In May 2007, my uncle Bill and I enjoyed a day in Amish country.

Lancaster County is home to the Amish, Mennonites, Brethren, and dozens of other plainly-dressed groups, each with their own slightly different traditions. They are all very devout in their faith, have a strong sense of community, and attempt to live as their forefathers did. The Pennsylvania Dutch (originally "Deutsch" which actually means German) first settled near Lancaster around 1730. While they are often the most famous, they are by no means the largest group in the country.

The farming countryside

Clothing is homemade using dark, plain fabrics.

Traditions of the past live side-by-side with the ways of the present.

In the town of Bird-in-Hand, we were delighted to learn we could take a tour in a traditional Amish Buggy.

Lancaster County is filled with interestingly named towns such as Intercourse, Blue Ball, Mount Joy and Paradise. The earliest settlers of Bird-in-Hand were Quakers and Swiss Mennonites, having settled here in 1715. The community was founded in 1734 and takes its name from the saying "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," meaning it's better to keep what you have with certainty than risk losing everything in the attempt to gain more.

Omar hitches up Buster the horse.

Ready to ride

We headed out into the countryside.

In some ways...

... the view never changes!

Farming is essential to the Amish way of life.

All farm work is done without modern machinery.

We took a quick side tour to get a better look at one of the farms.

Laundry was hung outside to dry.

The return trip

An old bridge from the 1700's

Back at the stable!

return