Last November I had the pleasure of traveling to Charleston and Savannah with members of the Woodson Art Museum. These two cities are the epitome of the traditional warmth and hospitality of the South and are a MUST to visit if you have not yet been lucky enough to have experienced the charm of South Carolina and Georgia Low Country.

The program for this trip was very full and varied so that every day there was something to enjoy for everyone. For example, we visited Middleton Place and Drayton Hall and learned about plantation life in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. On another day, we visited Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and a non-profit outdoor museum where we admired the majestic oaks, beautiful gardens and the world-renowned large collection of American sculptures. Sweetgrass basket making has been a proud tradition of Mount Pleasant for more than 300 years; it is one of the oldest crafts of African origin in America. We stopped one day at one of the stands on the side of the road to talk to a basket weaver and admire the products. We were hosted at a private gallery reception in Charleston as well as being taken on a gallery hop hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design.

The southern cuisine which was plentiful and excellent was not lost on us! One evening we enjoyed the state-of-the-art demonstration of dinner by the Charleston Cooks, a well-known culinary school. On our farewell night, we had an exceptionally fine dining experience at the Old Pink House in Charleston. We also had brunch at Palmer House and this gave us the opportunity of feeling the ambiance of a typical southern house and seeing the spectacular views of the Cooper and Ashley Rivers. Perhaps the most memorable supper was the Oyster Roast and Low Country Boil at Palm Key. The institute at Palm Key, an organization dedicated to the rich ecology, art and history of the Low Country, treated us to a spectacular oyster roast.  This was followed by a buffet supper where freshly caught shrimp (that very morning) were just one of the delicacies. This experience was the first of its kind for most of us and one we will not readily forget.

Throughout this journey we were accompanied by several guides, all true southern ladies who exuded charm and showed up each morning with a different huge hats which they wore the whole day. This added a festive air and was great fun.

Most travelers on this tour already knew each other but some new friendships were formed and others deepened through this experience. I have a feeling that the experiences of this special trip will remain with participants for a long time.

Izabella van Raalte 

Academic Travel Abroad

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