away with the amish

We set a deal; The American stayed with me for Christmas and we would go over to the States for two weeks in February. It was a no-brainer; February is perhaps the bleakest time in England so the prospect of being away for the majority of the month was very tempting. 

In between reading, revising for exams, playing sports and eating the greasiest food we could find, we found time for exploring the area. A short drive to Pennsylvania and we found ourselves in Amish Country. I've always been totally fascinated by the Amish- from their no-zip policy to their iconic bonnets and straw hats. Pennsylvania is alive with the Amish so a trip to the local farmers' market was in order to see more of their wares and spot a pony and cart or two. 

I was a little wary of taking photos in the market, somehow I felt I was being watched the whole time so thought better of it. But, it was in a tardis-like space, brimming with meats, cheeses, baked goods (oh myyyy the baked goods were good - the apple fritters were a glorious mass of fried dough mixed with apple and sultanas and drizzled in some sort of wonder glaze) and fresh produce. It was also home to some very sad looking toy and book stands which gave us the creeps as well as traditional Amish crafts. We picked up some hex signs which are traditional Amish decorations for the home - decorated with birds and simple floral detailing. 

Waving goodbye to the farmers' market we made our way over to Strasburg, a really sweet main street town. We popped into the creamery but seeing as the weather was a little on the cool side we gave the ice creams a miss. I can only imagine it does a roaring trade in the hot summer months. My choice would be strawberry or pistachio. Simple but the best. We spotted some horse and carts which is a sight I'm not sure I'll ever get used to - it seems so outdated and quaint. Mind you, a quiet life in the country never harmed anyone. The rest of the main street is dotted with taverns, antique shops and bakeries all in brick and wooden houses - Strasburg is certainly worth a visit for the architecture alone!

Our time in Amish country was short but sweet, I would think the summer is a better time to visit, perhaps next time we'll even hop on the train for a trip through the countryside. 

All aboard!


L.