Sunday morning we headed to church and Gretchen went to Richmond for a birthday party. We got packed up so we could head out early Monday morning for Williamsburg and our Christmas there. We got out early and made good time going up there. Gretchen met us at the Visitor's Center and we got tickets etc and then headed over to the Village on the shuttle. Our main reason for being here is to check out the decorations. That will be covered in the next entry with a good representation of what we saw. Lots of good ideas for your wreaths and garlands at your house next year!! We walked around town some and then headed to the Tucker House. This is one of Williamsburg's best kept secrets. You need to be a donor to attend these but every morning they have a visit with one of the Historical Character interpreters. The first hour they are in character and then they shift to themselves and you can ask questions of them. We discovered this program last year.
Today the Marquise de Lafayette was the guest. We had heard him do a Public Audience program last year and he was great. He didn't disappoint. After a wonderful 1 1/2 hours, we headed for lunch.
This lovely St. Nick greeted us at The Trellis, one of my favorite Williamsburg restaurants. It's in Market Square just across from the Colonial village.
Ah...my favorite lunch - St. John's Island Carolina Stew!
Following lunch we stopped at some of the shops and then wandered down to the Coffeehouse for a tour. They were giving free samples today...good chocolate. We then headed behind it for
a Public Audience with George Washington. We were all in our raincoats and though it wasn't raining at the time, it had been off and on all day...but it was warm...especially when the sun was out! We stayed for some of George and then headed down to the Capitol and did a tour through there. Gretchen hasn't been here for a very long time so she and I are taking in the tours of the buildings etc and John is concentrating on pictures. After more wandering and admiring wreaths we headed to the hotel and checked in. Had a short rest and then went for dinner at a sandwich shop and then to our evening Christmastide at Home program. It was on the Palace grounds and you walked in on scenes where folks in character and period did a short "moment" during their Christmastide that year. Very interesting. It's getting mighty nippy and windy but the sun is supposed to reappear tomorrow. Very fun first day!
