Travel: I travelled via train from Durham to Charleston. I wanted to mix up how I travelled and the train ride wasn't very expensive so I thought it'd be fun. For the first part of the journey it was a short train ride to Wilson where I would go to transit for a few hours before my next train.
Wilson
Wilson is a small country town in NC, super small their bus and train station share the same building. I was supposed to be there for a short time so I thought Id have a small wonder around the town. Very quiet, not much going on, some of the buildings in the town were run down, some shops deserted. Felt a bit eerie but not scary, it was a bright sunny day. I wondered around town for a bit until I walked it all, then went to a small diner I found off yelp for lunch. This was legit, small country diner, like what you see in tv shows. I went to the seating area, was served by a lovely lady with a classic strong accent. I got the special catfish and chips which was like $5-6 and coke, super cheap wasn't expecting much. I was surprised, was actually pretty good, and a good serving, enough to fill me. I was so happy with what I ended up getting I think I left $10 for the bill, and she said Ill get your change and I told her it was a tip and she was happy but slightly surprised. She was a great server very friendly so I thought it was worth it.

The train ride to Charleston was cool, I had two seats so I stretched out, had avengers playing on my laptop and every now and then look at the country side pass by. This is where I like trains more than buses. Trains are steadier, more space, arent confined to roads there is so much more to see. You get that characteristic sunset over farms and natural environments that I prefered alot.
Charleston Day 1 (more like Night 1)
Got there about 7pm, was supposed to get a taxi service which caters for hostel stayers which charges $10, but I got it wrong, got conned by another taxi driver which was gonna charge double, but he only told me half way after our trip started so I didn't want to risk being somewhere I didn't know. He was good value to talk to though so I wasn't all that bad. I was staying in the not-so-hostel which was a house with loads of bunk beds. I arrived was feeling abit sick or under the weather so I just went to grab a banh mi from a nice looking retro shop right next to the hostel and called it a night. I was there in Charleston for a while and had a tour the next day so no point risking any real sickness, an early night was the best call.
Day 2
Today was starting off with a 10am tour of the town, which I had prebooked and payed for. It was a historic tour which I was looking forward too, cause I knew charleston had some history. Boy did i underestimate just how much there was with the town and how awesome the town was itself. My tour guide firstly was awesome, he was so enthusiastic about the tour and the town and I think I sponged off his enthusiasm definitely (I think the tour group was Charleston Sole, definitely check it out, the guide's name was Fin). The walk went through the lower area of the town around the streets and stopping at buildings. As you walk it is apparent the development of the town and its history, and he takes the tour in such a manner it is like a progression of time, how the town was formed historic buildings, uses, streets, events and most importantly I think the architecture of the famous housing and all the little things you don't notice. EG: every year the is a best house, also any house that is older than 75 years must stay the same, and there is a board that makes sure that this remains. Its just an awesome place to walk around, its a neighbourhood in the downtown of a city where you feel like your in a different era. Also cause of Charleston's laws and architectural history there isn't any skyrises so the tallest buildings around are churches. Im not gonna even try to retell the tour, but I highly recommend taking any of the numerous walking group, solo, private, carriage tours around. After the tour, I went straight to Husk to eat one of my most anticipated meals. Husk is the restaurant of Sean Brock, a tv chef which is known for his southern influences and more down to earth persona. Husk is a super popular busy restaurant that is in an old house. When I arrived the place was already packed, so it was a 40 minute wait for a table for one. So whilst I was waiting I decided to walk around abit more and check more of the town. After my short walk I got back to Husk, really great interior decor, theres a chalkboard with all their ingredients and the source, eg: pigs from North Carolina or Butter from Virginia (can't actually remember so thats probably wrong). My meal here was easily the best of the trip, and whenever someone asks me what was the best thing I ate this was it.



So this meal was the best thing I ate all trip and possibly all my life. It all started with the bread rolls, not just any bread rolls but soft freshly baked rolls with but instead of being benign they top it with benne seeds and sea salt. The simple addition of the salt just brought out such flavour in the rolls, this was served with a lard and butter spread which was absolutely amazing, so good I wanted to lick the little bowl it came in. After this was the kentuckayaki pigs ears deep fried, served with marinated cucumber, red onions, in a lettuce wrap covered in a delicious asian sweet and sour vinaigrette. It was absolutely delicious, a mixture of crunchy, sweet, sour, equally balanced by the onions and cucumber and the ears and the sauce. I had four in my serving but I could of easily eaten a dozen. My main was a Quail stuffed with bacon and brioche, cooked perfectly so the meat was moist and tender. The stuffing was perfectly cooked and not dry and you could taste the flavours of the bacon and brioche. It was served on top sweet potato puree and honey mustard glaze with charred brussel sprouts and carrots. The sweet potato was smooth and charred brussels and carrots were done to perfection slightly charred on the outside and soft, but still had a little crunch in the inside which gave them an amazing texture, and the sauce just rounded it all off. When you took a bit of the meat, puree, sprouts and carrots and sauce and combined it in one bite the mixture of flavour and texture was just magical. To this day I still dream of this meal and what I ate, it was amazing. Also it was $36 (inc tax and tip) for that whole meal, I couldn't believe it, amazing food for such an affordable price. This is a must eat if you're ever in Charleston (or nashville the other place they have a husk).
Much of the rest of the day was spent walking around town, just taking the cityscape all in. I loved walking without purpose here, just going from street to alley to street and just seeing all the different houses, the insignias and symbols on them and the gardens. I think I wandered all the streets, even at night time you felt very safe and didn't really have much of a worry. That night I stopped off back at the hostel, then headed back out at night time to walk. Down one of the main streets King St, there is quite a bit going on in the upper section where all the bars and restaurants are. Down further where all the shops and nearer to the houses, it is a bit quieter but still lots of people walking around. That night I wanted to eat some South Carolina BBQ, so I went to Nicks BBQ. Pretty busy place, lots of people, good reviews on Yelp, so thats why I chose it.

