COSMOS TOUR – Part 2 – Take me to the Amish way of Life ….

This week …. I am going to share with you the next part of my amazing trip I recently came back from ….. Lancaster – The Amish way of Life. This journey from New York took about 2 and half hours and along the way the contrast in areas was incredible ..     

Wow … where do I start! ….. I had all of a sudden been transported back 300 years ….. Are you ready for it? …. From the hustle and bustle, bright lights, yellow taxis and sky scrapers to miles of countryside, deserted areas, farmers working on their land, forms of transport now being bicycles for ladies and Horse and Buggies for the Men …. YES YOU GOT IT … NO CARS! You may come across the odd American house with a car outside but this was now a rarity where we were, the norm was a house with a propane gas container outside or in the yard which was used as their power source…..

Along the way we stopped off at a nice little outlet village called KETTLE VILLAGE …. This reminded me somewhat of Bicester Village in the UK if you are familiar with it.  Little boutique outlets selling home made food and crafts to clothing and accessories. This was a nice little introduction for what was to come ….

We arrived at our hotel for the night Heritage Lancaster … this had a real traditional and oldy worldy feel about it and the Gluten Free Breakfast was amazing here (This is something i will complete a blog on separately)

Before we start talking breakfast however, tonight was the big night … we had kindly been offered to come and dine at an Amish Family Home …. Of course we were not able to take photographs here (Amish do not like according to the Bible – Graving Images – ones they can keep so they have no photographs of their children, of each other or of any special occasions) so let me take you on this experience with me …

The home was set on a large part of land with corn fields on one side and the horse stables on the other …. their 3 youngest children were there to greet us on the porch after an introduction from the man of the house …. Inside was a table laid out and we were greeted by the wife of the house Linda. We were served by Linda and the children, home made Lemonade, Root Beer, fresh chicken, potatoes, vegetables and dessert of apple pie and their delicacy Shoo Fly Pie which was born and raised in Lancaster County only.  After dinner the children shared a couple of songs they had been learning and Linda offered to take part in a group discussion.  No telephones, radios or TVs are in the houses as they believe by having no wires in he house this keeps them disconnected from the outside world, although nowadays with their businesses and selling to the English (Anyone that is non Amish) they realize running a business without a phone is not possible. She advised us that women are not permitted to cut their hair, they have it clipped back with a bonnet covering this from around the age of 14 upwards and men if they are married must grow a beard, in conflicts these can often be used as the targets on the other person as they will then be punished within the community.  I was surprised to learn that every child is given the opportunity to choose to live outside of the Amish way of life if they wish to this is not forced upon them. At the age of 16 the boys are provided a Horse and Buggy and this is how they travel around – AT 9 MILES AN HOUR!

The next day we were taken to the Amish Farm and Country House – This is now a tour but was once lived in by an Amish Family – This really helped give us more of an insight and where we could also ask more personal questions of course about their way of life …. The women will wear block colors with an apron over the top and occasionally the girls that wish to look more trendy will chose the one I have clearly decided upon myself …

They have their own newspaper (which I am currently reading ) called the Budget which includes announcements within the community and life the Amish way.

I am not sure this is a way I could live and certainly this 24 hours spent in this area was most certainly an incredibly interesting yet very unusual experience of which I will never forget and I am glad I was able to be immersed in.

Does this tour interest you? .. Here at Cruise.co.uk we offer many different bespoke packages – check them out here.

WATCH THIS SPACE ….. FOR MY FINAL STAGE OF MY JOURNEY – PART 3 – GETTYSBURG AND PHILADELPHIA ……