Thursday and Friday I spent time on a site visit in St. Louis. This was my first trip to the city and my next trip will be so full of work that I won't experience any sights, so I took the opportunity Friday afternoon to see a few of the iconic views in St. Louis.
My colleague and I traveled to the top of the St. Louis arch to see the city from a different perspective. I guess I should have taken the cashier's words seriously when she asked, "Does anyone have problems with claustrophobia or fear of heights?" Fortunately, the ride in a tiny egg car up the equivalent of a slow, inside roller coaster was only a few moments. It was just long enough that by the time we reached the top/bottom, I was a few seconds shy of the panic attack. The view was worth the ride, though. I always love the opportunity to see things from a different perspective; it reminds me the benefits of the perspective that's mine.
I made it!
After a late evening return from St. Louis, I woke up early enough to beat the southbound traffic out of DC on my journey to meet mom and dad in Williamsburg, VA. The trip was planned just a few weeks before and gave us the opportunity to celebrate my birthday (our birthday) together. Although I'd been to Williamsburg a couple of times to visit friends in grad school at William and Mary, I'd not had much time to see the sites. I hadn't researched much, but I'd requested recommendations for restaurants and sites from my W&M friends. They all seemed to share a similar interest in a handful of restaurants, and they were all on spot.
It's unfortunate that Williamsburg locks so much of the historical experience behind the doors of a pricey ticket. Much of the city's beauty is visible from the cobblestone streets, but getting inside most of the stores and museums requires that ticket. The Bruton Parish Church allowed us to get a glimpse of our forefathers Sunday mornings for just a $1 donation. In addition to all of the named pews, I got a kick out of seeing where the widow Martha Custis sat before she caught the eye of one General George Washington. I wanted to sit where Washington sat, but there was a couple sitting there that didn't look they had any desire to move.
Thanks to a community art festival, we were able to view the Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum for free, which included entry into the "Public Hospital." The museum was deceivingly large, possibly half of one of the Smithsonians, and unfortunately we'd not saved enough time to see it all before closing. It was full of antiquities: furniture, artwork, silver, china and much more. I was delighted to see a restored harpsichord and piano forte, and I had fun quizzing dad on whether the harpsichord was a hammered or plucked instrument. His really cool discovery is my challenge to you (without using the internet!): To what item is the term "lock, stock, and barrel" referring?
Harpsichord or Piano Forte: which do you think?
The Public Hospital was small but full of interesting facts. In case you were unaware, "public hospital" was the predecessor of the "insane asylum" and the "mental hospital." I won't even try to tell you the different ways they tried to "cure" those they deemed insane, and beyond that, you should know that insanity was used to diagnose anyone who was "not normal" or "disorderly." It was actually quite sad.
We ended the evening with a trip to Berret's, which came highly recommended by Sarah W.'s fiance, Zack. The extremely eager server made sure we had a great experience. I think the best thing on my plate was actually the side dish, which was a delicious roasted turnip mixture. The crab cakes weren't my favorite, but I have Hank's Oyster Bar for comparison, and they stand on a pretty high pillar.
Sunday morning I was devastated when the line at the diner I was very excited to go back to was a little too long for our growling stomachs. We ended up going to a place called Baker's Crust. Although our service left a little to be desired, the food was quite good. I think it probably suited my parents' tastes better than the diner would. Unfortunately, by the time we got back in the car to head for Jamestown the sky was ominous; we felt rain was inevitable.
We decided to make the trek to Jamestown anyways. We skipped over the touristy "Jamestown Settlement," and went straight for the National Park. It was rainy and cold, but we were already there, so...why not! It was not fun for the first 5 minutes, but we caught up with the park ranger inside the church for an intriguing story-telling session. And guess what? As soon as the ranger finished, the weather cleared. We were able to walk through the grounds of the first English settlement in cold, but clear, weather.
safe haven during the storm
I believe my parents would agree that our favorite adventure involved a trip to the old glass making house on the outskirts of the park. They had a period-costumed guy blowing glass in a building built in replication of the nearby original. We stood and watched as he made two beautiful vases, and I was delighted when mom and dad wanted to get me one as a birthday souvenir. Did you know glass is made from sand, and it's naturally green?
We wrapped up the trip with a little shopping excursion to the Williamsburg outlets, and then we grabbed lunch at Arby's and headed our separate ways.
It was a wonderful trip; as much as I love DC, it's nice to get outside of the city for a short excursion every once in a while. Although the weather wasn't a "bright spot," the trip was. :)
