USA Day 6 Amish country and Harrisburg

We left Washington in the pouring rain for another long drive today to Harrisburg (236 km). It took about 3 hours to reach Lancaster County where we had lunch in what was described as a classic Pennsylvanian Dutch restaurant. It was a buffet lunch with a vast choice of delicious freshly cooked local produce. From there we went for a ride in an Amish buggy ride and chatty to the driver who was very forthcoming about life in an Amish community. 

The Amish way of life is a simple one compared to many of us living life in the fast stream. They still live a life that would seem very familiar to previous generations. They believe worldliness can prevent them from being close to God and consequently they do not permit the use of tractors in the fields or televisions, radios or telephones in their homes. They do use some modern farm equipment but it is pulled by teams of horses or mules.

This was John, the driver of our buggy. He had no objection to taking photographs and was only too happy to answer our questions.

This is their school house. Amish children attend Amish one room schoolhouses for 8 years, taught by young Amish woman who have just had 8 years of schooling. No child goes on to higher education. Amish worship services are held every other week in one of the member's homes.

I would liked to have spent longer talking to John about his life, his five children and twenty one grandchildren. He mentioned that one of his sons had left the Amish community to become a truck driver but he still lived close to his father.

Our next visit that day was at the other end of the scale -Hershey's  Chocolate World. Can't say it appealed to me at all

We finally  arrived at Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. The rain had stopped and it was time to have a look round this small town.

We went for a walk along the Susquehanna river with its numerous bridges and then into the town.

This was the stone residence of John Harris Jn (1727-91),the founder of Harrisburg, which he erected at the end of the French and Indian war in 1776

I liked the painted hydrants around the town.

Strawberry Square is where you find some of the original 19th cent retail  businesses. In the 1980s the Old Downtown Harrisburg Historic Commercial District was restored.

How come Doris managed to sit on it so elegantly!

Opposite the Capitol building is State Street with a wonderful range of buildings from different periods.

St Patrick Cathedral

We followed the road back down to the river and retraced our steps back to the hotel.