A visit to Amish country

Another early start today as Amelie and I were visiting Amish country with Kristi. We met up in the lobby to walk to the El, stopping off at Goddess and the Baker to buy muffins and coffee to go. We arrived downtown with time to spare so ate our muffins in Millennium Park before going to the station of the same name where we caught the South Shore line train to Hammond.

It had started to rain just as we arrived at Millennium station and was still doing so when we got to Hammond, where Kristi picked us up. But as we drove towards Shipshewana the skies brightened and we arrived to much improved weather. As we neared the area we started to see Amish buggies on the road, which Kristi told us it was OK to photograph as long as the driver wasn’t really shown. So I managed to get a few shots through the windscreen as she drove.

Menno-hof

Our first stop was at the Menno-Hof museum, where we had a fascinating tour based mainly around a series of short video presentations, each in a different room. We learned a lot about the origins of the Mennonites and Amish, and the other Anabaptist groups, as well as their history of persecution, and their beliefs and way of life.

There were also a number of mock-ups, including a 17th century sailing ship with audio of a woman passenger describing the terrors of crossing the Atlantic and the death on board of her daughter.

Elsewhere there was a room set up like the inside of an Amish house, and lots of details reflecting Amish and Mennonite style as well as beliefs.

Lunch

After a fairly length visit to the museum we drove to Kristi’s recommended lunch place, the Essenhaus, stopping briefly on the way at a grocery store where she wanted to buy something and where Amelie and I got our best chance of photographing a buggy.

Then it was on to the Essenhaus and a tasty buffet lunch. I tried to be restrained as we would be eating dinner later, but the apple crisp for dessert (like a crumble but heavy on the cinnamon and with less toping) was too good not to indulge in a decent portion!

We checked out the shop, but I didn’t find anything to buy. The smaller items in particular I found quite tacky, somewhat to my surprise given the simplicity of Amish style. And the patchwork quilts proved, when Amelie looked closely, to have been made in China!

Back to Chicago

Then it was time to drive back to the station where we easily caught the train back to Chicago, arriving at the hotel soon after six.

In the evening we met up with Isa, who had spent the day visiting the Chicago Institute of Art, and went for dinner at True Foods a few blocks from the hotel. Although billed as a health food option, the menu was far more indulgent than health food places at home. I had an excellent salad with grilled salmon, a good (and reasonably priced) glass of wine and a rich flourless chocolate cake dessert. Great food and great company made for a lovely last evening in Chicago!