Part Six of our Anniversary Vacation in Pennsylvania

We decided to split up the ride home also. We stayed in Stroudsburg (not to be confused with Strasburg where we did a lot of our stay, boy that must get confusing). Our last sight seeing spot was the Big Pocono State Park. The view was spectacular. Would be better if it were sunnier, but we enjoyed it just the same.

There was a little color along the ride.

As a final word, I would like to say that Dienner's Restaurant in Lancaster had a great buffet, with some native dishes. It was our best meal on our vacation. We tried a Steak and Seafood place on our actual anniversary and it was pretty disappointing. The weather was great, near 70's just like it was 43 years ago when we honeymooned in Pennsylvania. There was a comforting feel in the air to be amongst more Christian minded people and I am not talking about the Mennonites and Amish. We encountered people who said, "God bless you" or prayed before their meals, or left the Bible out on the tables in the rooms. It was obvious we were not in Connecticut any more. 

This will be up there with one of our favorite vacations. We did a lot but we didn't do it in whirlwind fashion but leisurely and carefully planned. Thanks, Pennsylvania for being so hospitable. If you bordered the ocean, I would be very tempted to move. 

Part Five of our Anniversary Vacation--a Bucket List item crossed off

I first heard about Sight & Sound Theaters when I was working at the post office. Every year I would see the pamphlets come in the mail and I knew it had to be an amazing thing. I told myself that someday I would go there. I am so happy to say, I have been and it was all I hoped for and more.
Unfortunately I obviously couldn't take pictures of the show. These are all I took. The building is huge and impressive.

I think I was too excited and in awe to take more pictures of the outside. Here is a picture of the postcard.

We saw the play, "Jesus". If this is the one and only time I get to see a play at Sight and Sound, this is the one to see. It was inspiring and just phenomenal, perfectly done. There were live animals from flying doves to sheep and horses going up and down the aisles. There were stormy seas and Jesus walked on water. I bought the program guide and I could take a lot of pictures to show you but I will just share a couple so you can get an idea of what the set is like--just incredible.

It was not only in front of us, but on the sides too. I really can't do it justice in my descriptions--a gift for the eyes and the heart. If it weren't so far away, I would make this a yearly visit. But I finally made it, it was worth it and I will have the memory of how great it was. I loved it. It was worth the wait.

Debbie's Turkey Hill Commercial

George's Turkey Hill Ice Cream Commercial

Part Four of our Annivesary Vacation in Pennsylvania

The Amish Village was our next stop with this little re-created village.

 These leaves were HUGE!

There were a lot of farm type birds around. These were baby peacocks, pea-chicks.

 This guy was hiding as we came around the corner.

Inside tour.

 I don't know if this is typical, but our guide told us the price of a quilt was double the number of hours it took to make it. (ie. 400 hours = $800).

 Look who came peeking in the window.

From here, we took a bus tour explaining about the Amish way of life and drove us through the scenic roads ending at a nice little Amish stand to buy Amish goods.

 Our guide drove us by several Amish schools at recess time.

 Tuesdays (and I think Thursdays) in the fall after the harvest is Amish wedding season. We drove by a place where they were set up for a wedding that was happening in the building at that time.

 These were all the buggies parked that were attending the wedding.

 More schools. I must say I was hesitant at first to take pictures as we know they don't take pictures. But obviously we know there are pictures of Amish all over Pennsylvania on postcards. They don't keep pictures because of vanity. However, I did ponder an interesting comment someone said about their dress--they want to be different and noticed. I wonder, if in a way, if that is pride, I am sure they don't think so--just a pondering point. I feel sad how much I love photographs that they never have a photograph to remember how their kids looked when they were small. Our bus driver has many Amish friends and she even knew kids in the playground. She never told us not to take pictures. I think she would have if we should not have.

After the bus tour and a quick lunch, I had to drag George to the Central Market, Lancaster. We have been before and I don't know why I felt the need to go--the sights, the variety. It was just fun to look at as we have before, but we didn't buy a thing. (We previously bought at the Amish farm stand). But still it's fun to look.

From there, we went to the furthest spot from our "home base" to something we thought would be fun to do....we went to the Turkey Hill Experience. There you can have unlimited free samples of ice cream and teas. I think they make the ice cream so cold that you will get brain freeze if you have too much. There are also interactive computer games and a chance to create your own kind of ice cream and after that, you can make a commercial advertising your new flavor. I hope I can download our funny commercials we made here. Such fun!

Here are two stars in the making--our first commercials! Click on links to see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewBHzgJvZzc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozwhveRoLbY

I guess the links above you can't click on, you can copy and paste.