03/08/2017
This year we have travelled to Virginia for about ten days because we had some timeshare points to use, or lose!
We are not sure whether you know this part of America but if you don't I'm happy to let you know that it's worth a visit because its very rural and very historic and its where the first permanent European settlers put down roots. They are very proud of that fact here and there are numerous extravagantly built museums, preserved townships, and much of the area is covered in natural forest. Its not a bit "big city America" although it is a prosperous tourist destination.
At the centre of the attractions is Colonial Williamsburg, a lovely preserved parkland filled with 17th century buildings, rare breed livestock, costumed guides and traffic free lanes and roads. The settler's industries and crafts are housed workshops where they make, using old fashioned tools, useful things for the houses and shops within the park. Its fascinating to talk to the folk making bricks for instance, or the cabinet makers, skilfully fashioning locally sourced timber into elegant furniture and even sophisticated musical instruments.
Outside of the park proper are the strip malls of outlet shops, diners and fast food joints that you'd expect, as well as some proper restaurants. Really, there's almost everything you'd need to enjoy a good holiday, and where else but in the USA can you fill your car with petrol for only 23 dollars?
Of course it's not all perfection. The initial economy was built on the back of slavery in the to***co fields, although the only slaves now are wage slaves. It's also rather hot and humid at this time of the year, which is tough on we English, and although the people are extremely friendly and interested in England, they tend to shy away from talking about a certain Republican politician. Now doubt you don't need three guesses to work out who that might be.
