Trip Report Part 2

This part of the trip report is a hodge podge of things we saw and experienced.

We walked from the Visitors Center over the footbridge into Great Hopes Plantation(currently closed on Wednesday the week we were there). It is an ongoing restoration of a plantation with buildings including a corn shed, smokehouse and slave house; gardens and fields with corn, herbs, etc.;free roaming guinea hens and excellent interpreters. The carpenters spent time answering all questions we had about how their skills were used in the 1700%26#39;s. Make sure you see the ';Apple Orchard'; and learn its history.

There is a small cafe at the Bookstore at the Visitors Center. We needed a break; so got a pretzel roll and ice teas and took them into the small outside courtyard. It is surrounded by a tall brick wall which provides privacy.

Another day we drove to La Tienda in Toano. We had looked at their web site prior to visiting. It is a very small gourmet store specializing in Spanish foods--olives, olive oils, cooking items, cheeses, hams, etc.

This last subject is just our own observation of a place we used to always enjoy going to for an occasional breakfast. Others are free to disagree with me. It is Sammy and Nick%26#39;s Pancake House on Pocahontas Trail. My husband used to think they served some of the best country ham and grits in the area. No more. The quality of food has declined greatly in our minds; and, we will no longer go there. Again, I realize everything is subjective.

The economy has definitely affected tourism in the area--we did see several large tour buses, many of them filled with school age children. Parking lots at hotels appeared rather empty as opposed to full.

Some visitors were complaining that not all of the exhibition buildings were open every day.

We enjoyed a current exhibition at Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museam by Asa Ames. He did wonderful wooden sculptures of people--so detailed and different. It will be there until early January 2010.

We found almost all of the CW employees to be very friendly and courteous--the only exception was one bus driver who literally yelled at my husband and another man because they were standing on the yellow line by the back door of the bus and she couldn%26#39;t open the door? The only reason they were standing there was because the bus was so crowded it was a tiny bit of free space. Oh, well.

Trip Report Part 2

Thanks for day 2. I hope that business picks up in the area. When we were there in March not all buildings were open everyday butI found the online schedule to be pretty accurate so we were able to see evrything we wanted in 3 days.

Trip Report Part 2

I know just what you mean ecs. During prior stays at the Lodge we were forced to find a parking spot across the street because both the underground parking and outside lots were completely full. Not this time--ample spots available.

Hopefully the economy will improve and people again will choose to visit this incredible living history museum.

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