Charleston the city of flowers that needs a paint job (a lot of pictures)

April 17, Charleston

I spent a week in Charleston. I walked, ate and drank this town. I love it. I’m leaving tomorrow morning.

The city is at once the beneficiary and victim of its historical importance. The houses are all very authentic because the town folks decided that only authentic building methods and materials could be used to repair or restore houses.

Unfortunately, most owners in the less wealthy part of town do not have the money or the patience to follow all the rules or get the appropriate permits. Or so it is explained to outsiders. My impression is that a lot of owners use the rules as an excuse not to maintain their buildings in the poorest areas. The buildings further west do not suffer from neglect at all.

What most buildings need is paint but some are now so run down that I don’t believe anyone expects them to ever be restored. The structures are left to decay to the point that buildings are sometimes leaning in very precarious ways.

The library was at the very center of town. Now it’s only a shell.

The entire town is defaced by ugly areal wires running even the prettiest and narrowest streets.

But then nature flowers are found everywhere even in the garbage strewn on the side of roads.

Flowers are everywhere.

I chuckled quite a bit when I saw what can only be described as an Homo Erotic statue dedicated to the confederate defenders of the city.

Well then, when you see the handbook…

Other pictures..