Hi everyone
A bit late today because we couldn't get the net at the motel.
Today we visited Shipshewana, which is noted as the ‘trading
place of America’, but it’s also home to a thriving and large Amish
community. We left Dearborn about 9.30
a.m. and headed south/south west for Shipshewana. We were very lucky as we weren’t on the
freeway all the time and so got to see lush countryside and very cute
barns/houses again in that shaped roof style we’ve seen through Iowa, Indiana
and Michigan. We crossed the state line
and arrived at Shipshewana, and lo and behold the first thing I spy is a carriage
and horse with its Amish occupants trotting along the road. It was so exciting, but the funny thing was,
they’re everywhere, I thought I would
see maybe one or two if I was lucky, but no, they’re everywhere, and so too is
horse droppings along the road. You can
go for a ride in one – paying customer and you can take photos, but you can’t
ask them to be photoed with you etc.
In the small village the weekly auction/flea market was in absolutely bustling chaos. There are various auction houses; some for animals,
furniture etc, but the one we entered was hosting about 6 auctions at once,
Amish selling their goods, but a non-Amish person doing the actual
auctioneering. It was chaotic with all the
auction spiel going on at once. At the back
of this are about 1000 stalls! Yes,
1000. They’re selling anything from
junk, to food/vegetables, to Amish carving stuff and crafts to Asian’s selling
sox! Neil stayed to look at the car
tools and other stuff while I headed back across the one road in/one road out road, traffic virtually at a standstill and
headed to the Meno-hof Museum which tells the story of the Amish – along with
the Hutterites and the Menonites. It takes
the visitor right back to the 1500s and up to current day, detailing how the
religion developed, how it’s changed, or not.
It also showed the lifestyle today, their houses, and their beliefs.
The traffic in Shipshewana was at a standstill when we left,
but luckily we were heading the other way.
We have driven to South Bend to hopefully see the Studebaker museum tomorrow
though tomorrow is July 4th holiday so not sure if it is open. South Bend is rather interesting. Arriving in town it appeared to be run down
and a bit scary. It also has LOTS of funeral homes! Not sure what that’s all about, but the centre
of town is rather bustling – looks to have lots of colleges, so it maybe a
university town.
Am really hoping that tomorrow we see some sort of parade
for Independence day (heck I’d even
settle for Will Smith), or maybe some fireworks, as we’ve noticed lots of
places selling HUGE boxes of fireworks in the last week. They don’t seem that cheap either which was
interesting.
Jane
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fascinating stuff.
Did you go for a ride in an Amish Carriage. Did you get any photos of the stalls etc. What was the dress the Amish wore, is it as it's depicted in books all drab and black? Here's me full of questions? I'm so glad you're enjoying your trip.
Hi Shirley didn't go for a ride, but you can, but it was sooo hot, i coudln't face it. They don't all dress in black, but do wear the little white lace caps - all women, even the young teen girls. The young teen girls i noticed wore light colored shifts, mostly to at least mid calf or longer, and either short sleeves or long sleeves. men in either jeans or dark trousers and shirts, often with braces. Most men, older particularly, wore bushy beards. We weren't allowed to take photos at the stalls.
DeleteJane