A Little History Lesson...

After our Irish adventures in Five Points, the three of us ate at our favorite Columbia restaurant, California Dreamin. Next, we took Spencer to the State Capital (for those that don't know, Columbia is the capital of South Carolina). It was free to get in but we spent enough money in the gift shop to support the governor for a while! Matt got a very nice tie. Spencer and Matt found a children's book on Boykin Spaniels which we bought for my sister and her family. Boykins are the official state dog and they just got their 2nd one. She was tickled with it. Spencer bought a few random things like key chains, etc.

Matt and I have decided to do our 1/2 bath downstairs in a South Carolina/Palmetto theme. At one of the boths at the festival, we'd bought a pretty mirror that had a palmetto tree (our state tree) on it. The gift shop had a very nice hand towel, which of course we bought. We decided it'd be neat if I could get some cool pictures of the capital to print and frame for the bathroom. That's the main reason I took SO many pictures there. So, here are some of the better ones and a quick lesson on the State of South Carolina (smiling faces and beautiful places).

Matt and I both really like this one because of it having the State House and the Confederate Flag in the picture. Plus the blue sky is beautiful and the angle is kind of cool. Note for non-South Carolinians: The Confederate Flag used to be ON the state house dome (with the US and State flags). NAACP raised cain and our government finally gave in and took it down. Now it's just on the property (as you see here), but they still aren't happy. This change was made a few years ago.















I love this photo as well, if it weren't for the silly Wilbur Smith building in the background. If I can manage to digitally remove the building, we will probably use this shot, though I'm not sure if I'm talented enough for that. This is the Palmetto Tree which is our state tree and it's also on our flag. Of course, this is the Confederate Flag again.



























This is a shot of more Palmetto trees, the state house in the background and Yellow Jasmine - our state flower.


























This shot was taken inside the State House, and is of the dome, obviously. I love this. Matt doesn't quite "get it". He doesn't understand architectural or "artsy" photos. LOL. Anyway, I think it's cool and we'll probably use this in the bathroom too.