Alex and family left our BnB at 6 am while Maggi and I remained asleep. We awoke and they had disappeared. We ate breakfast, cleared up and finished packing. We left the BnB in good condition and then left for Union Station to pick up our Avis Car Hire.
Union Station reminded me of St Pancras in the sense that its architecture impresses. The building also has a hint of imperial 19th India. Anyway both Maggi and I showed surprise when we saw it. Our driver dropped us off at the front entrance and we walked to the back of the station to find the Avis office.
I have never known any car hire office be less concerned about the formalities that the woman who gave us our car. She asked me two questions, do you want a pickup truck and can I see your driving license. After a cursory look at the license, she didn’t care about Maggi’s license and we departed after inspecting the car.
I had booked the Sheraton Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia and we headed there. Maggi had made sandwiches for us so we didn’t need to stop at another rubbishy restaurant. We arrived at the hotel at 2:30 unsure of the nature of Norfolk. Looking out of our hotel window all looked high rise monstrosities. However we decided to book a restaurant and go for a walk.
We followed the Elizabeth River Trail along the coast with the naval shipyards across the river. The ferry to Portsmouth also on the other bank came in and left as we wandered along the trail. The path wound along dotted with explanations about historic Norfolk. A large naval destroyer sits in anchor along the coast and is part of a naval museum (which we didn’t visit).
We passed by some very interesting and historic buildings (for the USA). Crossed a major road and the houses became more modern, probably dating to the twenties, but still very attractive.
The route we walked along was circular and the way back was far less attractive than the outward journey. This section of the path passed through derelict land or new buildings that had had replaced the old warehouses that had adjoined the old docks. Mostly the land lays idle.
We walked for 5 miles and arrived at the restaurant I’d booked called 456 Fish, situated at 456 Granby Street. The staff greeted us in the usual American way. How are you today sir. I’m Joseph and I’ll be looking after you today. All very pleasant and very superficial. We sat at a window table, and ordered our meal. I chose a Chopped Greek Salad which consisted of artichoke-~ CHICKPEAS ~ ROASTED PEPPEr ~ TOMATOES ~ RED OnIOn ~ KaLamaTa oLIveS ~ FeTa. It was the best thing I’ve eaten in a restaurant since we arrived in the US this time. For a main course I picked the Spinach Dahl, which lacked any flavour whatsoever. I asked for some black pepper so I could at least know I was eating something. All very disappointing after I had enjoyed the starter so much. We walked back to the hotel and watched a bit of television before calling it a night.