pennsylvania dutch country
We spent the weekend in Pennsylvania in Dutch Country - this area is
where the Amish, Mennonites and Plain People dominate the area. It was fascinating
to see these folks working on their farms, and clearly integrated into the community.
These pictures were taken at "Amish Village," a museum with depictions of
the Amish way of life. They had examples of a typical Amish home, and a one
room schoolhouse.
While there, we also rode on the Strasburg Railroad. It's an old steam train that takes people on a 45 minute
ride through the Pennsylvania countryside. We had lunch on the train.
The food was subpar, but the views were great!
This is the interior of the buggy which we took a ride in. The buggy took us through two working
Amish farms, one where a young girl even came out to sell us cookies. The buggy driver was
a self-described "liberal Mennonite" with a very thorough knowledge of the culture and community.
This here is the "motel" where we stayed. The "Red Caboose Motel" is close to the train that
we rode. It's in the middle of farmland, and what sets it apart is that each motel "room"
is actually a 50-ton caboose! Yep - that's the caboose we stayed in. It's like a regular
motel room - although the bathroom's a bit small. Nevertheless, we had a double bed and
two bunk beds. The kids really enjoyed it. Check out their website to see this place.