This morning we met the VanZanens at the zoo… And you know how much I love zoos!

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Just a reminder:  Flamingos have nothing to do with Airstreams!  There is no connection, no tradition, no reason to wear flamingo-emblazoned clothing, no reason to install flamingos around your Airstream!

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Feeding the giraffe!

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After the zoo we went to downtown Columbia…

First Presbyterian Church:

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The church is surrounded by  a cemetery, dating back to the early 19th century.  Woodrow Wilson’s parents are buried here, as is the wife and four children of a man who went back to Connecticut in 1855 because he was a northerner and was unhappy with the political climate in South Carolina.  There are also numerous political figures, ministers, and church families.  Very interesting!

We then walked to the capitol building; great story on the plaque about the construction and destruction… Note that one of the broken columns from the capitol was used as a confederate memorial in the Presbyterian church cemetery…

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Lynda and Maria with George Washington…

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Inside the main lobby, looking up at the rotunda…

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Legislative chambers of the SC House of Representatives… when we arrived into the lobby it was packed with men and women in suits; the House had just adjourned; the Senate was still in session…

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We exited through the main portico and continued walking through downtown…

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Soon lunch happened at the Blue Marlin; very nice!  It is located in the old train station…

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After enjoying the streets of downtown we drove a short ways to a river-walk; we walked about 1/2 mile down, then back up along the river…

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We reconvened at Brent’s house and enjoyed happy hours; more family time…

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We returned to the Villa; an enjoyable time was had by all…