Visiting Plymouth

Hi!

A few weeks ago we went to Plymouth, Massachusetts, about an hour from here. They have homes from the 1600's, memorial statues and parks, and a replica of the Mayflower!
They call this replica the Mayflower II, and it was built in 1957 in Plymouth, ENGLAND (did you know there was a Plymouth, England?).
Then they actually sailed this ship, the same route as the original, from Plymouth, England to Plymouth, Massachusetts! Fantastic. We walked around the ship and talked to a crew member, learning about life on the ship.

I especially liked this leather pitcher: it's pliable, like leather shoes--you can bend it in or out, but it's watertight!

Then there is FOOD on the ship. When you haven't seen land for weeks, food on a ship in the 17th century could be decent or tolerable, or it could be downright nightmarish. Here is what I found to be a literary masterpiece: one sailor's journal entry depicting nightmarish ship food. (click on it to enlarge...)We also walked to Plymouth Rock, which is just that: a rock! It's in a cage to protect it from overly-zealous tourists, I am sure. This cage is also under construction...of course! Here is Frank, filming through the scaffolding.

Etched upon this rock is the year "1620," but in general the rock itself is rather anti-climactic. One gentleman recorded: Following our afternoon full of history and lots of walking, the kids were ready for...of course, races rolling down the hill? (There weren't THAT many cars...)

All in all, a lovely day.