Colonial Williamsburg

Driving from New York to Miami we have had to be selective about the sites and attractions we visit or we would never reach our destination in time to board our cruise ship. We aim to select sites that are unique to a particular area. 

Yesterday we chose a top spot with the help of our guide book. The site we chose was off I-95, the road we are following south, but it proved to be well worth the detour. An historically significant site for US history Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780. With the help of philanthropist, John D Rockefeller, the Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, rector of Bruton Parish Church embarked on a restoration project of this important area. You can read all about Colonial Williamsburg here. 

We were most impressed with the quality and quantity of the buildings and the cleanliness and attention to detail at the site. We had a most enjoyable and satisfying stroll through the site on a mild, and sunny Sunday afternoon. We made one tactical error; drigving along the highway we saw a sign pointing to the Visitor Center, we duly followed this, parked our car, purchased shuttle tickets and travelled that way to the site. There was no need to do this we could have skipped the Center, parked closer to the site and gone for our stroll. 

Naturally we captured  few images to record our visit.

Visitor Center

The Capitol

Restored Original Buildings

 

Chatting with the locals

Surveying the scene

There was little commercial activity spoiling the environment. These pretty hats were  an example of sympathetic  commercialism

A civic building

Public transport

Down a side street

This house is still in private hands

A modern commercial area abutts the site

Horse Country

Mr Geniaus' cousin lives in horse country in Virginia, USA. We enjoyed our two days reminiscing with  them and poring over old family photos. Yesterday they took us out into the Virginia countryside to view a steeplechase on a beautiful old Virginia property, Ben Venue Farm. The owner kindly hosted the "Old Dominion Hounds Point to Point" on her property.

The cousins prepared a beautiful picnic and packed it into the back of her truck with a few rugs, we then  piled into the vehicle and travelled through the beautiful blue hills of Virginia to the venue. We parked our truck on a slope overlooking the course and settled in for a fun afternoon of eating, drinking, chatting and watching. Thankfully the skies were clear and there was no wind so the atmosphere was perfect.

Mr Geniaus and his cousins at the Steeplechase

My perch on the hill

One of the jumps

With the cousins and the truck

A win by a nose in a two horse race

After the race we repaired to the Blue Rock Inn, Washington Virginia

Sunshine

After three weeks of chilly weather in the US we have  finally found the sun in Virginia.

We are presently enjoying family time with Mr Geniaus'  cousins in horse country about an hour west of Washington DC. While himself is helping with the horses I am  looking out on this tranquil scene..