Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
May Getaway Final Post
Knoxville
We lived in Knoxville so long (seven years), that it still seems like home when we go there. Even after we moved, we still came back an average of once a week for about two years because of teaching.
The Holiday Inn World's Fair Park is where we like to stay. We've probably spent 100-150 nights there (of course UT doesn't pay for it anymore but we may still be using those HI points we got).
In the pics below, he wasn't as tall as the blue stripe on the desk or the rails on the escalator when we first stayed at the hotel. Some of the staff still remembers him as a toddler with me strolling him around while his mom taught.
We lived in Knoxville so long (seven years), that it still seems like home when we go there. Even after we moved, we still came back an average of once a week for about two years because of teaching.
The Holiday Inn World's Fair Park is where we like to stay. We've probably spent 100-150 nights there (of course UT doesn't pay for it anymore but we may still be using those HI points we got).
In the pics below, he wasn't as tall as the blue stripe on the desk or the rails on the escalator when we first stayed at the hotel. Some of the staff still remembers him as a toddler with me strolling him around while his mom taught.
In case the General is checking this blog, he'll see that it was not all pleasure ... always working on the game and getting ready.
A great park ... Fort Kid in downtown K-ville
Holiday Inn at World's Fair Park
Favorite hotel pool since an infant
May Getaway Post 7
Charlottesville and UVA
Our last day in Charlottesville included the trip to Ash Lawn already posted, a late lunch at Michie Tavern (pronounced Mickey - like Mantle), then time in downtown and at UVA.
After that, we headed back to Waynesboro for a night, then drove to Knoxville for a couple days before heading home.
Downtown Charlottesville is really nice.
Main Street is blocked off to traffic and is an attractive pedestrian mall with stores, bars, restaurants, etc, lining both sides. Very much the feel of a college town.
The grounds of Mr. Jefferson's UVA (we were informed not to call it a campus) are highlighed by the big rotunda building and a long rectangular quad with dorm rooms running the length on each side. Virginia, North Carolina, and the north campus of Georgia all have a similar feel.
The Cavalier football stadium is pretty nice, and the new basketball arena (John Paul Jones) is very nice.
* click on any picture to enlarge
Virginia Football/Basketball
Michie Tavern
Our last day in Charlottesville included the trip to Ash Lawn already posted, a late lunch at Michie Tavern (pronounced Mickey - like Mantle), then time in downtown and at UVA.
After that, we headed back to Waynesboro for a night, then drove to Knoxville for a couple days before heading home.
Downtown Charlottesville is really nice.
Main Street is blocked off to traffic and is an attractive pedestrian mall with stores, bars, restaurants, etc, lining both sides. Very much the feel of a college town.
The grounds of Mr. Jefferson's UVA (we were informed not to call it a campus) are highlighed by the big rotunda building and a long rectangular quad with dorm rooms running the length on each side. Virginia, North Carolina, and the north campus of Georgia all have a similar feel.
The Cavalier football stadium is pretty nice, and the new basketball arena (John Paul Jones) is very nice.
* click on any picture to enlarge
Virginia Football/Basketball
Michie Tavern
This tavern/restaurant which also served as a traveller's lodge in its day, sits a mile or two from Monticello and has been in existence since the late 1700s. The staff dresses in authentic attire of the 1790s and the fare is hearty country-style food of the type that was supposed to be served then - fried chicken, barbeque pork, mashed potatoes, green beans, blackeyed peas, cornbread, etc.
Charlottesville
University of Virginia
Monday, May 18, 2009
May Getaway Post 6
Ash Lawn and the Nature Boy
On Sunday of our trip we spent most of the day at Ash Lawn (home of James Monroe), had a late lunch at Michie Tavern (a tavern dating back to the 1700s), and then went over to see downtown Charlottesville and the University of Virginia.
Loading the car at the hotel that morning (we were driving back to Waynesboro that night), I ran into none other than "the Nature Boy" ... Ric Flair. He was leaving the elevator, heading to his limo, no doubt on the way to his jet plane (those wrestling fans will know what I mean). Unfortunately, he did not recognize me without my Wrestling II mask on.
Flair was a tough act for Ash Lawn to follow but it was great.
The Virginians - Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe - held the presidency for a remarkable 24 straight years from 1801-1825 ... each winning two terms. Monroe is the least famous of the three and an underrated president (in my not-so-humble opinion).
Ash Lawn was a much smaller house than Monticello or Montpelier, but the grounds were beautiful. It's only a few miles south of Monticello and supposedly Jefferson and Monroe would signal each other using flags when they were both home. The trees have grown up so much that they wouldn't be able to do that now. In their time, all three places were working plantations complete with slave quarters, livestock, fields, etc. Ash Lawn still has some livestock on the property - it's run by William and Mary College.
Here are some pictures of Ash Lawn ... will post Charlottesville/Michie Tavern pics in next post.
* Click on any picture to enlarge
The Nature Boy ...
Pool at Doubletree in Charlottesville
Ash Lawn ...
On Sunday of our trip we spent most of the day at Ash Lawn (home of James Monroe), had a late lunch at Michie Tavern (a tavern dating back to the 1700s), and then went over to see downtown Charlottesville and the University of Virginia.
Loading the car at the hotel that morning (we were driving back to Waynesboro that night), I ran into none other than "the Nature Boy" ... Ric Flair. He was leaving the elevator, heading to his limo, no doubt on the way to his jet plane (those wrestling fans will know what I mean). Unfortunately, he did not recognize me without my Wrestling II mask on.
Flair was a tough act for Ash Lawn to follow but it was great.
The Virginians - Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe - held the presidency for a remarkable 24 straight years from 1801-1825 ... each winning two terms. Monroe is the least famous of the three and an underrated president (in my not-so-humble opinion).
Ash Lawn was a much smaller house than Monticello or Montpelier, but the grounds were beautiful. It's only a few miles south of Monticello and supposedly Jefferson and Monroe would signal each other using flags when they were both home. The trees have grown up so much that they wouldn't be able to do that now. In their time, all three places were working plantations complete with slave quarters, livestock, fields, etc. Ash Lawn still has some livestock on the property - it's run by William and Mary College.
Here are some pictures of Ash Lawn ... will post Charlottesville/Michie Tavern pics in next post.
* Click on any picture to enlarge
The Nature Boy ...
Pool at Doubletree in Charlottesville
Ash Lawn ...
The white part of the house is the original ... yellow added after Monroe.
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