Charlotte, part two

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - part two

Driving into the big city of Charlotte (metropolitan population - 2.4 million), it was a cloudy Sunday afternoon with just a few raindrops now and then.  But, that didn't stop us from getting out and pounding the pavement for a couple hours, enjoying what this city had to offer. 

Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina.  Walking amidst the towering buildings downtown, it was obvious that this is a big city indeed!  Even so, there was a cozy feel along Main Street.

Charlotte prides itself as being known as the "Queen City."  It was named after Queen Charlotte in 1761.  The sculptor Graham Weathers captured her likeness with her dog Presto and placed her in a garden plot, because she "learned Botany and took pleasure in Kew and Richmond gardens."  Charlotte was a 17-year old German princess when she married King George III of England.  She bore 15 children, she played the harpsichord, and was well-thought of.  One of her court attendants, Fanny Burney, wrote:  "She is full of sense and graciousness, mingled with delicacy of mind and liveliness of temper."

There's a lovely waterfall in the center of downtown, called Thomas Polk Park

The Hearst Tower is a 47-story skyscraper with elegant design built in 2002

The City of Charlotte boasts many sculptures scattered throughout downtown.  As a writer, I especially like this tall, bronze sculpture of a stack of books at the entrance to The Green.  

This mural is above the altar in St. Peter's Catholic Church (ca 1851)

      I enlarged the mural above, hoping you can see the details in the drawing.  I think the painting is meant to capture numerous messages.  The risen Christ is pictured (see nail scarred hand), having prepared fish for the disciples as described in John 21.  He had enabled the disciples to catch a boatload of fish and he also restored Peter through His words, "Feed my sheep" 21:17.

       I'm not sure what the angel up in the corner is doing, but angels are always around Jesus.

       Then, there's the fisherman in modern clothing and a more modern-looking fishing boat.  This may well signify our roles in Christ's kingdom - to be fisher's of men, just as He asked His disciples to be 2,000 years ago, when He said, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men" Mark 1:17.