Life yesterday and today: the Amish (6 July)

Today we travelled into Pennsylvania where we had booked a tour to visit the Amish House and Farm in Lancaster. Pouring rain made driving a challenge and we had to move our tour to a later departure time. By the time we arrived at the Farm, the skies were clearing up. We ate our picnic (left overs from dinner the night before) and bought something to drink at a little stand run by a young Amish girl.

Emil seems to prefer his bicycle

The Amish originally came from Germany and Switzerland and speak Pennsylvania Dutch, which is quite like Bavarian German. They live simply and are not allowed to drive cars or even ride bicycles (they do use scooters, though). They have no electricity but some machines are run by propane generators. They don't have telephones in the house, but in a little shack some distance away. The children are schooled within the community and don't learn English until they begin school. Religious services are held in the homes of members of the community. It is impolite to photograph these quiet people, but I couldn't resist the photo at the top.

On our bus tour we visited several farms where we could buy products that the Amish had made: quilts, food and drinks, carved toys, etc. The Amish in Lancaster are a well-to-do and more worldly community than in most other areas of Pennsylvania. Our guide provided us with a wealth of information and the Amish we chatted to along the way were friendly if not exactly outgoing. Below one very outgoing fellow, who did carving at the Farm but was not Amish himself. He uses a Swiss army knife for his art and the photo is proof of his sense of humor.



Sheep #99, who was saved from a trash heap and given a new, modern looking leg!

 

 


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