Thanksgiving in Williamsburg

[rivka]

We're spending Thanksgiving at Colonial Williamsburg again this year, because last year was so great. This time bosssio and her family (but alas, not chargirlgenius and hers) came along.

Lessons we learned: it doesn't matter how tired you are Wednesday night. Pack then, and leave early Thursday morning. We didn't leave until a little after ten, and we had horrible traffic from just after we crossed the Wilson bridge until we were almost in Richmond. Also, we put Colin into the car sleepy, thinking that he'd drop off once we hit the highway, and it didn't really work out that way. It was a looooong drive. We stopped to nurse and stopped for lunch and all told it took five hours to get to Williamsburg.

We're in a different hotel this year, the Quality Suites. It's an older hotel and kind of basic in its decor, but the rooms are awesome. We've got two full rooms - a living room with a fridge, sink, microwave, table and chairs, couch, and armchair, and a bedroom fully separated by a door that shuts. And we are paying the princely sum of $79.99 a night. bosssio and family are right across the hall.

We got in around three this afternoon, took a dip in the pool, and watched the kids run around being excited about each other until our 5pm Thanksgiving dinner. Once again we went to the Williamsburg Hospitality House. I can see signs of the economic downturn in the lavishness of the buffet - the cold seafood platter, in particular, was much reduced - but we had a fabulous meal all the same. Steamed shrimp, smoked salmon, salads, potatoes au gratin with smoked gouda, roast turkey, prime rib, penne pasta with cheese and bits of bacon (labeled "grown up mac and cheese), fruits, cheeses, breads, pumpkin pie, gingerbread pudding... even Colin made a great meal: canteloupe, provolone cheese, and sweet potatoes, with a nibble of pumpkin pie for dessert.

I could really get used to this thing where holiday meals require no cooking and no cleanup.

Came back to the hotel, settled the kids to watch a movie, got Colin to sleep, chatted. Now I'm waiting for Alex to settle down in the bedroom and be quiet so that I can actually put Colin to bed, and we can invite bosssio and Andy in to our living room to hang out.

Tomorrow, of course, the historic area. On our short list: the hedge maze at the governor's palace, the dressmaker's, the plantation. Yay.

Comments

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

Except for the traffic, that all sounds perfectly lovely! Enjoy.

[tassie-gal.livejournal.com]

For the last 28 odd years our family did Christmas dinner "out" somewhere. Be it a hotel christmas buffet or a resturant set meal. This year with everything that has happened in the last year we are doing Christmas at home...which will be the first one I (at age 31) can remember being "at home"..and my home in Tassie at that.