I got pork, brisket and ribs, with bacon baked beans and collard greens. All very good, the pork wasn't as good as what I got at The Pit in Raleigh, but the beans were awesome and the ribs were really tender and tasty as well. After that I just had a night walk around town before calling an early night.
Day 3
So one of the other restaurants that I really want to try was the Hominy Grill, I got there on a Sunday and so there was a bit of a wait. I had a 45 min walk til a table opened for me just around the local area, where theres a medical university. When I got back I knew exactly what I was ordering, Shrimp and Grits. Something I had always wanted to try after seeing it on tv, and I had been waiting to eat it here after seeing it on menus at other cities.

I had never had grits before so didn't really know what to expect, but it was nice, not to dissimilar to rice porridge but a bit softer and smoother. The shrimp were juicy and perfectly cooked and there was bacon and mushrooms cooked with just the butter and drippings ontop of it. It was really amazing and how i expected it and more after watching it on the tv. Also the waiter was really nice and recommended a few things to try out whilst I was in town. After having an amazing meal, I walked around town just enjoying see the city any some of its different views. I walked down the West side, down an amazing view of both the houses and the seaview. There were heaps of people walking around, exercising doing what I was doing just sitting alongside the wall and relaxing, it was so nice. I just mozzied around the bottom of Charleston no real goal or time set to do anything just looking at the awesome houses. Saw the Charleston College as well really cool small little college but was amazing. I walked up along the East side of the island to where the aquarium is, I didnt go inside but it was a busy area around there, there was also an aircraft carrier across the river which was awesome too see. I continued walked up the east side my plan to go to the Tattoed Moose that was recommended by a couple people. Was super keen to eat there but funny thing was that as I was walking I stumbled onto Martha Lou's Kitchen. Marthas was one of the places I really wanted to go to but thought I missed out cause I read on Yelp it was closed on Sunday. As I walked past I saw the cars realised it was open, and I obviously went straight in. The place is super cosy, Marth Lou herself is there to greet you, you feel like your eating at home and not in a restaurant. The menu is hand written with a meat and you choose your sides. I chose Fried Chicken, dark meat of course so I got a thigh, also got sides of green beans and turkey rice (which sounded awesome).

OMG it was amazing the food I could not stop eating it. The turkey rice, bits of turkey succulent and delicious, the rice soft and all together like a southern fried rice that kicks all other forms of rice. The green beans were soft, but full of flavour, the cornbread was warm, delicious and moist and not dry. The chicken perfectly fried, crispy skin, succulent meat amazing. The food was slightly salty but that just gave it that southern taste, that was so amazing. It was so amazing, on my way out as I was paying I even got convinced to buy some peach cobbler (take away though). Now the walk down was like an hour so I thought I would catch a bus, but I couldnt figure it out, so ended up walking. Parts of that North area was a bit dodgy, homeless people under highways, the houses weren't like downtown, and you felt more like in a suburb. It was good to see cause Charleston isn't just what you see in the downtown it is these other areas as well. The plan was to go down to where I was in the afternoon to see the sunset, took me awhile and the peach cobbler got a bit messed up on my walk. I did manage to get there in time for the sunset which was amazing, ate some of my cobbler enjoyed the view. After this I went up to the Hostel to change and shower. I then went to a pub cause there were some NFL playoff games, one was super packed with Patriots fans which would of been awesome to get into but it was too packed. Ended up going into another bar, sat down and struck up a conversation with a couple guys from Boston down scouting Charleston. Then started to talk to some of students form Clemson, talking about Summer Heights High amongst other things. They are so friendly, got nice a rowdy as a college bar should, which was awesome. Ended the night so happy with the day, great food, great bar, great game not much more I couldn't have asked for (except more turkey rice).
Last day I had to catch a bus 1pm so I decided to walk downtown one last time, the weather was great and didn't need my jumper at all. Sunny day just taking in the town one more time. Had my last big of SC seafood which was at the popular Hymans. Big portions, massive selection, food wasn't too bad but I did eat so many good things whilst I was here that it was definitely the worst thing I ate.
After this as I walked back I realised it was Martin Luther King day so was cool there was a big parade down the Main Street and just cool to see people uniting some awesome school bands and just a bunch of different stuff to parades back here. My bus ride from Charleston was via Savannah then to Miami (I'll get onto that the next post)