During the night around 4 am the fire alarm went off and we all had to evacuate the building while the Fire Brigade arrived to check it out and confirm that it was a false alarm. It turned out to be caused by a fault in the basement. The hotel gave me free breakfast as compensation.
After a shower and breakfast I was packed, checked out and started my drive south down to Williamsberg and its historic centre. The highway was flowing freely and I made good progress arriving around 2 pm having had only one rest break midway. I had booked a cheap motel for just one day because I did not know how long I wanted to stay in Williamsberg. After checking in I dropped my bags at the Econolodge motel, and drove the short distance to Williamsburg’s historic centre arriving around 3 pm.
The entire centre had been completely reconstructed and made into a living museum. Actors were dressed in 1700 style clothes and where chatting amongst themselves and the visitors as if they were actually living in that period. Each of the houses on the main strict had been renovated to reflect a typical home or business, such as a baker, tavern, carpenter etc. Inside each building was a museum depicting how life was for that profession in those days. There was also a re-enactment of the war of independence in full regalia. It was all done so well, I could even approach one of the characters and ask them questions about their life in the town during this period and they would answer as If I was really speaking to somebody from that time. I asked one of the town’s people who was African American how his life was as a slave. He had so much to say and gave me a great insight into how slavery affected so many people, his rep0ly was not all about the hardships of slavery, he also gave a broad description of the difficulties not be a slave and struggling to get work. It was all so insightful and I learnt a lot about this period and in a ore deeper way.
It was very hot, about 30 degrees C, so I sat for a cool drink after quite a long walk through the town. It was about 6pm so I started to think about where I would eat tonight. I did not have any lunch today and had a big appetite. A found a seafood buffet restaurant culled Captain Georges, which was near to an outlet mall. So I drove to the mall to see if I could pick up some designer bargains before dinner, somehow my appetite could wait for dinner till my shopping urge was satisfied!
Turned out the bargains where not as attractive as I had hoped. I got to Captain Georges around 8 pm and was soon loading my plate with crab legs and clams, quickly followed by an amazing dessert buffet.