charleston.

when i was younger and went to hilton head high school, i visited charleston a handful of times, if that. and there were parts of it that always really bugged me. it seemed that everyone looked exactly the same. the girls all had the same color hair, the same color skin, the same clothes, the same boyfriends. the boys all had the same color shirts, the same sunglasses (and croakies. of course)...it just seemed like a boring place to live.

then i went this weekend to visit my good friend stephenie. we got coffee at this place that's associated with some african art thing. beautiful small cafe with a fantastic courtyard (that would have been more enjoyable on a spring night, but that's okay). then we sort of fake shopped for a bit around king street, making fun of the american apparel bright gold leggings and wondering if i could pull of legwarmers. we then proceeded to raval, a spanish tapas place where we drank a bottle of wine, and ate almost one order of everything on the menu. pan con tomate, a thick bread rolled in fresh tomato, olive oil, and tons of garlic with tapenade, chickpea puree, and roasted garlic. asparagus wrapped in artichoke goat cheese and serrano ham. patatas bravas with aioli. a cheese plate.

i was soooo happy. it was one of the best times i've had recently, just really good food and really good wine with two of the coolest people i know.

we took a smoke break, met some randoms, watched the place fill up, paid, and left. we zipped by stephenie's to give her puppy some exercise and for me to change (more layers!!). headed out to a dive-y bar where we met some of her friends, listened to karaoke, made the acquaintance of a man who 'was a shrink for twenty years, but now is just a caddy'...danced with him, took funny pictures, laughed, drank, then went to another bar, then to one of steph's friend's places.

good conversation, good people, good times.

it was exactly what i needed and gave me a new view of charleston--not everyone looks the same. it's got tons of restaurants that i want to try on my next visit. it's got character. and not the kind of 'southern charm character' that the tourism bureau may brag about and the travel shows want to portray. real character.

la vie est belle. mais vous le savez deja, mes amis.