The Virginia Marine Science Museum
The week in Virginia Beach provided very little "beach" weather.
Monday promised to be rainy. Therefore, in search of an indoor
activity, the group headed for the Virginia Marine Science Museum, on
General Booth Boulevard, right near the giant gorilla.
The museum, however, turned out to be two separate buildings, linked by a long nature trail through
the Owl Creek Marsh. So much for indoor activity. Luckily, though, the skies were clear
during the two treks between the buildings.
While on the nature trail, Alexander encountered a giant eagle's nest.
Alex and Joshua contemplate entering the nest, as
their worried family anxiously watches. (Alex's cousin Lisa, visible in the
foreground, did enter the nest, and lived to tell the tale.)
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Alexander, with a helping hand from his father, learned firsthand what it is like to be a starfish.
What is it like to be a starfish? Only Alex knows for sure.
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Colonial Williamsburg
Williamsburg was, at one time, the colonial capital of Virginia. Now it's a really old place with really old buildings.
Alex and his parents spent an afternoon strolling the historic streets and eating some historic food.
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The visit to Williamsburg started, as all visits to Williamsburg do,
with a stop at the Burger King
right behind the Visitor's Center.
Alex munched on some french fries (above left)
and soaked up some history. This particular Burger King
was the one that Thomas Jefferson worked in when he was a law student.
One night, working after hours, young Thomas invented the vanilla shake.
Above right, we see Alex and his father taking a brief rest.
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Alexander and his mother at the waterfront in Norfolk, Virginia
Alexander, pictured here with his mother, visited the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Chincoteague, Virginia.
It was the first time that Alex ever visited a swamp. One year later, in
1998, he would visit another swamp, at Maine's
Alexander has two first cousins, that he met for the first time in Virginia Beach. His cousin Joseph was born three months
after Alex was. Alexander and Joseph put on their overalls and attended a puppet show presented by Joey's father, who,
coincidentally, is also Alexander's uncle.
The puppet show came to an abrupt halt when Alex decided to eat one of the puppets.
The audience's money was cheerfully refunded.
In this historic photograph, Alex posed with his cousins Joshua, left, and Joey, right.
Alexander's mother purchased some colonial gingerbread from a sidewalk vendor.
Alex sat down against a brick wall and enjoyed this colonial treat.
Alex's father had to keep an eye on him to prevent him from eating any of the colonial twigs scattered on
the colonial sidewalk.
In colonial times, when babies misbehaved, they would have to peer through the holes in the wooden stocks.
This is an 18th Century version of a "time out." Here, Alexander gets a feel for what his ancestors
might have endured.
Erosion takes its toll.
Fun at Pizza Hut
Alex pauses to catch his breath after carrying his father up the ninety-foot spiral staircase.