Sylvie's Birthday in Charlottesville

My birthday (#34!) was this past Monday, and Jeff took me to Charlottesville for a one-night getaway........ We took the scenic way down on Monday morning, winding through gorgeous Virginia countryside - horse farms lined with white fences, rolling hills covered with fall foliage... mmmm. After arriving in Charlottesville, we walked along the pedestrian-only Main Street lined with shops and restaurants. We meandered through the University of Virginia, took tons of photos of the gorgeous grounds, and discovered some lovely gardens hidden behind a row of wonderful old brick buildings. That night we went to a fantastic restaurant on Main Street called Maya (you have to go if you're in the area sometime!) where the food was incredibly delicious and the ingredients organic and locally grown, and where they have a fun outdoor seating area under a canopy and surrounded by plants and candlelight. We stayed at a historic B&B downtown (which, to be honest, was a bit of a disappointment... It's not nearly as nice as Mom & Dad's in Lexington). And the next day we visited Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home) which neither Jeff nor I had been to before. That was the highlight of our trip - so beautiful!

Here are a few shots of the University of Virginia:

A tightrope walker practicing his skills:
I love old doorways.
Here's the front of Monticello. We went on a tour of the inside of the house, but taking photos wasn't allowed inside. :( We saw Thomas Jefferson's library including some of his original books... his bedroom where he died... his dining room painted in a garish yellowish gold color... the small family room used as a schoolroom where his eleven grandchildren were taught by Thomas Jefferson's daughter, Martha Jefferson Randolph... and more. :) So interesting.
On the back steps of the mansion:
My studly husband:
The back of Monticello was a large grassy yard surrounded by a path that was lined with flowering plants... It was lovely.


Recognize this from the back of the nickel?? Of course this shot is off-center. And it has me in it. But fix those things, and you've got the nickel image. :)
This walkway led right into a sunroom on the side of the mansion:

On the south side of Monticello was Mulberry Row which included extensive vegetable gardens, a vineyard, and an orchard, and overlooked the valley in the distance.
I tried having a chat with Tom, but he wasn't too responsive. He wouldn't even look at me so I had to get on my tip toes to get in his line of vision.
And I just had to capture these trees on our way out... The foliage wasn't at its peak, but what we saw was lovely.
If you ever have a chance to visit Monticello, I highly recommend it!