Several dear friends have been hounding me for more info on the Trip to Beautiful, so I thought I'd jot down a couple of thoughts.
The first thing you notice about Durham, NC is how friendly the place is. I think it's probably a pretty normal trait in the heartland or in rural areas, but friendliness and kindness take on a different face here in NYC. Even before September 11th, 2001, I would have argued strenuously that New Yorkers were a friendly, helping bunch, by and large. You only needed to see how they helped tourists who were lost, or rallied around each other when their apartment buildings caught fire, or the outpouring of grief and outrage when some innocent was victimized. It was always there, but it was often disguised behind a brusqueness; they like to help, but this city imposes its own rigors, after all, and getting your business done quickly and efficiently is required for living here.
Durham was different. The lady behind the counter at the BP station, the folks behind the counter at the post office: These folks were doing their jobs, but that didn't stop them from actually engaging me in conversation. Offering a smile, or an anecdote. Making the transaction of business a real social interaction, not just something to be gotten through so you can move on to the next thing.
I like that about Durham. I think most people would; most Americans, at least. When I pointed out my observation to JayBird, he recounted tales of foreign friends who'd been really freaked out by the immediate availability and friendliness of complete strangers.
European Homey Don't Play That, apparently.
I will admit, at first I thought they seemed just a little too, I don't know, adamant about their friendliness. I got used to it.
Anywho. We left Durham and headed south and east toward the coast, eventually ending up for our one beach day in Wilmington, NC. Wilmington is the famous filming location of -- God help us -- Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill.
After spending a wind-blown and entirely too brisk hour on the beach in Wilmington, we climbed back into the car and headed south toward Charleston. It was, of course, at this point that the clouds were banished, the sun came out, and the temperature climbed again. Figures.
In any case, we arrived in Charleston, and that about catches you up on the pictures you've seen so far.
After Charleston, we headed off to Savannah, GA. A beautiful city, where I caught this guy flying by...
Winging south:
The first thing you notice about Durham, NC is how friendly the place is. I think it's probably a pretty normal trait in the heartland or in rural areas, but friendliness and kindness take on a different face here in NYC. Even before September 11th, 2001, I would have argued strenuously that New Yorkers were a friendly, helping bunch, by and large. You only needed to see how they helped tourists who were lost, or rallied around each other when their apartment buildings caught fire, or the outpouring of grief and outrage when some innocent was victimized. It was always there, but it was often disguised behind a brusqueness; they like to help, but this city imposes its own rigors, after all, and getting your business done quickly and efficiently is required for living here.
Durham was different. The lady behind the counter at the BP station, the folks behind the counter at the post office: These folks were doing their jobs, but that didn't stop them from actually engaging me in conversation. Offering a smile, or an anecdote. Making the transaction of business a real social interaction, not just something to be gotten through so you can move on to the next thing.
I like that about Durham. I think most people would; most Americans, at least. When I pointed out my observation to JayBird, he recounted tales of foreign friends who'd been really freaked out by the immediate availability and friendliness of complete strangers.
European Homey Don't Play That, apparently.
I will admit, at first I thought they seemed just a little too, I don't know, adamant about their friendliness. I got used to it.
Anywho. We left Durham and headed south and east toward the coast, eventually ending up for our one beach day in Wilmington, NC. Wilmington is the famous filming location of -- God help us -- Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill.
After spending a wind-blown and entirely too brisk hour on the beach in Wilmington, we climbed back into the car and headed south toward Charleston. It was, of course, at this point that the clouds were banished, the sun came out, and the temperature climbed again. Figures.
In any case, we arrived in Charleston, and that about catches you up on the pictures you've seen so far.
After Charleston, we headed off to Savannah, GA. A beautiful city, where I caught this guy flying by...
Winging south:
...and his friend in repose:
We made the rash decision to drive back to Durham after Savannah, and made it home, after a marathon drive, just in time to go to bed. The next morning, JayBird captured this:
The reason we rushed back to Durham and spent the night there was so we could get up at dawn's crack and head north into Virginia, allowing me to see the Blue Ridge Parkway. We came across a place called "Mabry Mill." I misread the sign, and thought it said "Mabry Hill." I was a little peeved that "Mabry Hill" was actually in a valley. I'm dumb:
I was bound and determined to take this visual mess of a picture of the water spilling out of a sluice. Oh, if only I were a little more talented:
JayBird caught me in the act:
Again, we were off on the Parkway, until we found a place for Masha to play, and me to snap some shots. Did I tell you we brought Masha with us?
And you wonder why I want a dog. I'd frankly, at this point, prefer a dog to a boyfriend:
After spending the day on the Parkway, we headed back to Jay's parents' house for dinner. I got to meet their show horses (more photos of them later), and afterward we drove home to Durham for a day of relaxation. I took the opportunity to visit the Sarah Duke Gardens, on the campus of Duke Universtiy. Do I look fat to you? Be careful how you answer:
I'm not sure, but I think this one may be my favorite from the entire trip:
But this is nice, too:
And here's a quick snap of Chez JayBird. Ain't it sweet? He's done well:
Eventually, it was time to return north. JayBird and I collected his friends David and Katya (who were accompanying him back to NYC so they could all see Hedda Gabler at BAM. On the way home -- yes, I admit it, we were in the parking lot of a Burger King, and I was about to eat my first fast food in something like six years -- I stopped and snapped one last picture of Ol' Dixie:
So that's pretty much it. There are actually a lot more photos -- something on the order of 250 of 'em -- but I think those are the highlights. And I don't want this to turn into one of those horrible "we're all stuck watching the vacation slide show" moments.
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