Opened in 1964, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel offers a "short cut" from the Eastern Shore to the area of Virginia
where Virginia Beach and Norfolk. It was the ideal way for us to continue on our trip, heading to Williamsburg. The area that is crossed is 20 miles wide and has several high bridges and two tunnels, providing a number of shipping channels to both the civilian and military fleets. 
Since I was driving, and yes, the speed in the two-lane tunnel is 55 mph, Graham took this artsy shot of the reflected head and tail lights in one of the tunnels.
While the gilded leather on the walls in one room was something I had not seen before, I was a bit surprised at some of the colors in the Palace. I had seen the Prussian Blue in a pre-Revolutionary War mansion I had worked as a docent when I was a Girl Scout eons ago in New Jersey. I had never seen the green before, but the Palace docent assured us it was the color that was in vogue at that time.
Graham spent quite some time speaking with the Palace chef. He explained that all the food that was prepared for the Palace residents and guests were the best that was available in the error. He had several dishes on display that he himself had prepared that morning authentically in the colonial era kitchen, cooking over the coals or in the brick oven part of the eight-foot wide hearth.
where Virginia Beach and Norfolk. It was the ideal way for us to continue on our trip, heading to Williamsburg. The area that is crossed is 20 miles wide and has several high bridges and two tunnels, providing a number of shipping channels to both the civilian and military fleets. 
Since I was driving, and yes, the speed in the two-lane tunnel is 55 mph, Graham took this artsy shot of the reflected head and tail lights in one of the tunnels.Williamsburg, Virginia is worth the visit if you have any interest at all in the history of the United States, especially the time during the colonial era as it evolved into the Revolutionary War.
This was one of Rockefeller's projects. The area now par
t of Colonial Williamsburg contains many original structures but some 
have been moved to that setting and others are reconstructions. The brick house in the photo is actually a residence located across the street from the village setting. You can see how well maintained the structure is and how beautiful the grounds are. This white clapboard cottage had a 
marvelous herb garden; one plant was hosting a Giant Tiger Swallowtail.
t of Colonial Williamsburg contains many original structures but some 
have been moved to that setting and others are reconstructions. The brick house in the photo is actually a residence located across the street from the village setting. You can see how well maintained the structure is and how beautiful the grounds are. This white clapboard cottage had a 
marvelous herb garden; one plant was hosting a Giant Tiger Swallowtail.The church is 
called Bruton Parish. It was modeled on the original Burton Parish church in England. The basic design of the church is used here in Huntington at St. John's, the church where Graham is a member and we all sing in the choir. This one had the traditional box pews and a beautiful pipe organ in the front balcony.
called Bruton Parish. It was modeled on the original Burton Parish church in England. The basic design of the church is used here in Huntington at St. John's, the church where Graham is a member and we all sing in the choir. This one had the traditional box pews and a beautiful pipe organ in the front balcony.The Governors appointed by the King lived in a large residence, called the Palace. It was later occupied by the elected Governors before the Colony of Virginia formally became a state and the capital moved to Richmond.
One elected Governor was Thomas Jefferson, before the Constitutio
nal Convention and certainly well before his election as President. As a student at William and Mary (along with George Washington, John Marshall, James Madison, and George Mason....all names known to lovers of colonial history) Jefferson spent a lot of time in Williamsburg.
nal Convention and certainly well before his election as President. As a student at William and Mary (along with George Washington, John Marshall, James Madison, and George Mason....all names known to lovers of colonial history) Jefferson spent a lot of time in Williamsburg. The Palace has some interesting decor.....the room with the rug is the office (actually was orginally the dining room but at least one Governor used it as his office). The swords and muskets decorating the entry foyer not only provide interesting decor but are weaponry ready at hand....some 500+ weapons that were stored in the Palace. When the last Royal Governor left the Palace, he removed all the weapons and all the gun po
wder in the powder magazine, to keep it all out of the hands of the Rebels.
wder in the powder magazine, to keep it all out of the hands of the Rebels.
While the gilded leather on the walls in one room was something I had not seen before, I was a bit surprised at some of the colors in the Palace. I had seen the Prussian Blue in a pre-Revolutionary War mansion I had worked as a docent when I was a Girl Scout eons ago in New Jersey. I had never seen the green before, but the Palace docent assured us it was the color that was in vogue at that time.
Graham spent quite some time speaking with the Palace chef. He explained that all the food that was prepared for the Palace residents and guests were the best that was available in the error. He had several dishes on display that he himself had prepared that morning authentically in the colonial era kitchen, cooking over the coals or in the brick oven part of the eight-foot wide hearth.
He also explained the system of employment today in Colonial Williamsburg. He and the other tradespeople we met actually served an apprenticeship of 2-4 years before they coul
d work on their own. They all use the authentic techniques and materials of the time. The chef, the printer, and the blacksmith all explained their jobs speaking as 21st-Century people.
d work on their own. They all use the authentic techniques and materials of the time. The chef, the printer, and the blacksmith all explained their jobs speaking as 21st-Century people.
However, the actor who played General Lafayette (and the American aide to a lessor extent) and one of the wome
n preparing wigs were fully in their character and their responses and chatter were definitely 18th Century.
n preparing wigs were fully in their character and their responses and chatter were definitely 18th Century.
We had a delightful dinner at Christiana Campbell's Tavern. The waitress and the musician were fun to chat with and the meal itself was very enjoyable. 
The sunset photo is of the Powder Magazine...where gunpowder and shot were stored. One event that precipitated the uprising in Virginia against the Crown was when the Governor, in the middle of the night, had his soldiers remove the ammunition from the magazine following the events in Massachusetts at Lexington and Concord. Up to that time many of the members of the House of Burgess had been trying to walk a careful road of demanding fair treatment while being loyal subjects to the King, but this was the proverbial last straw and the Governor soon left for what he thought would be a temporary time and the Revolutionary War started in earnest.
The sunset photo is of the Powder Magazine...where gunpowder and shot were stored. One event that precipitated the uprising in Virginia against the Crown was when the Governor, in the middle of the night, had his soldiers remove the ammunition from the magazine following the events in Massachusetts at Lexington and Concord. Up to that time many of the members of the House of Burgess had been trying to walk a careful road of demanding fair treatment while being loyal subjects to the King, but this was the proverbial last straw and the Governor soon left for what he thought would be a temporary time and the Revolutionary War started in earnest.
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