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 Mecklenburg Correctional
Centre by b1bobLeave a Comment
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 Mother deer hurries to cross
the road by Faiza-Ifrah, 1 more photos
In the pictures we could see that there was a road sign alerting everybody to deer crossing the road. How did the mother and her fawn chose this exact spot to cross the road beats me :-) Leave a Comment
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 WELCOME TO VIRGINIA :-);
RICHMOND, MONUMENT AVE. by matcrazy1
COMMON OF THOUGHTS ON THE SOUTH
Before my trip to Virginia and the South I heard that even though the South was part of the US, it should most properly be considered an emerging third world country. Well, even if it was true (it was NOT), it would attract me. I heard that although the economy of the South had grown and people had more money, but their traditions had not really caught up with the economy; people's mentality was still simple, rural, and traditional in many ways and that of course they were proud of it. It would be interesting to see and discover it, I thought. Rural and simple meant extremaly hospitable and open. I heard that the South was sleepy, conservative, churchy, and backwards, but not all negative. Well, even if, the above adjectives (except backwards) were not negative for me. Some of the things I was told about the South being "backwards" can really be said about many rural areas in both the USA and Europe. And it's probably worldwide custom that country people tend to see city people as snobs, and city people think that country people are backward hicks.
Futhermore I was told that they had a very different way of life down there. Quite interesting to see. I heard also that the South was the most culturally distinct part of the US and that they maintained a very strong regional identity, complete with flags, songs, and other things. Wow! It made me crazy to come. Futhermore I was told that there was a lot of resentment towards the South or rather between the regions.
I managed to fix the trip in the last minute. And I would do it again, I love Virginia and the South! Why? Welcome to my Southern VT-pages.
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 RICHMOND CAPITOL CLOSED FOR
RENOVATION (2004) by matcrazy1
FIRST IMPRESSION
Do not judge Virginia (and any other place on our planet) after 1-2 hours. Dulles Washington International Airport doesn't look great at least in comparison to Shippol in Amsterdam I came from. And many tall buildings you may see in Northern Virginia (Fairfax and Arlington County) do not look pretty as well.
BAN ON PHOTOGRAPHY
You are not allowed to take pictures inside many historical buildings, you may take guided tours and see them. Details in my other Virginian pages.
CROWDS
There are no big crowds in October/November but I had to wait in a line to join guided-tours at Monticello (Charlottesville) and Mount Vernon. There were quite many visitors to Colonial Williamsburg as well.
BOOK IN ADVANCE
In Northern Virginia I recommend to book accommodation in advance through Priceline (cheap!) or call. There was no vacancy when I came to budget Days Inn in Arlington in the late evening.
In other regions of Virginia if you want to stay in budget hotel in touristy city (like Charlottesville) in weekend (Fri-Sun) better book a room. I don't think you may see "no vacancy" sign on business day or in less touristy destinations including budget accommodations ($40 - $80 for me).
In Arlington I couldn't join guided tour of the Arlington House because tickets were sold out, I should call them in advance (details here).
OPENING HOURS
Most tourist attractions like museums close at 4 pm or more often at 5 pm.
SHORT DAYS
In October/November days are shorter thus I had short time to amaze Virginian architecture and nature at daytime.
CLOUSURE
Only Capitol building in Richmond was closed (by winter 2006) due to renovation. Well, restaurant at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City was closed as well.
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 VIRGINIA DEER IN FOG,
SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK by matcrazy1
Once I had a foggy morning in Northern Virginia in late October. Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park were covered by fog, thick fog at some places in upper parts. So, I could not amaze spectacular views at numerous overlooks along Skyline Drive.
Well, I again discovered that:
- pictures taken during foggy weather are more interesting than those taken at bright sunny day;
- many animals which are active at daytime hide in a shadow during hot, sunny days and are easier to meet only at sunrise and sunset, in a foggy day they are easier to see during the whole day;
- lack of visitors at foggy weather may be a plus as well.
So, keep smiling and enjoy the nature whatever weather you catch.
Weather in longer time period is unpredictable. If you can plan and change date of your visit check in advance 10-day weather forecast for Shenandoah and Luray. For peak fall colours of leaves in various parts of Eastern USA from Maine to Georgia watch Weather Channel. Usually it's about half of October in Shenandoah National Park.
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 RUSH HOURS TRAFFIC by matcrazy1
RUSH OURS
On weekdays 7.00 am - 9.00 am and 4 pm - 7 pm.
1. USE INTERSTATES
The traffic jams were caused by traffic lights on our multilane highway (US-50). When we caught the interstate (I-66) it went much better. Traffic goes faster on the interstate unless any lane or any ramp is closed due to accident (I didn't see any).
2. CHECK CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS
If you have access to internet you can check it here.
