Day 2 - Plantations and Historic Chuches

Sunday, Oct 14

This morning we attended LDS services at the local ward in Williamsburg. It was fast and testimony meeting, and we enjoyed the services very much. Afterwards, we gave ourselves a short, self-guided tour of the non-historic portions of Williamsburg, and then decided it would be fun to see the inside of Bruton Parish, the oldest church still being used in America.


We drove down to the historic section and found a place to park (not easy on a beautiful Sunday in the Fall) and walked over to the church. We had not yet purchased our tickets to view historic Williamsburg, so we felt a litte awkward about walking around without badges on, but we figured that you shouldn't have to have a badge on to go to church.

When we arrived at the church, they were just getting ready to start Sunday morning services. We hadn't really planned on attending the service, but the ushers in the foyer just whisked us right into a pew at the back of the chapel. Besides our party of four, there was one other woman sharing the pew, and she was obviously a regular. She worked very hard to make sure we knew what to sing, when to follow along with the recitals, when to kneel, etc.

It was very interesting to be there, and especially fascinating to think that men like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had worshipped regularly in that very building. But we really didn't want to stay for the whole service, so after about 30 minutes, we slipped out the back. While this wold be no big deal in an LDS service, I think this is not usually done in the Episcopalian services, as we got some pretty strange looks from the folks in back and from the ushsers in the foyer. Even so, it was a very cool experience.

We went back to the Krochmal's and Bonnie then drove us out in the country to visit one of the most famous Virginia plantations, known as the "Shirley Plantation".


We had a great time walking around the grounds for a while before our scheduled tour of the house. Mary Ann and Bonnie and I visited the gardens, and Mary Ann captured a very cool picture of a monarch butterfly on a blossom.

Day 1 - Richmond, VA

Saturday, October 13, 2007

After a full day of travel from the west coast, Mary Ann and I arrived late last night at the lovely home of our friends, Glenn and Bonnie Krochmal. The Krochmal's live just minutes away from the historical section of Colonial Williamsburg.



We were accompanied by Mary Ann's brother, Steve Guymon, and his wife Michelle.



This morning Glenn drove Steve, Michelle, Mary Ann and I up to Richmond, VA to visit a very historic cemetery (Hollywood, where 3 US presidents are buried) and to visit the museum of the Virginia Historical Society.









When we got home, there was time for a brief nap before we had dinner reservations at a Tavern in the historical section of Williamsburg. Mary Ann and I enjoyed walking from the Krochmal’s home to the Tavern, and arrived before those who drove there in the car.


The tavern experience was great. The building is an accurate restoration of an 18th century tavern, and all the staff are dressed in period clothing.



As one dines, actors and performers wander through and provide a bit of the flavor that would have been typical for the time. The food was excellent too. The dessert may not have been entirely accurate to the period, but a large bowl of peppermint ice cream with hot fudge sauce sure finished the meal off nicely.