Day 1: Fun with Fiats & Fifes

After only a few hours of sleep due to Good Friday at church and packing etc., we got up at 3AM to catch a very early flight to Norfolk, VA. Luckily we were both able to sleep some on the plane, but we were still very tired when we arrived. As we approached the rental car area in the airport, they had a shiny new Fiat on display inside. We had seen plenty of them while in Italy last year so we were familiar with this tiny vehicle. We joked about how funny it would be if they was our rental... well, we spoke too soon! When we checked in, were informed that the "compact" car we had requested, was indeed a Fiat. We howled with laughter (I am sure the guy thought we were crazy). He asked us several times if we wanted an upgrade... however, we took the Fiat in the spirit of adventure. So, ladies and gents, I give you our tiny Fiat...

We cracked jokes the entire trip regarding the car. We even used an Italian accent when speaking for the car. We compared it to a clown car and laughed about it all week. We were elbow to elbow in that thing and my suitcase took up the "trunk". Brad's bag and everything else had to go in the "backseat". It was quite interesting. 

Later in the trip, we came up with an idea... you may have seen this Smart Car picture floating around the internet for a while:

 

Well, Brad borrowed a toy car from his 2nd cousin Hope and staged this one. We like to call it "Are you my father??"

Once we were on the road, we made the 45 minute trip to our first destination, Colonial Williamsburg. I have my friend Kara D to thank for this part of our trip. I wasn't familiar with it until she mentioned it on her blog a while back. After researching it further, I was very excited about going there. I found a GREAT Bed & Breakfast and we headed there to get checked-in. It is called The Fife & Drum Inn and I highly recommend it. Although it was a little hard to find!! It is on the top level of some shops and the sign was very tiny - but we will just call it "tucked away". 

The blue door in the center is the front door of the B&B. It opens to a staircase. The B&B runs the length of the upstairs in this picture

Cute entrance to our room. (Yes- that is a fake Virginia ham hanging by the door.)

Cute sign in our room.

Yes- the bed was so high, I had to use that stool!

We had a private entrance to a shared porch.

This B&B is in a great location since it is within walking distance to the Colonial area. So, after getting checked-in and grabbing some lunch, we headed that direction. For those of you not familiar with Colonial Williamsburg, it is a huge area of the city that has been preserved and functions just as it did in Colonial times.  Almost all of the buildings are original and there are people that work and live there just as they did then. It is really a fascinating place. 

Tired Brad in front of a beautiful scene.

Ladies in the market.

Pretty gardens everywhere!

Main area of the town - the Governor's Palace.

We went on a tour of the house belonging to Peyton Randolph in 1721 to 1775. Mr Randolph was the first president of the Continental Congress. There were many influential and famous people in and out of this house as visitors. Our tour guide was dressed and talked as if she were living in the 1700's.

We roamed around for a couple of hours and had fun.

They caught us!

As we walked around, we began hearing drums. As they got closer, we saw a Fife & Drum parade! Everyone started following them as they made their way through town.

Here they come!

They were quite good!

(Video link in blog for those receiving this via email.)

A couple of days later, over breakfast, our B&B owner would tell us more about the group. Apparently they are very hard core and serious about their jobs. It is considered a great honor to be part of the group and they practice constantly. They hold their members to a very high standard (we were told of one young man kicked out for cussing). College scholarships are awarded to the members and it is a very big deal. They are invited to parades and shows all over the country.

Eventually the lack of sleep and long travel day caught up to us. After a really yummy dinner out, we turned in early so we could see EVERYTHING possible the next day!!