Tuesday, November 14, 2017 Charleston, SC

After a good night's sleep, we went downstairs for the included breakfast which is served off the kitchen in a breakfast room which opens out on one of the courtyards.   We approved!
Our first trip, and the real reason Stephen wanted to go down to Charleston, was right across the street (what a surprise - can always count   on Stephen to show his priorities) to the fine linen shop of Yves Delorme. It has been a while since we splurged on some nice linens and this time Stephen had decided to go Parisian. It didn't take long to focus in on what we wanted: a dark lavender bruyere bottom with silver top, and matching shams. That done, we decided to see Charleston as long as we happened to be there.
First stop was Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue. Congregation Beth Elohim was   founded in 1749, which makes it one of the oldest Jewish congregations in 
 the U.S. The founding members of the KKBE were Sephardi Jews of Spanish and Portuguese descendants, who arrived into Charleston from London, England. The present sanctuary, an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture, was built in 1840. A controversial organ was installed in the balcony, and cemented the notion that this was a reformed congregation of Jews.
Being in an ecumenical spirit, our next stop was St. Mary of the Annunciation Roman Catholic Church. Due to 
earthquake and fire, this building is the third to house the congregation. The present structure   in the Roman architectural style
was built in 1839. This is the first Roman Catholic in the Carolinas and Georgia.
 We lunched at a French cafe, Gaulart & Maliclet, where tipping is considered tyranny and not allowed. The food was delicious, the waitress delightful, and the clientele friendly. We must have looked perfectly at home because a small walking tour came in to eat and asked us if we were "characters". We replied, "Y'all bet we are!"
From there we headed to the Gibbes Museum of Art. We both found the museum to be quite boring and hardly worth the effort. It is mostly American art with a strong emphasis on works from Charleston and the South. I admit I yawned in my best Southern drawl. The most interesting part of the museum is the Tiffany-like dome.
We headed back to our hotel to rest and prepare for dinner.