So after a very good night's rest and a breakfast with MY coffee and the Amish Butter Cheese (very delicious and aptly named!) melted on rye bread, I decided that I really didn't want to stay home. So, I got up & dressed and went to Frankenmuth. It's only an hour away, but I figured that it still counts as part of my road trip -- just without the expense of lodging and meals.
I hadn't been there in many years, so it was kind of fun going back. All I really did was walk in & out of all the shops -- popcorn stores, fudge shops, shops with miscellaneous junk. And I really think that my idea of "unique and different" is MUCH different than that of the stores; it all seemed ordinary to me. Maybe I'm just snobby & my standards are too high. But I swear that I'm one of very few people who can actually walk into candy and popcorn stores & bakeries without buying anything. Then again, I have more than enough junk at home from the long part of the trip. I'd kind of planned to have lunch there, seeing as Frankenmuth's claim to fame is their fried chicken, but I really wasn't hungry, so I didn't. But, it was a beautiful, sunny day, and it was good to be outside and out & about.
On the way home, I did drive around Birch Run, the largest outlet mall in this area. None of the shops really appealed to me. (And, as anybody who's been here knows, I have WAY more than enough stuff! I could probably get rid of more than half of what I own & not miss it.) But, I did stop into a chef's shop. I was looking for a cheese plane (mostly for the cheese I just bought) because I couldn't find the old wire one I used to have. I'm guessing I tossed it out in my last drawer de-cluttering fury. They didn't have one I liked, though; I'm very fussy about both price AND how things feel in my hand, so the 2 they had really didn't fit the bill, so I left empty-handed and headed home.
So, including today's little road trip, these are the statistics:
Days away from home: 4.5
Hotel stays: 3 hotel stays
Cities visited: 7
States driven though: 3 (MI, IN and OH)
Number of back-tracking/wrong direction incidents: at least 4
Gas fill-ups (from about 1/4 tank; I don't like to go below that): 3 (not including the one the day before I left)
Miles driven: approximately 720 (Oh, and my car's odometer turned 50,000 miles just as I got started)
Most informative experience: Menno-Hof center
Biggest disappointment: that the entire town of Saugatuck was closed
Best surprise: being told I was the Guest of the Day
Best hotel stay: the first Best Western in Grand Rapids, where I was the Guest of the Day
Worst hotel stay: the Super 8 in Shipshewana
Best hotel breakfast: at the worst hotel
Kinds of animals seen grazing by the road: horses, cows, bison, turkeys, roosters and Llamas!
Number of food souvenirs purchased: I'd rather not say
I'm especially glad that I continued on to Shipshewana to see the Amish area, as I'd been curious about it for so long. While it was definitely tourist- trappy, it also felt kind of...different...there, like they were being honest about their appealing to tourists. And, there were plenty of Amish people in many of the stores I visited.
While I wouldn't say it was exactly fun, I'm glad that I went. It was definitely a growth and learning experience.
Although I really do prefer travelling with other people, I do think that I will be open to travelling alone again.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The Amish Stores
Well, the hotel was another "get what you pay for" experience. It was definitely the cheapest, but also the most uncomfortable. The bed was too soft & a bit lumpy, the window looked out on the parking lot and there were trucks parked right outside, and the curtains were the kind that block out the light, so it was super dark when they were closed. But worse than all that was that not only were the other people in the building really loud (the other desk clerk explained as I was checking out that Amish people tend to walk hard on the heels of their feet which makes more noise, whereas "we" tend to walk on our toes. I'm not sure That's true, but it was an interesting theory), but the water pipes were even louder than the ones at home! And, people started getting up, showering, etc. at about 5:00am. Each time I started to fall asleep, I was awoken again. I finally gave up around 8:00, which is, after all, a normal time to awaken.
At first, it looked like the breakfast was the same: the ubiquitous scrambled eggs (I've decided that they're probably not fresh eggs but probably a powder or something because they're all the same lumpy, kind of watery consistency), bread for toasting, muffins, yogurt & some dry cereal. but then, I lifted the lid of a pot which I assumed was going to be oatmeal, but it was sausage gravy. And the container next to it had 2 biscuits in it. I knew one was for me. I don't know why I like sausage gravy & biscuits so much, but I do. So, I was happy with that -- and with the good coffee and flavored creamer. So, it turned out that the worst hotel had the best breakfast!
