The Evans Journal: Virginia

So... we got a little behind with updating the blog... Oh, well!

First thing day 3 we went to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's house. It was BEAUTIFUL!... and very crowded. We got there at 9/10AM ish to get tickets. We wanted to go on the tour that takes you into the rotunda on top. The lady at the ticket counter said that the only way we could do that would be if we would still be there tomorrow afternoon... the tickets had sold out that quickly! Oh, well. The "regular" tour was good, too. Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures inside the house, but here's some information about the inside

He invented a clock that not only tells time, but days of the week.
The rooms in his house were painted BRIGHT colors like yellow, lime green, turquoise (Kathryn loved this, Chris not so much.)
Two of the beds in his house are set into walls. Jefferson's was open on both sides... he could get up in his workroom or bedroom, depending on his mood.
There is a dumwaiter that he "invented" after seeing some in Europe.
He also brought from Europe double doors that open at the same time when only one is opened manually.

The outside was beautiful with tons of pathways and "original" plants.

Special Colonial recipe chocolate that you had to eat a special way: Take a bite; savor it. There were tons of flavors including orange, pepper, and cocoa. It was kind of chalky, but good.