Jamestown Virginia

Jamestown

Virginia...

We visited the site of the 1607 settlement of Jamestown.

We learned about the three groups of people who ended up in this area. The British of the Virginia Company, the blacks from the west African area of Angola and the native Potowan Indians. They all had to figure out how to live together...sometimes not very well and the Indians were sure on the loosing end. The Jametown area is a fantastic place to visit with a beautiful visitor center, movies to watch, a museum with wonderful displays and an interactive village for the Indians and the British in the forts. We had fun with Theo on the boats and in the village. The weather is not quite as hot so that was nice.

We have spent some nice time with the Mannas and will head out tomorrow toward Vermont after a combo dinner by the Nolans and the Mannas. Thanks to the Mannas for their hospitality.

Lesson for the day: Gin and tonic mixes better than cultures

Yankee Doodle Dandy

We started out our day by having breakfast with Paul and Theo at the Five Forks(great name)...on to a tour of Theo's school and then went to where Paul is Prof. Manna at William and Mary. We walked over to Colonial Willamsburg and visited many facinating buildings, heard many historical stories of life in Williamsburg . At the end of the day we watched a drama in the streets about the end of the war in 1781. We ate dinner with the Mannas at Shields Tavern on DOG street(Duke of Gloucester street). Great meal. Theo marched with the fife and drum band and we all sang yankee doodle dandy with Theo

We learned lots of history . The British failed to provide themselves with an escape route from the peninsula where Williamsburg is located . A French naval blockade prevented the British from escaping this allowed George Washingtons army of 20,000 to overwhelm the British army of 7,000 troops. End of war!

Lesson for the day: Always have an escape route

K&M

Thursday travel day

Sorry to not update yesterday as we traveled down to colonial Williamsburg. We arrived in the afternoon at the Manna residence and had a fun afternoon with Paul looking around Williamsburg. We then had a great time meeting Paul and Lisa's son Theo(3 years old) who we had only seen in pictures. We had a late dinner in their lovely home and fun talking about old times, laughing and planning for the next few days....tomorrow we will become early americans in the revolutionary period.

We had a wonderful time with Mike and TJ and are having just as much fun with Paul and Lisa

Lesson for the day: There are no friends like old friends!!

The price of freedom

Today we went to Arlington Cemetery on the metro...it was a very very hot day in the 99 to 105 range. We took the tour trolley and went to JFK's burial site with the eternal flame. Also in the same area was Jackie Kennedy, RFK and Ted Kennedy. Then we were taken to the unknown soldier monument with the changing of the guard ceremony...21 steps every 21 seconds to simulate the 21 gun salute...very impressive. The last stop was the home of Robert E. Lee...it overlooked washington DC and had beautiful gardens. We saw rows and rows of white grave sites...very humbling and hard to believe that so many lives were lost for the freedom of all of us.

We then took the metro (we are becoming very savey in this process of travel) and met Mike Grant, TJ and the adorable Franklin at a Lebanese restaurant for an excellent dinner. So fun to see them again. We made it back to the campground and will be leaving tomorrow for Williamsburg to visit Paul and Lisa Manna. On the road again.... Kahty and Mike

Lesson for the day: the price of freedom can't be measured...it makes ones heart break to think of it...

Hot Hot Hot

Today we went into Washington DC again and did the bus trip around the city on the open air bus. It was very hot and the windy top of the bus was great. We went to the Newseum which was fantastic...saw part of the Berlin wall, lots of headlines from momentious days in history and a great 4D movie. We had lunch and went to the Lincoln Memorial,the korean Memorial and the WWII memorial. They we all impresive and moving in their own way. The WWII memorial has so much to look at...we were very impressed with the reflecting pool (the first picture) where each star represents 100 soldiers killed and there are over 4,000 stars...mind boggling. The fountians and quotes on the walls sort of put it all together. We had dinner in Bethesda with Craig and Shannon (Heathers sister) and had a great time.

Lesson for today: Some like it hot...but not us!!

Latin Lesson in DC

Today was the day that Michael went to Congress to talk to politicians about saving the cigar industry. Some success and some frustration...but none the less it was a long day. Kathy went to musuems, walked on the mall and did one her favorite things..people watching. It was a hot day in DC but not as hot as it could be which we grateful for. This is a picture of the capital...a very inspiring building. We had dinner at a Taco resturant and then took the metro back to the campground. We are now have G&T's and relaxing in the shade. More Washington DC tomorrow

Lesson for the day:After talking to politicians all day

Illegitimi non carbor umdum (don't let the basatards get you down)