Monday, November 07, 2005
Virginia's Historic Triangle
Colonial Williamsburg (11/4)
Well, here we are in Virginia in 1774. The weather is divine. We spent the day wandering the streets of Williamsburg—for a price. Perhaps it was worth the cost just to hear Patrick Henry speak-- Or to tour the Raleigh tavern with our guides being a slave, the mistress of the house, a malcontent younger Randolph, and the bartender -- Or to sit as justices in a session of civil court…. A fine day was had by all.
Yorktown (11/5)
Today we learned that were it not for the French we would still be British subjects –and while Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown the war was not officially over for 2 more years. Williamsburg is in an attraction triangle times 2. At both Yorktown and Jamestown there are National Park sites (historic) and State sites that are re-creations. Makes it a bit confusing. We went to the NP battlefield site at Yorktown and into the town where we wandered Colonial streets (without the actors) and had lunch in a house built in the 17th century. Planned to do Jamestown this afternoon but had errands so are staying another day.
Jamestown (11/6)
We almost didn’t do the Jamestown Settlement, but glad we did. Also I am glad we did not go on Friday when they had about 3,000 school kids. This morning we had plenty of time to talk to all the interpreters—and the weather was perfect. The natives were aced out of their village by construction. There is lots of construction going on as prep for 2007—the 400th anniversary. Unlike Plimoth, the Jamestown’s “settlers” were not settlers but soldiers—not farmers but gentry intent on making a profit in the new world. In the afternoon, we went to the National Park site which is largely archaeology—the original settlement site. The island wasn’t really a good place for settlement—no water—but it’s now a nice place for a bike ride. 3 days of history is enough for now. We move on tomorrow—maybe we’ll find a modem hookup.
Well, here we are in Virginia in 1774. The weather is divine. We spent the day wandering the streets of Williamsburg—for a price. Perhaps it was worth the cost just to hear Patrick Henry speak-- Or to tour the Raleigh tavern with our guides being a slave, the mistress of the house, a malcontent younger Randolph, and the bartender -- Or to sit as justices in a session of civil court…. A fine day was had by all.
Yorktown (11/5)
Today we learned that were it not for the French we would still be British subjects –and while Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown the war was not officially over for 2 more years. Williamsburg is in an attraction triangle times 2. At both Yorktown and Jamestown there are National Park sites (historic) and State sites that are re-creations. Makes it a bit confusing. We went to the NP battlefield site at Yorktown and into the town where we wandered Colonial streets (without the actors) and had lunch in a house built in the 17th century. Planned to do Jamestown this afternoon but had errands so are staying another day.
Jamestown (11/6)
We almost didn’t do the Jamestown Settlement, but glad we did. Also I am glad we did not go on Friday when they had about 3,000 school kids. This morning we had plenty of time to talk to all the interpreters—and the weather was perfect. The natives were aced out of their village by construction. There is lots of construction going on as prep for 2007—the 400th anniversary. Unlike Plimoth, the Jamestown’s “settlers” were not settlers but soldiers—not farmers but gentry intent on making a profit in the new world. In the afternoon, we went to the National Park site which is largely archaeology—the original settlement site. The island wasn’t really a good place for settlement—no water—but it’s now a nice place for a bike ride. 3 days of history is enough for now. We move on tomorrow—maybe we’ll find a modem hookup.
# posted by Carol Harma @ 6:02 PM 
