Quick Tour of Charlotte, NC

Rick had a conference in Charlotte, NC and decided it would be good to take me along! So . . . called Paris and she got us right in! Our room was basic but the bathroom was GREAT! Big walk-in shower with glass doors, marble vanity - make-up mirror! I felt like a socialite!




I spent two days just walking downtown Charlotte - It is beautiful, clean, well-kept, well-lit, and clearly populated with some of America's Fortune 500 companies. During the lunch hour, the sidewalks are full of people - no one follows the crosswalk signs! I mean no one! If you stand there and wait for the "go ahead and walk" signal you will get run over! You simply look to see if the way is clear and then head on across!

I love this picture - look at the building within a building! I couldn't have done that better if I had tried!



People ate their lunches around this fountain. Nice peaceful area to get away from work for a while.



Lots of trees and greenery. There were already flowers blooming.



Whiskey River Saloon "Howl at the Moon" - this was the only thing remotely close to "Cowboy" that I found!




The "Blue Line" - A major transit in Charlotte - Will take you anyway you need to go!



This is a court yard surrounded by trendy shops, restraunts, and night clubs. No parking on the street - Vallet parking only - or one easy block to the Blue Line.



Ate breakfast at this little coffee shop - Had the worst cup of coffee of my life! I just don't know how to pick 'em. Had a yummy strawberry cream cheese something-or-other, though!



More of the Charlotte Skyline!



Flowers in Boom in February!



My last afternoon there, I decided to catch a movie at the new "ritzy" UNO - Order dinner and drinks and head in to sit in one of these fancy-smancy seats and watch a good chic flic! I saw "Not That Into You" - I wasn't that into it. Not my thing.




This was the best picture we could come up with - he's tired from sitting in a boring conference all day and I'm tired, and wind-blown, from walking the streets of Charlotte! We had a great time and Grandma survived the kids!



I went to a plantation and they were only open to large groups! I spent $30 bucks on cab fare to not be allowed in. You read books about these big beautiful plantation homes and quite frankly, I wasn't that impressed by its size.

I did have a fantastic cab driver from Etheopia! His number was drawn in the American Diversification Lottery from his country. He has been here 5 years and speaks remarkable English. Plans to become a citizen in 6 months and very excited. He said, "America is the land of opportunity. If a person will work, they can make it here!" He met and married his wife here, and would you believe, she won the lottery a year before him and is from the same villiage! He was the high-light of my trip. He asked for my email address - he said, "I am going back to that plantation and take pictures for you!" I haven't heard from him, life is busy, he has children, but I was blessed that he was so kind and PROUD to ALMOST BE AMERICAN!

Blessings~
P.