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We visited Virginia Beach in early October 2020 because I was feeling a bit desperate for the Atlantic Ocean having spent the first 20 years of my life on both sides of the Atlantic. The Covid-19 restrictions did not affect us on the beach or in the area. We had a nice room facing the ocean at the Holiday Inn Express.
In addition to walking along the beach and enjoying the warm water, there was some action near our hotel.
There's a variety of art works along the "boardwalk." The quotes are needed because, unlike New Jersey, the walkway is cement rather than boards. The photos were taken with our Pixel phones.
I took a few videos and posted them on my YouTube channel. The videos were also taken with my Pixel Phone- handheld.
Beach Football
A Beach Wedding
And, riding horses
As a finale, the Ocean Waves...
From a certain angle in our hotel, you can just see the ocean, which made us feel like we were on a cruise--cruises were cancelled this year due to the Covid virus.
Overall, a great place to relax and consume novels for a change of pace.
Learn more about Virginia Beach at the city website VBgov WiFi: The hotel WiFi wasn't so good so we used Google Fi, which worked well.
The visit was modified because of Covid-19 adjustments. We reserved a house tour online and arrived early. There's a brief film at the visitor's centre.
We decided to walk up to the house, which was a surprising climb. We sat for a brief introduction then entered the house in small groups. Photography was allowed so I will include some photos.
Jefferson as a man of science
Georgian Silver
Outside, an actor provided an impressive talk as Thomas Jefferson. He answered all questions posed to him by the attentive and challenging audience.
There are a few cabins where slaves lived and locations marked where they worked. Jefferson enslaved more than 600 people during his life.
Here's a look inside a cabin representing the home of Sally Hemings (1773-1835) known as Jefferson's concubine. She was a half-sister to Jefferson's wife, Martha Wayles (1746-1782). According to the tradition, Sally and Martha had the same father, John Wayles.
There's also a furnished kitchen close to the main house.
It is not hard to detect which headstone is for Thomas Jefferson in the family cemetery.
I did not see people of colour among the guides and staff who interacted with us.
There is a gift shop, but we did not purchase anything.
There is a small museum at the visitor centre.
You can purchase food onsite, but we went back to our vehicle and ate lunch there. At the time we were there, you could take a water bottle with you to the house and grounds.
There are toilets and a place to refill water bottles.
We visited the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge on Monday, 5th October 2020. We paid the $5 entrance fee and soon stopped to view an Osprey on the westside of the entrance road.
Next, we parked by the closed visitor centre and followed an short eastward trail to the beach.
We then walked south of the centre along available trails, which were not fully open to the public. Here's a sample of what we saw.
I took a couple of videos available from my YouTube channel.
The park is located near the Rio Grande. The address is 2901 Candelaria Rd. NW Albuquerque NM 87107. There is a visitor center, a shop, and an educational building.
Visiting the 9/11 memorial is a somber occasion. That tragic morning is etched in our memories. We'll not forget that day.
At 8:46:40, the hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 flew into the upper portion of the North Tower, cutting through floors 93 to 99. Hundreds of civilians were killed instantly by the impact. Hundreds more remained alive but trapped.
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A jet fuel fireball erupted upon impact and shot down at least one bank of elevators. The fireball exploded onto numerous lower floors, including the 77th and 22nd; the West Street lobby level; and the B4 level, four stories below ground. The burning jet fuel immediately created thick, black smoke that enveloped the upper floors and roof of the North Tower. The roof of the South Tower was also engulfed in smoke because of prevailing light winds from the northwest.*
Hundreds of civilians trapped on or above the 92nd floor gathered in large and small groups, primarily between the 103rd and 106th floors. A large group was reported on the 92nd floor, technically below the impact but unable to descend. Civilians were also trapped in elevators. Other civilians below the impact zone—mostly on floors in the 70s and 80s, but also on at least the 47th and 22nd floors—were either trapped or waiting for assistance.*
Stairway inside 9/11 Museum, NYC
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The 9/11 museum at the World Trade Center in New York City contains artefacts, stories and media of that fateful day when 2,606 people died in and nearby the World Trade Center. Altogether, the attacks that killed 2,977 people and injured another 6,000.
CBS News The Towers are hit
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The FDNY response began within five seconds of the crash. By 9:00,many
senior FDNY leaders, including 7 of the 11 most highly ranked chiefs in the
department, as well as the Commissioner and many of his deputies and
assistants, had begun responding from headquarters in Brooklyn. While enroute
over the Brooklyn Bridge, the Chief of Department and the Chief of Operations
had a clear view of the situation on the upper floors of the North Tower. They
determined that because of the fire’s magnitude and location near the top of
the building, their mission would be primarily one of rescue. They called for a
fifth alarm, which would bring additional engine and ladder companies, as well
as for two more elite rescue units. The Chief of Department arrived at about
9:00; general FDNY Incident Command was transferred to his location on the West
Side Highway. In all, 22 of the 32 senior chiefs and commissioners arrived at the WTC before 10:00.50*
As of 9:00, the units that were dispatched (including senior chiefs
responding to headquarters) included approximately 235 firefighters. These
units consisted of 21 engine companies, nine ladder companies, four of the
department’s elite rescue teams, the department’s single Hazmat team, two of
the city’s elite squad companies, and support staff. In addition, at 8:53 nine
Brooklyn units were staged on the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel
to await possible dispatch orders.*
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Following are some of my pictures inside the museum from our visit in 2016.
Our National 9/11 Flag
Below, a piper plays beside one of the tower structures.
*The 9/11 commission report: Final report of the national commission on terrorist attacks upon the United States (2004). U.S. Government Printing Office. 0160723043
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