Colonial Williamsburg

We arrived at Colonial Williamsburg a bit exhausted but did walk to Duke of Gloucester Street to have dinner at the tavern.  I LOVED Williamsburg so I'm afraid I am going to bore you with all the details. It was probably one of the more expensive dinners we've had (tourist fare), but very tasty and served by appropriately attired Colonial servants who called me "milady" despite my shorts, sweaty t-shirt and hat hair. Throughout the meal we were seranaded by minstrals with flute, fife, guitar, mandolin... We were seated outdoors in the lovely garden on a perfect evening.

After a glorious tub bath (I hope our next boat has a tub) and a good nights sleep we set off with the goal of seeing some musical performances in another tavern.  One of the guides explained that the reason there were so many taverns (something like 20 for a town of 1500 residents), was because this was the capital city where the House of Burgess met to legislate, incarcerate, judge and possibly hang offenders.  It was a party town; lots of dancing and performances.

We were treated to both vocal and instrumental music, as well as some comedic talks and dances.  Afterwards, I approached the harpsichord player to ask to see his instrument.  I've always liked harpsichord and hope the I will get an explanation of how it works.  Someday, maybe someone will let me play "Chopsticks" or "Heart and Soul" on a harpsichord and my life will be complete.  Instead he got very excited, still keeping his Colonial persona and speech, telling me about an exhibition of antique keyboard instruments at the Folk Art Museum.  I had considered the museum as we planned the day but discarded the idea as I thought Rob would be bored with primitive art and quilts (which are two things I enjoy).  But now it was back on the agenda.

Then, as we were strolling to the capital, we heard someone speaking out and walked down to a ravine behind yet another tavern.  There, in a rustic amphitheater, was Thomas Jefferson, speaking and answering ad-hoc questions.  No one could phase him, no matter what he was asked, he remained in character and speech true to Jeffersonian principle.

The capital had burned down twice before being reconstructed, in modern era, in the design of the first captial.. the one used before the revolution by the house of Burgess.  Still, the tour guide focused on the era when Jefferson served here, rewriting all the laws, after the Revolution... an in accordance with being a republic.  Removing the law of inheritance to first born males, for example.  He believed that the pursuit of property should be available to all men, and by doing that more people could vote and rule by the majority of the people.

The capital, with it's two rounded sides, separated by the covered piazza was beautiful inside.  What struck me most were that so many of the Colonial actors/interpreters spoke with English accents.  I'd never really thought about it but I imagined Washington, Jefferson and our other founding fathers to speak like Americans! (possibly with southern accents)

As we left the Capital we approached a gathering crowd in quite a state of agitation as the Declaration of Independence was read; condemning the tyrant king.  Afterwards a vigorous discussion was overheard between two men on the street.  One, loyal to the king, another a revolutionary.

Then we took a nice, airconditioned bus to the Folk museum.  Those of you who know me will smile when you imagine my glee at seeing that there was a special display called "A Handsome Cupboard of Plate".  Plates!  Pottery!  Dinnerware!  Silverware!  Added to quilts, and antique instruments, I was in for a treat.. and Rob sighed.

This piece was an anomoly.. it didn't belong in the fine Colonial furniture, or in the musical instruments, so it was placed in an area of homemade folk art insturments.  It has numerous hidden compartments and looks like a bureau drawer... but, if you open it, it houses a simple piano.  No one knows why they would hide a piano in this way... perhaps pianos were taxed as a luxury item?

Spinets, Piano Forte and Harpsichords with listening stations.

We came upon another performance in the museum: this of a free black person living in Williamsburg.  Quite a bit was known of her and her family due to property transactions and law suits.  She owned a little land and had a laundress business.

Heading back to the main street we came across this very lovely garden.  We are here at the perfect time of the year... not many school kids, not crowded, not too hot.

I'm not sure you could imagine my delight as we stumbled across George Washington addressing his troops as they prepared to leave for Yorktown.  Literally, my hair raised on my neck, and I couldn't have been more excited than if he was the real thing.  It must have been his white horse... there is something about a hero on a white horse that thrills a maiden. Huzzah!

The troops performed some exercises displaying fighting tactics while the drum and fifes played for us

It was a great day.  I wish every American school kid could come here.  Thank you John Rockafeller for preserving this for us.

We returned to the hotel to rest and blog, and then at 8:30 met in the lobby for a free ghost tour (courtesy of the hotel).  Only 3 other guests were with us, and ironically, one was from Nevada!  The tour was fun and she added other general facts about Williamsburg that we hadn't known.

I typed this all in the car, while enroute back to Steves in Portsmouth to pick up our boat.  Technology is amazing, isn't it?

Colonial Williamsburg