vacation ending

we spent most of saturday at virginia beach. the day was warm, windy, with impending storm. we lolled about on the long sandy stretch, tashi jumping about at the edge of the cold, cold water. we saw pelicans and ships and seagulls. it was wonderful to be at the ocean. no, the backdrop wasn't a redwood forest or a dramatic cliff. yes, there was an impenetrable row of tall hotels. but we still loved it. the boardwalk was pleasant, 42 blocks long, with groovy sculptures of turtles and shore birds and crabs and other sea creatures at each entrance. we particularly liked the towering sculpture of neptune and we made sure to pay him our respects.

we left the beach just when the rain started to fall and found our way to the recommended lynnhaven fish house where we had a delicious, reasonably priced lunch of fresh seafood. the ferocious storm worked its wonders on the sea outside the big picture windows and thunder drummed on the roof. we couldn't stop giggling about a family sitting across the room. while eating their lunch, the father and two small boys were all watching different movies on their separate laptops, each with headphones on. two women sat at the table with them looking glassy eyed and bored.

after lunch we drove through mostly unpleasant urban blight to the ghent district of norfolk (pronounced nor-fuck to all of you who aren't in the know) seeking espresso. we succeeded in avoiding starbucks and getting appropriately amped up at the "fair grounds cafe." while sitting there looking at local left wing polito rags, we realized tashi had left her bag with precious sketch book at the restaurant. so we had to make our way back across urban blight, past military zone and around inlet after inlet to the restaurant which by that time was bursting at the seams with saturday evening dinner guests in their finery. then we drove through more rain back to williamsburg where we ate subs in our hotel room and watched animal planet.

yesterday we stopped in richmond on our way back to charlottesville. we took tashi to the children's museum where we climbed and hid and pressed buttons and made shadows and built things and glued things and left. we ate another amazing meal afterwards at athens tavern. i was determined to find a greek restaurant and a greek restaurant i found. it was very yum.

and now we're back home. ho hum.