We headed to a place called Williamsburg. On the way across the border between South Carolina and North Carolina we discovered a place called South of the Border. Giant Mexican men statues everywhere - stopped just to see what the fuss was about and decided very quickly it was struggling, tacky and really weird - it did have a giant fireworks supermarket though.... North Carolina itself is supposed to be pretty amazing - smoky mountains inland and then the Atlantic Ocean side where the Wright Brothers launched their first plane - apparently beautiful but we had to get to the golf so straight through the middle of North Carolina it was with no stopping.....have to go back there!
Sick of the big long boring interstates we decided to go offbeat and trial the parallel road - cool. Ended up going through dinky towns, seeing some amazing houses and ended up at a free car ferry which we drove the RV onto and ended up in Jamestown - a short distance from Williamsburg.
So for a short history lesson - Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown form the 'historic triangle'. This is America's birthplace. Jamestown is the site of the first permanent English settlement in the New World. Williamsburg saw the start of the American Revolution and Yorktown is where America finally won independence from Britain - see that wasn't so painful!
We stayed in Williamsburg - a very pretty town - all renovated to the brick cottages of old and full of trees and limits on the size of signs. We both loved it here - even without the history. We spent the day at Colonial Williamsburg - even the lonely planet says it is one of the most astounding and authentic living-history museums in the world. It's not really a museum more a living, breathing working village as if you had just stepped foot in the 18th century. People actually really are silversmiths - but are just in costume etc. Occasionally they do a few reenactments of key moments in history - but you feel like you just stepped into the past. Odd but surprisingly quite cool. Costumed patriots like Thomas Jefferson stand on soapboxes outside taverns and rally the crowd to war and fight for freedom etc...being typical American the crowd all responds and probably would march off to war.
You can be walking down the street and the next minute you are standing next to some dude in a wig wearing tights. Not so different to K Road or Cuba St I suppose. These people talk to you as if it was the 18th Century and you can ask them questions. It is a real town not a place you go to - don't think I am describing it too well - ah well you will just have to go there!!
 |
| Yip not all it was made out to be |
 |
| Best part of South of the Border |
 |
| The car ferry to Williamsburg |
 |
| Harvey on the ferry |
 |
| Colonial Williamsburg - but its really a village |
 |
| Just like the old days |
 |
| Wiliamsburg street |
 |
| We had lunch in a tavern hidden away - Mike with his tankard |
 |
| War anyone? |
 |
| Mighty hot in that outfit |
 |
| The way Mike likes it |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.