Thursday
Met Villages friend, Jean Brady, who flew in to spend some time in her hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It will be good to have someone to ride along. I'm getting tired of the sound of my own voice. Even tho it was cold and rainy, we took an Amish buggy ride to a farm.
The Amish came to Lancaster County 250 years ago and today there are over 28,000 in the county, almost all descendants of the original 30 couples.
The Amish split from the Mennonites in the 1600s but share their shunning of modern conveniences.
Their farms are easy to spot because there are no power lines leading to it.
Farmland in Lancaster County is expensive ($15K/acre) compared to surrounding areas ($3K/acre).
Many Amish and Mennonite families are leaving the area for greener pastures because of increased congestion caused by tourists.
Their distinctive black buggies are seen on the street with a line of tourist cars creeping along behind.
But the best thing about the Amish is the great names they gave their communities: Blue Ball, Bird in Hand, and of course, Intercourse.
Had lunch in nearby Lititz at the historic 18th century
General Sutter Inn's Bull's Head Pub.
General Sutter Inn's Bull's Head Pub.
It was the discovery of gold on General Sutter's property near Sacramento that started the California Gold Rush.
Sutter lived in Lititz while peitiioning Congress to receive compensation for damages to his California property caused by gold seekers.
He died in 1880 without Congress having decided the matter.
Made pretzels at the 1750 Sturgis Pretzel Factory. If I ever need to know how to make a pretzel, I'll be OK.
One of the largest employers in town, they paid 10 cents an hour to people who considered themselves lucky to have a job.
This is said to be the first pretzel bakery in the U.S.
It's super hot near those ovens.
The pretzels are baked twice to harden.
The 1756 Wilbur Chocolate Factory is still in production. Yummy goodies here and lots of vintage molds.
Breakfast at this Pennsylvania Dutch restaurant where many young Mennonite men were having a hearty meal before starting their day's work.
Placemats at the table were unlike any you will see in a California restaurant.
A stop at Lancaster Central Market, the oldest farmer's market in the country from 120 years ago.
We picked up items Jean remembered from shopping here with her mother: white celery, sweet bologna, and vegs.
And of course, Shoo Fly Pie, but no
Apple Pan Dowdy.
It's super hot near those ovens.
The pretzels are baked twice to harden.
The 1756 Wilbur Chocolate Factory is still in production. Yummy goodies here and lots of vintage molds.
Breakfast at this Pennsylvania Dutch restaurant where many young Mennonite men were having a hearty meal before starting their day's work.
Placemats at the table were unlike any you will see in a California restaurant.
A stop at Lancaster Central Market, the oldest farmer's market in the country from 120 years ago.
We picked up items Jean remembered from shopping here with her mother: white celery, sweet bologna, and vegs.
And of course, Shoo Fly Pie, but no
Apple Pan Dowdy.
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