:-)

And I’m back! Amazingly enough NOT burned, and not exactly tanned either. Isn’t it great how a few days out of town (coughatthebeachcough) can completely bring you back to life?  So are you ready for the run down (yes…I have pics) of my activities? Here we go!

 After nearly 5 hours in the car with my Mom we finally arrive in Wilmington. The original plan was to check out Historic Wilmington as we waited for our check in time in Carolina Beach. However, we were so turned around (technically we shouldn’t have been anywhere NEAR Wilmington yet, considering we were going down I-40. Which I saw the end of …very interesting to see a sign that California is quite a few miles away) we completely missed the turn off for the perserved town.  So instead we ended up heading towards Pleasure Island, which consists of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach (pronounced Kur-ee, we learned that quite quickly after being corrected numerous times by the overbearing maid at the hotel). Oh did I mention the bridge we had to cross over that was about 2 miles long? And my fear of bridges over water? Yeah that was freaking GREAT. 

 This picture was taken as I was whimpering curled into the floorboard of my mother’s little bitty car.

Eventually we were able to check into the hotel, and found it was not exactly what we were expecting. Hole in the wall, that’s the best way to explain it. But it was bug free and clean as you can expect for an ocean front hotel. And after visiting the near by pier and grabbing some grub at Jack Mackarals (the best crab dip..EVER) we were off exploring…the little bit that could be explored. 
Some how we found Fort Fisher before we realized it.
Fort Fisher was one of the last strong holds in the Civil War. And what’s left of it is…well nothing really, just what looks like sand dunes with a lot of grass on top.

The exhibit about Blackbeard’s Ship was interesting though.

On Tuesday we visited the beach, which was mostly deserted. Walking along finding shells to bring back to friends (Hey I’m poor…leave me alone!), laying out, and in general just relaxing.  Considering the water was too cold in both the pool and the ocean we decided to go to Historic Wilmington… or at least attempt to find it.
 

Only one word can describe the 1700 era houses and shops: gorgeous. I was mesmerized by the beauty of the town, the buildings were perfectly perserved and as I walked down the cobblestoned roads I felt as though every step took me further into the past. I can completely understand why so many films are shot there. We decided to take a carriage ride throughout the town to get a better view and a narrative journey (and to give our aching feet a rest). Our horse was Radar, a recently rescued horse from the Amish countryside in PA that would have been put out to pasture permanently had the company not bought him.
  

After viewing a set for a new slasher film, and seeing where President Wilson lived as well as the original armory for Fort Fisher we were brought to one of the most famous sets in Wilmington, have you guess it yet?

 

Yes, my friends that would be where Dawson’s Creek was filmed. (excuse the darker picture, I couldn’t get a close shot when it was still light and in the light picture you have to look PAST the tables)
Very interesting and we had a wonderful time.

As we were preparing to leave on Wednesday we decided to go through what was the Cotton Exchange; originally a major cotton exporting center that has been turned into 30 shops and dining areas.
 

I found an interesting shop there, called the Celtic Shop. Perfect place to find a gift for my roomie since she had taken care of both my mom and my animals while we were away. And I did find the perfect gift…
 A blessed rosary, from Ireland.

(Backstory: She gave her original beads to a friend once she found out she had a terminal disease, as it is custom to give the blessings to those who need it more than yourself. Though most of you do not know my room mate, and do not know the constant struggle for her to live daily life as normal as possible. Please trust, that she needs this more than anyone else I know.)

So I spent the little money I had to spend on myself for a reminder on her. For something I believe will bring her strength in the hard times she will undoubtly face. Obviously I had both the owner of the store and my mother in tears as we were leaving.

Being that where I live is predominately a Baptist area, it is extremely hard to find rosaries, and I was more than excited to get home to give her this.

I did learn quite a few things on this mini vacation:
*My mother and I are, in fact, exactly the same person…only I’m 20 years younger
* Kure Beach is actually Kur-ee…
* Wilmington is wonderful, and I would love to live there…which may happen. More on this later.
* True beauty is seeing your best friend accepting a gift from you and knowing that their tears show hope in their future for the first time since you’ve know them.

 

Enjoy the slideshow below of some of the other pics I took from the trip.

 
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Hope you all have a fantastic day!
Much Love,
K