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We had a very long drive to Williamsburg, it took us two days to get there. We stopped on the way to visit scenic spots in West Virginia (New River Gorge) and spent the night in Charleston. We spent our first evening looking at the beautiful sparkling lights of the city from the balcony of our hotel room. We also walked around the local mall and ate dinner at a locally-known restaurant (the Fifth Quarter.) Yummy steaks!
The next day, we arrived at Williamsburg and found ourselves in a nice, one-bedroom apartment with a washer and dryer and a kitchenette. It was very relaxing.
Our first day, we just wandered around looking at stuff. We found a gigantic Yankee Candle Company store that was incredibly impressive. The interior of the store was set up to look like an open-air street scene, and smaller shops opened off from the "main street." It even had a glockenspiel kind of a thing that opened up and had animatronic animals that came out and sang songs. Very strange, but entertaining in a weird way!
We found the local game store, and Brian and I went in to look around. Brian bought a new commander for one of his armies. There was a sign behind the counter that said that people would be required to sing "I'm a Little Teapot" to retrieve any items left on the battlefield or around the store by customers. I asked the guy if anyone ever had to sing it, and he said, "Yes, indeed!"
By Tuesday, we decided to go to the Yorktown sites, and spent the day visiting the battlefield visitor's center. They had several cannons from the British forces on display. A small Revolutionary War colonial military encampment was set up, with re-enactors. We spent quite awhile talking to one fellow, who was portraying a doctor's aide. He was explaining the limits of medical knowledge in the late 1700's. (Basically, if you ever get a time machine and go back to 1780, don't under any circumstances become ill, and if you do, do NOT seek medical care from a colonial doctor!)
We spent some time that evening going to a movie. Since Boo was staying with Doodah and Papa, we were able to spend an evening watching "The Prestige." This turned out to be an incredibly well-made movie, disturbing in some ways, but the acting was superb, the plot was interesting and the plot twists very strange. Plus, I got to eat a huge tub of popcorn. Yummy! I do recommend this movie. We were still discussing it the next day.
Wednesday was devoted to driving to North Carolina for an NHL hockey game. The Carolina hurricanes were playing...uh, I forget! Anyway, to arrive at the hockey game required several hours worth of driving. The hockey game was very exciting and was won by the Hurricanes in a sudden-death overtime, 5 to 4.
After the hockey game, we ended up driving for hours to get back to Williamsburg. Arrived about 1:30 a.m. or so. Didn't get to sleep until 2 a.m.
The next day, we went to Jamestown Settlement. This was the recreated fort that the colonists originally built in 1607. (The original site has been located, a few miles away, and an archaeological dig is underway. There is nothing actually left of the original site, at least, not aboveground!)
Jamestown Settlement was the best fun we had at an historic site in Virginia. We went through the brand new museum gallery (not even officially open, yet) and then received a guided tour through the Native American Village, the fort, the work areas, and finally, the harbor and the ships. They have four ships, which are recreations of the ones used to bring the colonists. We saw three of them (the fourth was in England at the time we were at Jamestown.) We got to go all through the ships. It was very enjoyable!
The reinactors were extremely knowledgeable, and entertaining. All of them brought humor to their tales. The guy down by the ships was pretty funny, even though he was recounting tales of immense hardships. He described the odds of surviving a year at the Jamestown colony : two-thirds of the people who arrived died within a year. Not good odds! Brian wondered if anyone who arrived ever gave up and went back home to England. The reinactor said, "Sure, they'd take you back to England, if you paid them seven years' labor worth of gold."
Ouch!
On Friday, we went to Williamsburg and wandered around, even though it was rainy. There were school groups there, so many of the areas were crowded, but we enjoyed the visit just the same.
That night, we went to a huge buffet and dinner theater. The cheesy performance ("Get a Clue!")was amusing, and we met a nice older couple from the San Antonio area. Their names were Danny and Anita.
That was my birthday dinner, and it was delicious! I had prime rib, fried chicken, fried clams (the only seafood I will eat) and delicious cornbread and lots of tasty desserts. Yum!
The following day, we had to depart. Once again, it took us a couple of days, so we had to spend one night in Lexington, Kentucky (home of Breyerfest.) We stayed at my favorite hotel, then waved at the Horse Park on the way as we drove towards home (didn't have time to stop, but I've been there about a gazillion times anyway.)
We did stop at some antique malls on the way home. I was very shocked by the prices on stuff in these malls. They are much higher-priced than our local antique malls. I was hoping to find some stuff to bring home with me for my own booth, but it didn't happen. I did find two Breyer horses, one which I intend to keep (a chalky dapple PAM) and one to sell in the booth (Midnight Sun.)
A fun and educational trip. I hope we go back someday.
I would like to thank Doodah and Papa for the time-share trade to get us a nice place to stay!