We're in Amish country. The Amish and the Mennonites are spin offs from the Catholic religion with the Amish being more conservative than the Mennonites. The Amish are a spin off group from the Mennonites after the Amish decided the Mennonites were too liberal. The primary reason the Mennonites left the Catholic church was that the Mennonites didn't believe an infant had to be baptised before it was three days old.Our day began with a two-hour bus tour of the local Amish sights. We listened to the bus driver describe Amish customs and lifestyles as we drove along. Occasionally the bus had to slow and veer into the oncoming lane to maneuver around a horse drawn carriage carrying an Amish family. The Amish live very simple lives in that they shun technology including electricity and gas motors. In fact, the local Amish won't even ride bicycles. Many were seen travelling on push scooters.
On our drive we saw the schoolhouse that was built to replace the one that was the sight of the Amish School shootings almost exactly a year ago. Another bus was stopped at the school and people were out taking pictures. Our bus driver stopped and yelled at the people to get back on the bus and leave the kids alone. She was quite upset that the school has become a tourist stop. She knew the families who lost daughters in that incident.
Our first stop was a working Amish farm. Of course there was the obligatory souvenir shop. However this farm had a real treat awaiting us. Pretzels are very big in this area. We were later told 80% of the country's pretzels are made in the area with most of those being consumed right here. Well, we figured we'd give a soft pretzel a try. I bought three along with some dipping sauces. I was handed a bag with the pretzels that was almost too hot to carry. Onto the bus and into the bag. We ate the best pretzels we've ever had!!! These were warm, soft and so buttery the bag was soaked through with butter before we opened it. The dipping sauces were little used because the pretzels didn't need to be dipped.
As the tour continued we stopped at a couple more working farms. At one farm quilts were made and the quilting techniques demonstrated. At the next, the only attraction, besides a petting zoo, was a very large souvenir shop.
After the bus tour we came back to the coach, had lunch and then were off again. This time we went to an historical Amish farm house and farm. After a brief tour of the house we walked the grounds of the farm. Very interesting. The different buildings all had their special purpose including a tobacco processing building and a one room schoolhouse. One building had a wood shop in it and a man giving whittling demonstrations. We spent a little money here.
We dined in what was billed as a local smorgasbord but found it to be just another restaurant. Back at the coach we watched Gray's Anatomy and baseball. It's tough to take in all three playoff games because on the east coast the last game doesn't get started until after 10:00 p.m. and doesn't end until 1:00 a.m. or later.
G'night
Our first stop was a working Amish farm. Of course there was the obligatory souvenir shop. However this farm had a real treat awaiting us. Pretzels are very big in this area. We were later told 80% of the country's pretzels are made in the area with most of those being consumed right here. Well, we figured we'd give a soft pretzel a try. I bought three along with some dipping sauces. I was handed a bag with the pretzels that was almost too hot to carry. Onto the bus and into the bag. We ate the best pretzels we've ever had!!! These were warm, soft and so buttery the bag was soaked through with butter before we opened it. The dipping sauces were little used because the pretzels didn't need to be dipped.
As the tour continued we stopped at a couple more working farms. At one farm quilts were made and the quilting techniques demonstrated. At the next, the only attraction, besides a petting zoo, was a very large souvenir shop.
After the bus tour we came back to the coach, had lunch and then were off again. This time we went to an historical Amish farm house and farm. After a brief tour of the house we walked the grounds of the farm. Very interesting. The different buildings all had their special purpose including a tobacco processing building and a one room schoolhouse. One building had a wood shop in it and a man giving whittling demonstrations. We spent a little money here.
We dined in what was billed as a local smorgasbord but found it to be just another restaurant. Back at the coach we watched Gray's Anatomy and baseball. It's tough to take in all three playoff games because on the east coast the last game doesn't get started until after 10:00 p.m. and doesn't end until 1:00 a.m. or later.
G'night
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