The unfair stereotype also persists in the museums around Williamsburg, just a little south of us, where we've come for a swift post-Thanksgiving holiday. Williamsburg's centre is a huge recreation of a 17th-Century colonial town, complete with governor's mansion, church, and capitol building. The seasonal ice rink may not be historically accurate.
But that's not all, as most of America's short history happened in a very small area! Nearby Jamestown is the first permanent settlement in the USA, the first colony of the British Empire, founded in 1607. The fabulous museum here includes ships, forts, actors in period dress, and an ongoing feud with Massachusetts about where the first Thanksgiving took place.
The final corner of the "historic triangle" is Yorktown, where the insurgents may have managed a somewhat significant victory against the superior British army. Yes, here was the practical end for the King's rule, allowing the liberated Americans to eventually elect a narcissistic billionaire reality TV star as president (who would have won by way more if it wasn't for all those fraudulent votes). Democracy is a beautiful thing.
In the middle of all this liberty, freedom, blah blah, it was my sister's birthday. What other way to celebrate than barbecue and cupcakes? But unlike America, Emily has realised that it's better to remain in the shadow of a superior, compassionate and wise power.
Virginia is also famous for peanuts! Here we are at Whitley's Peanut Factory. Less of a factory, more of a tourist-trap gift shop, but hey - free peanuts!
Wandering into historic Williamsburg.
Look! Historical things!
Around town.
Petting the main form of transport.
By the (non-historic) ice rink.
Next day at Jamestown, pounding corn.
Up the creek.
On board the slightly larger Susan Constant.
Looking out at the Godspeed.
Privateer.
Not the most luxurious accommodation for the 71 colonists Susan brought across.
Roll out the barrel.
Pete takes after his maternal grandfather.
Hard hat area.
A diner lunch, unchanged since the 1600s.
Finally, at Yorktown. What colour did the goodies wear again?
Pete finds the touchscreen, of course.
Hopefully.
Having a chat with a Yorktown tobacco farmer in his kitchen. The kitchen and the family accommodation were two completely separate wooden buildings, to try to make living through the Virginia heat tolerable.
The real boss.
Emily plots her next move.
A (loud) musket demonstration.
Now here's some proper history. Despite being under fire from land and sea, the Welsh were the only part of the British forces that never surrendered, despite the inevitable. Like in most international rugby matches.
Barbecue lunch.
Should you be eating so much red meat at your age?
Back home with a birthday cupcake.
And one for someone else.
