Marrakesh in Charleston?

Door and Window, The Old Saracen, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



You might think this photo is from Morocco,
but in fact this Moorish door and window belong to the old
Saracen restaurant in Charleston.
 
Not coincidentally, I received a surprise package of Moroccan
 cuisine in the mail today (containing couscous, tajine sauce,
 argan oil, kefta rub, and more.). Thanks to my amazing wife,
who signed us up at trytheworld.com, we'll be mailed
 a different box of gourmet products from around the world
 every other month. I can't wait to try the recipes included!

Twinkle

Gate Scroll at Night, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Lights appear to twinkle behind a South Battery gate,
adding a warm touch to this photo made at dawn.
If beauty is in the details, the scenes to be found
around Charleston certainly qualify.

Reflections of a New Day

Windows and Ironwork, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



East facing windows on this High Battery mansion
 reflect the warm light of sunrise over Charleston Harbor.

Complementary

Cherry Tree Blossoms, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A warm touch of spring color graces a Charleston evening
 complements of a cherry tree along Meeting Street.

Colors of the Rainbow

East Bay Houses, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



These houses near Rainbow Row catch the morning sun
 which makes them a richly colorful subject to photograph.

Spring City

Azaleas, White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



It's been said that Charleston is a city within a garden.
This is especially true this time of year when
 spring blooms unfold all around town. As a bonus, guided tours
 of private homes and gardens began yesterday
 and continue through April 19.



 

Discovery

Green Shuttered House, Charleston, SC  
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



I discovered this green-shuttered house in the Historic District
 while strolling along one of Charleston's alleyways.



 

Framed

Garden Door Window, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Beautifully symmetrical ironwork is framed
 in this garden door window, which also frames
 the house window in the background.

A Natural Ballet

Live Oaks, Middleton Place Gardens, Charleston, SC  
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



The arching limbs of these live oaks
 are like ballet dancers moving in graceful harmony.

Spring Breeze

Azaleas, Middleton Place, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Breezes on a spring day put these woodland flowers
 in motion at Middleton Place Gardens.

Photophilic

Driveway Gate and Morning Light, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



My lovely wife called me a name yesterday. She said I was a photophile.
At first, I was taken aback, but then she told me what it means...
a lover of light.
 
Today I just happen to have a picture with gorgeous
morning light as a key element.
Clearly she knows me better than anyone!

Scintillating

Sail Boat in Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Film photography)



The Sun burns its way through morning fog in a burst
of scintillating light upon Charleston Harbor.

French Connection

Balcony Ironwork, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A fleur-de-lis pattern on ironwork frames a balcony at dusk.
 This stylized flower is usually associated with French royalty.
 Charleston has a French connection that dates back to the
 colonial era when the town was settled by Huguenots
escaping religious persecution.



 

Welcome

Door Knocker, French Quarter, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



A door knocker in the shape of a pineapple,
 like the fountain in Waterfront Park,
is a symbol of hospitality. It echoes the welcoming
 attitude that the city has toward visitors.



 

Morning Glow

Pineapple Fountain, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Cascades of water catch and hold the glow
 of morning light at the Pineapple Fountain
 in Charleston's Waterfront Park.

Quiet Among the Early Blooms

Garden Bench, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



Framed by two stone statues, an ornate bench sits quietly
 in a Charleston garden, offering the visitor an invitation
 to rest among the early blooms.

Misty Monday - Shrouded

Fishing Pier, Folly Beach, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



Folly Beach Fishing Pier, one of the longest fishing piers
 on the east coast, is shrouded by an encroaching sea fog.



 

Open Gate

Open Gate, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved



An open gate offers a glimpse of a colorful courtyard
 in the Historic District. Note the angular gate design,
 a unique sight among Charleston's famed ironwork.

Charming Collection

Lanterns and Ironwork, Charleston, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved




This collection of lanterns, ironwork, doors and windows
 is well defined by strong morning light, imparting a sense
 of Charleston's unique 18th century charm.

Morning Workout

Morning Run, Ravenel Bridge, Mt. Pleasant, SC
© Doug Hickok  All Rights Reserved
(Click on image for larger view.)



The pedestrian and bike path along the Ravenel Bridge
 is the only "steep" incline in the Lowcountry
 making it perfect for an aerobic workout.