Apologies

I must apologize to my readers...I haven't been posting lately because...well...for multiple reasons. First, I went on a two-week trip to Virginia and Washington DC. Secondly, because of the trip, I had quite a bit of catch-up to do in school, and that made doing anything extra-curricular very difficult...but now, here I am. And ready to tell you all about it :)

First, the trip. It was amazing! We took it with my grandparents, and there wasn't a day that didn't have at something memorable. We went to colonial Williamsburg first. If you have never been, you need to go sometime before you die. It is fantastic! Above is a picture of an artillery demonstration they did with real cannons...and I thought regular gunfire was loud!!

Every day, we did something that was fascinating and full of history: toured the Governor's Palace, went through the old houses, listened to actors portray the characters of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and (my sister's favourite) the Marquis de Lafayette. We watched people do trades that they would have back in colonial times: blacksmiths, brewers, wig makers, barrel-makers (coopers, technically), gun-makers, shoe-makers, milliners, wheel-makers, book-binders (my favourite), printers, and so many more which I can't think of at the moment. Each one would talk about his trade and then demonstrate it for us, using all the techniques they would have in the colonial times. It was fascinating, and there was never a dull day!

After the trip to Williamsburg, we went to Washington D.C., which was absolutly fantastic. We walked around the entire Mall, and saw every single monument there was to see. They were beautiful and awe-inspiring. I loved seeing the Abraham Lincoln and the Thomas Jefferson memorials. They were so breath-taking...I can't wait to see them again someday!! We also got to tour the Captiol, which was amazing. We got to see all the statues, and the beautiful masonry, and all of the gorgeous paintings. But my favourite had to be the Library of Congress. I think I could live there and never, ever get bored. The paintings and the sculputres alone could take up weeks of study and enjoyment, not to mention the Reading Rooms. I need to go back there someday, just to see the Library of Congress. If you're considering going, go. It's so worth it.

A close runner-up had to be the Folger Shakespeare Library, however. There was a rehersal of Othello going on, and we got to see the actors practicing. I loved watching the directors and the sound guys do their jobs...I've always been fasinated by the behind-the-scenes workings. It was also fun to watch the actors play around on the stage when they got bored between scenes and during sound and lighting tests. And in their giftshop, I found the souviner that made me SO happy: Hamlet by the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring - guess who!?!?!?! - David Tennent and Patrick Stewart!! I was so happy!!! Now, all I need to do is find time to watch it...!

I also got a mug with some of Shakespeare's best insults written all over it. Here's a picture...

Awesome, isn't it? :)

Anyway, I hope I can write again soon...keep updated! :)