Listen to the local radio stations to catch up-to-date info.
3. DRIVE IN 2 OR MORE PERSONS IN A CAR
And use HOV Lanes or High Occupancy Vehicle lanes marked clearly (signs and rhomus painted on the lane) along I-66 and I-395 where they look like seperate freeways with seperate exits and ramps. You save time in rush hours.
Most locals drive alone and they have to hate those HOV Lanes which steel them a lane exactly when they are in a hurry. I loved them :-). In western part of the USA like in southern California HOV Lanes are called and signed as Car Pool lanes. Those lanes in Northern Virginia were HOV Lanes exclusively in rush hours (read the time indicated on signs), whereas in California usually 24 hours.
4. USE GPS navigation with traffic satellite service - my recommendation
If you have GPS in a car and smart software you are lucky, the software do it for yourself and choose the faster itinerary for you at any time. GPS is the most usuful just in such area of high traffic like Northern Virginia.
Use efficient metro system in Northern Virginia - my recommendation.
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 URSZULA AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY
PARKING LOT (PAID) by matcrazy1
PARKING
There are numerous and well signed parking lots in downtown of Virginian cities. Usually you must pay for parking on a street in parkometer at least at daytime on business days (closer to downtown more you pay). Read the information given on signs and parkometers. Parking in Virginia seems to be more money problem than space problem - quite different than in many European countries, especially those more to South and East where poor drivers having NO parking lots are forced to park on every possible place including sidewalks and where it's banned collecting more and more unpaid parking tickets. Follow Virginian gentelmen and don't do that while in Virginia. Remeber: in the USA sidewalks are exclusively for pedestrians! Even don't think over leaving your car on a sidewalk.
There are always large parking lots for visitors to popular tourist attractions and they are always free of charge with the exception of paid Arlington Cemetery parking lot. Remember where exactly you leave your car on those huge parking lots. Another option is to park by local tourist information office, usually in downtown/historic district. It's free but sometimes you are not allowed to park longer than during time given on a sign (30 min. or 1 hour).
YOUNG BOYS AND OLD LADIES
Generally Virginians drive very carefully but... watch for young Virginian gentelmen and old ladies. Once, I saw old lady who drove too slow and changed lanes probably without looking at rear mirrors (she turned back instead) that forced other cars to break. On multi-lane highways do not change lanes if not necessary and follow the traffic.
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 COOKWARE IN COLONIAL
WILLIAMSBURG by matcrazy1
Do look at them, do buy them if you like but please never use them for preparing or cooking any food unless you want to catch copper toxicity syndrome. The most common symptoms are headaches, fatigue, insomnia, depression, spaciness, learning disorders or premenstrual syndrome. Brrr...
Some folks told me that both Hillary Clinton and Theresa Heinz-Kerry use copper and brass cookware in their kitchens. Hmm... I don't know :-).
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 PUBLIC ASHTRAY BY
ENTRANCE TO ARLINGTON
CEMETERY by matcrazy1
- in fenced, huge area of the Arlington National Cemetery,
- in huge area of Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens,
- in all metro stations in Northern Virginia including those located outdoors,
- in all restaurants, I visited except 29 Diner in Fairfax City,
- inside all hotels I stayed except in designated areas (smoking rooms available in limited number)
- generally inside all public building unless otherwise stated.
Virginia is not a paradise for smoking folks like me although there are worse states in that matter like Utah or California. I can easily understand it and not so easily follow the ban. At Arlington National Cemetery (a few hours needed) it was not that simple. Well, thanks to the ban I could talk to the other smokers, for example to one young lady in front of Jaleo restaurant in Arlington. She had never talked to anyone from Poland before :-).
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On the way from Washington, DC to Charlottesville in western part of Virginia I stopped in the 29er Restaurant & Tavern in Ruckersville along US-29 (just north of US-33 intersection) and it was the worst choice during my US travels. The food (chicken and tossed salad) served there at very low price was not fresh and uneatable... never stop there. I am sorry that it happened to me just in Virginia... the state where - except that one time - I had probably the best food in the USA.
After this meal partly eaten I had to go for coffee in Shell gas station. Surely quality of coffee sold to plastic mugs in gas stations is not the best but not that bad, I liked it. I learned in the USA to drink coffee and drive :-) and found it very practical and fast. Well, many gas stations in Poland don't offer those plastic mugs (and never so large) to use while driving and it's more popular to seat by a table to drink coffee in Europe.
Warning for first coming to the USA: small mug in the USA is the largest one in Europe, the large one is like large family cup :-), say for 10 or more Europeans cups of coffee. Coffee in gas stations is inexpensive, on that Shell station it cost: $0.69, $0.89, and $1.18 for the largest mug.
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