even after I missed my planned route, I made it to historic Columbia, SC, home of Hootie & the Blowfish and the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, 'Cocks for short. Makes for some interesting USC souvenirs.
My venue for the night was the Hampton Inn, and it turned out to be a great hotel. As I entered the hotel, I was greeted by two gorgeous women at the reception desk who must have been USC students. And the place was in the heart of the historic district, flanked by bars an restaurants. My room was on the top floor of the hotel, and I was at the end of the wing. I really didn't expect much from Columbia, especially at $125 a night, but I could get used to this. I'm beginning to think I'm learning the definition of southern hospitality.
Crossing into South Carolina, I felt a little less secure than I felt in Georgia, Tennessee or North Carolina. But soon enough I discovered this was all mental. For some reason I assumed that South Carolina was the nastier state of the of the forementioned group, but I discovered I was wrong. Driving through remote sections of South Carolina I encountered little poverty and beautiful countryside. Sure, there were some trailers and pre-fab homes, but I saw those in the other states, too. In Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, I was driving primarily in the scenic areas frequented by tourists. Now I was now driving in the bowels of South Carolina headed even deeper into the deep south, and the land was beautiful. It was clean. And the old homes were amazing. South Carolina is an interesting place.
As I drove south, the weather cleared and it was getting hot and humid. For the first time on this trip I had to turn on the air conditioning. And even after I missed my planned route, I made it to historic Columbia, SC, home of Hootie & the Blowfish and the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, 'Cocks for short. Makes for some interesting USC souvenirs.
My venue for the night was the Hampton Inn, and it turned out to be a great hotel. As I entered the hotel, I was greeted by two gorgeous women at the reception desk who must have been USC students. And the place was in the heart of the historic district, flanked by bars an restaurants. My room was on the top floor of the hotel, and I was at the end of the wing. I really didn't expect much from Columbia, especially at $125 a night, but I could get used to this. I'm beginning to think I'm learning the definition of southern hospitality.
posted by Leroy at
2:48 PM
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