Even though it is our "Golden Year", the year when our life together started 50 years ago, it had more challenges than usual. We didn't have a real vacation trip at all this year and decided to add some extra days in front of the visit to Helen and William.
We started on October 9 very leisurely because technically we only had to go half the way compared to the usual 600 miles to Nashville. We had booked a room for two nights in Abingdon. This is the view out of our window.
The hotel was in walking distance to the main street and the theater we had booked to see a performance in the evening.
On the way to the theater was the Fiddler's Restaurant where we wanted to find something to eat before the show.
The name should have given it away. String instruments everywhere on the walls. Can't remember hearing music matching that.
We had come to the Barter Theator several years ago but the performance was not on the old historic stage. We had made sure this time. I also had looked up the name. The following was copied from their website:
June 10, 1933
Barter Theatre opened its doors, proclaiming “With vegetables you cannot sell, you can buy a good laugh.” The price of admission was 35 cents or an equivalent amount of produce. Four out of five theatregoers paid their way with vegetables, dairy products and livestock.
To the surprise of many, all the seats for the first show were filled. The concept of trading “ham for Hamlet” caught on quickly. At the end of the first season, the Barter Company cleared $4.35 in cash, two barrels of jelly, and a collective weight gain of over 300 pounds.
Today, at least one performance a year celebrates Barter’s history by accepting donations for Feeding America Southwest Virginia. Barter Days happen in the month of June as a birthday celebration for Barter Theatre, and we will list those performance times on our Ways to Save page.
This night we saw "Anne of Green Gables", a musical. It was a joy!!!
The way back to the hotel was a challenge. Fall had come quickly and we are not used to it yet. It got really, really cold and we were not quite dressed accordingly. This is the only photo I took of a park on the other side.
Photo out of our window the next morning. Actually the start of another lovely day.
Breakfast was included this time which we usually not do but it was nice. A buffet but more then a simple "continental". I was taken by the self-serve waffle maker.
This time we went to town in the car and parked right next to the tourist information. Everybody in town is so nice. We walked a bit up and down the main street and had a brief poke in a shop because I saw something in the window.
And what about this British telephone booth?
The tourist info.
We would have liked to drive somewhere up a mountain with a nice overlook but were sent to a park at a river. The "Virginia Creeper Trail" is a 34-mile multi-use recreational trail in southwest Virgnia is popular for biking, hiking and horseback riding. It was established on an old railroad bed. We were sent to Alvarado which was an old railroad station. It was not open though and nothing much to see ... except lots of bicyclers.
We continued to the town of Damascus. It is a very small but idyllic little town stretching through the valley. First it seems quite commercial because you encounter the Food City supermarket. But then there is the meandering main street with even smaller streets going off left and right.
We were looking for a restaurant to have lunch but it seemed we had come at the one day were other people had the same idea. We were told that a large number of people had come and the waiting time was long. I think there was some kind of anniversary of something. I forgot to take pictures of the town. A bit of a shame but I probably would not have been able to capture the real impression.
We went back to Food City which had a sort of little cafe and ordered take-out. The older gentleman who served us was quite talkative. He told us about a flood just last year (because of Hurricane Helene) which was one of those "never before" events. I think he said that it wasn't just the amount of rain but a dam somewhere also broke.
We took our take-out and went to the little park we had seen next to the road at the edge of city center. It was very nice there.
Right after we went for a little walk and learned more about the history.
Back at the hotel to refresh. Can't remember what we did about dinner/snack.
Then it was time for our second theater visit. This time it was on the new stage on the opposite side of the road. This time we took the car and could park close. We were a little early and looked at some art work.
(In the first photo the historic Barter Theater is right behind James)
The play (also a musical) was ... different.
First we were not so sure whether we liked it but when we understood that it was almost like "British comedy" we enjoyed it. The two actors were incredible including the acting, singing and piano playing. Sometimes it is good to be surprised with something you don't know anything about.
The next morning we enjoyed our breakfast again and then went our way to our next stop. In the car we could reminisce about this time here. Good choice!
Stay tuned for more, ha-ha.
