Rakabudiswa: 08.04.2018
In Norfolk, we decided to spend a day in Colonial Williamsburg. So a day full of American history was on the program. Luckily, the weather had changed from rain the previous day to bright sunshine. It was still cold, but the blue sky promised a beautiful autumn day. We met at the Tui Bar at 7:45 am. Unfortunately, our tour guide Muriel spoke only English, so we had to use our rather abundant English skills with Ronald and my somewhat limited English skills. Throughout the day, Muriel proved to be a pure encyclopedia of American history and provided us with plenty of information. After an hour's drive, we reached our destination. Colonial Williamsburg is a living history museum. Here, 88 original houses from the colonial period have been meticulously restored in the style of the 18th century. John D. Rockefeller alone invested 60 million dollars in the project over 30 years. From 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg was the capital of the British colony of Virginia and from May 1776 to 1780, it was even the capital of America. Every former president of America has at least once walked along the 1.6 km long main street. So you can also sit on a bench in the church where George Washington and Abraham Lincoln had once sat. Since 1933, the city has been under monument protection. In the interiors of the houses, various craftsmen can be observed at work. Of course, all the employees are dressed in the original clothing of the founding period, so that a pretty good impression of the founding period is given. If Americans can do one thing, it is to present a history associated with national pride. We started our tour at the Capitol Building where we were told everything about jurisdiction in America. It was also interesting to learn that a tea tax triggered the war of independence. Then we worked our way up the main street together with our tour guide Muriel. We were in the prison, the pharmacy, the blacksmith's shop, the famous church, and the governor's house. Muriel, a walking encyclopedia, told us many interesting details. After 3 hours, we were able to explore Williamsburg for another 2 hours, stuffed with information. A delightful stroll in the sunshine. The entire historic city is car-free, and historical carriages are driven there. This also gives you a feeling of being in that time period. It was also nice to see that everything in Williamsburg was already decorated for Halloween. Unfortunately, time passed by too quickly, and the bus was waiting for us. On the way back, we made a detour to Jamestown. Here, one of the last major battles for independence against the English took place. An obelisk commemorates the battle, and interested people can also inspect the battlefields from the bus or car. White flags show where each side stood. Back on the ship, we went to the Außenalster Bar. Here, we could wait for the departure while enjoying delicious tapas (dates wrapped in bacon - yum) and a cocktail.
Continuation: https://vakantio.de/tourdesilke/mit-der-mein-schiff-6-von-new-york-nach-jamaika-kennedy-space-center