Okay, I finally gained the 'heart' to re-do the message I accidentally zapped a couple of days ago, so I'll continue from where I left off on Tuesday:
Wednesday, we did indeed go to Brookgreen Gardens.
To begin the day we had breakfast at The Sea Captain's House (we had the buffet, which includes an omelet bar, but one can also order a la carte of course if s/he desires Eggs Benedict or a Seafood Omelet, etc.) She: juice, western omelet, fruit, silver-dollar pancakes; Me: coffee, juice, scrambleds, bacon, biscuits/gravy/blackberry jelly, fruit. Price: $30.00, including tip(s -- as I also gave the guy at the omelet station a couple of bucks).
At Brookgreen Gardens (admission for two $24.00, which is good for six consecutive days following ones initial visit):
Went immediately to the Lowcounrty Center to purchase tickets for the afternoon Creek Excursion (which we've done several times, but still enjoy the leisurely pace and looking for alligators, turtles and waterfowl). Creek 'Cruise' - $14.00 for two (40-45 minutes).
But first we sat in on a Gullah interactive program that was more than a little silly but kind of fun anyway (in fact my wife garnered the second highest number of points and narrowly missed winning a free ticket to something or other by correctly answering questions -- even though we came in late and didn't know one had to raise his hand [a la 'jeopardy' wherein one must 'answer' in the form of a question, I suppose] prior to answering, meaning she/we missed out on three correct answers before we were even told one HAD to raise his hand, ha).
A highlight for the day was the Offner Sculpture Learning Center -- in which we spent around an hour and a half (we'd have likely stayed longer had it not been so humid and a bit hot in there). As I'm sure many know, Brookgreen's is almost exclusively 'non-human' sculpture (meaning all manner of animal life and such in their natural surroundings). This is by mandate, from what I understand (the Huntingtons?). Yet, there is much in the way of free-standing portrait sculpture in wax, plaster and bronze as well as bas relief medals and medallions stored in the Offner Center.
We also spent around 20 minutes or so viewing a video of some of the casting methods with which we were not as familiar. There is also a computer station where one can look up details regarding the sculpture and two stations to view video presentations on various aspects of sculpting. Lots of very interesting artworks, etc. in there and we enjoyed seeing them.
After snacking at the Lowcountry Cafe (the Pavilion Restaurant was closed by the time we were really hungry - $7.00, including tip) we wandered around the Gardens a bit -- lingering in the Live Oak Allée (where there are trees which are said to be over 350 years old, dripping Spanish moss, and which are absolutely no less than incredibly beautiful, IMO). After driving around the property to get our bearings for our return visits later in the week, we returned to the Caribbean where we decided to stay in and have dinner in the condo.
Thursday we spent the day at The Market Common (out at the old Myrtle Beach Air Force Base) shopping. This is a very nice area with shops, restaurants, landscaped green spaces and a lake, etc. -- much like what we're used to seeing back home in North Carolina. Spent the whole afternoon there.
We had lunch at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (she: the special 'taco burger' and garlic fries w/ fudge cake and Carrot Cake minis for dessert [she says the carrot cake was better than the fudge cake]; he: chicken teriyaki and shrimp tempura w/ rice pilaf and veggies plus apple bread pudding w/whiskey sauce for dessert. Didn't try their beers, though many around us were enjoying their specially 'handcrafted' brewskis -- $62.00, including tip).
Williams-Sonoma is always a draw to my wife, who is the 'gadget queen' of America. She picked up a couple of kitchen tools that don't already grace our drawers and sampled a turkey-cranberry-spinach panini.
Found a mildly charming shop called Lazy Gator, which had a rather friendly/chatty amusing proprietress and cutesy home decor, greeting cards, etc.
Barnes and Noble is a most frequent haunt back home -- and we couldn't avoid it here either (we have literally thousands of books, and brought two suitcases of them with us here to read). Resisted the urge to purchase (mainly due to the fact that I'm currently reading six books now and don't need anything else to cart home), though two new books on my beloved UNC Tar Heels (basketball) were in stock and I perused them for an hour and a half while sitting there.
Coldwater Creek's new fall/winter line is in and wifey picked up a couple of sweet accessories and a nice houndstooth jacket. May have found part of her Christmas present, but will have to sneak back over there somehow to get it!
Back home we opted to dine in again -- wife prepared the chili, which was really tasty (using only ground turkey and two shades of kidney beans). Haven't turned on a one of the four TVs here in two days, and am loving the quiet...
Friday, we decided to sleep in again. Then strolled along the beach on a gorgeous cool, sunny day. waded out in the tide and discovered one can find some pretty good intact shells up this far north on the beach if s/he's willing to get in to the knees and wait out the oncoming waves until the water clears.
Sat on the beach and scooped the sand all over our feet -- so soothing and cold, the sand this time of year... Back at The Caribbean, we pooled, lazy river-ed, and hot tub-ed until the early evening. Came back in, bathed and headed back over the BATB and (back) to Yamato. We each had the exact same meal as before (which, with a different chef, was not quite as good, but still rather yummy, even though my shrimp was entirely too salty). Price: $77.00, including tip.
Shared our table with three local young ladies who were there for a birthday celebration and who were seriously chowing down on some rather good looking sushi. Wandered about a bit and shopped just a little in Tiki Jim's. Then back here. After a little computer work we're off to bed. Tomorrow we're going back over to the art museum for the Free Family Day at the Art Museum celebrating 'Día de los Muertos' (Day of the Dead).
My wife, sister-in-law (who is half Mexican and a [whole] Medical Doctor) and niece attended this last Fall (2008) and enjoyed it. I was beaching farther south with my siblings and father and missed it previously.
But first (Saturday) we're going to Myrtle Beach State Park for a nature walk at 11:00 am.
More later!
(Okay Mike L., you just 'outed' me. I was straining to see if I could see anything when I deleted my message. But after all I am on the 9th floor, and it WAS rather chilly out, so the only thing 'prominent' enough to see was a
-- and, PLEASE, ALL, realize I'm just kidding!)
Thanks for the good wishes for weather (which have obviously come true) and other sentiments Kathy and Christine.
I overlooked, or forgot -- what with that hot-tub spectacle an all,
, Patrish -- to follow up on your post. I'll check into the cable issue tomorrow and get back to you. I won't be around on Sunday anyway (due to the road trip to Auldbrass) to see Mad Men, so I'd already moved on. But thanks again for your always prompt, thorough responses to inquiries (I've been reading for three years, though not posting much, so I've seen...)
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