After breakfast, I went back to my room for a while, as the first thing I wanted to do was go to the Menno-Hof center and it didn't open until 10:00. After some quality internet time, I got my stuff together. I had the forethought to fill a plastic bag with ice to put in my cooler; I wanted to make sure the cheese I got stayed cool. I checked out and went over to the Menno-Hof Center, where I was the first person there.
The first thing they do at the center is ask you to sign the guest book. I had no problem with that, but then, there was the column asking what church (there wasn't even the option for a temple or other house of worship!) you belong to. I left it blank & the tour guide asked me directly, and I said I didn't. I was kind of preparing for a discussion about why not, but he just said I should put a line through it so that people signing in under my name will fill in the column. (I did notice that most people on previous pages hadn't filled that in)
The tour guide had me sit in one of the extremely comfortable wooden rockers while we waited for more people to show up. He started is spiel and nobody came, so he ushered me into the first room & started the next spiel. Then, 5 more women came in and joined me, which made me feel less conspicuous. Funny thing was that he restarted the speech for them and it was exactly what he'd said to me -- word for word!
The film was very interesting. I learned that the Mennonites split off from the Anabaptists, and the Hutterites and Amish split off from the Mennonites. The Amish are the most...conservative...of the groups, the ones who don't use electricity, tend keep to themselves and dress in the old-style clothes that we usually associate with them. Amish broke off from Mennonites because they felt that the Mennonites were being too influenced by the modern world, using electricity, cars, etc. and that they were losing the message of devotion to Christ. Mennonites dress in modern clothes, have jobs in the rest of society, etc. The film mentioned that while 90% of the Amish children do choose to remain in the Amish community after Rumspringa (the period of time from about 16-18 when the teenagers are encouraged to explore the outside world), most of those who choose not to remain in the Amish community become Mennonites. The views of Hutterites is similar to that of Mennonites in that they do accept the outside world, but they live very communally.
There were lots and lots of displays, tons of things to read. One of the displays explained the clothing that the Amish wear, and it said that men can hold up their pants with suspenders but not with belts. I asked the tour guide why that was, but his only answer was "tradition", and he proceeded to tell me that the men have to wear beards but cannot wear mustaches. (He said the rumor/joke is that communion is given from a communal cup and that the women didn't like the whiskers in the cup!)
They also had a "tornado room" where they shook the floor & blew wind to make you imagine what it's like to be in such a storm. The film proceeded to talk about how Mennonites do go out into the world to help others who've been affected by such storms and disasters, whereas the other 2 groups don't.
I found it all very interesting. And I figured out that I think that what I like about these groups is their very deep sense of community. For example,the tour guide (who I believe is Mennonite) explained how the Amish & Hutterites (not sure about Mennonites) don't have health insurance, so if someone needs an operation, the whole community chips in and pays for it. And, because they pay in cash, local doctors usually discount the fees. If there weren't that pesky devotion to religion thing, I could perhaps see myself gravitating that way.
After that, I went to the town area. Lots and lots of stores filled with tons of stuff. I'm not sure that all of it was authentic; some of the antiques didn't exactly look old. there were lots and lots of books about the Amish, books for the Amish, all of the expected religious plaques and so forth. And quilts. Very expensive quilts. Even things like table runners were $80. Quilts were several hundred dollars, even on sale. It somehow seems odd to me that the Amish culture has become something of a spectacle and that there's so much capitalization involved. But then again, since I went there, I'm part of that cycle, too.
As I was walking around town, there was a smell that was not agreeing with me. (And no, it was NOT the horses; while not a pleasant smell, it's not stomach upsetting.) As I thought about it, I figured it must've been coming from the grain elevator. I guess I don't like the smell of fresh grain!
Still, I was getting hungry, so I decided to find something off the beaten path for lunch. I found a sandwich/bakery shop that looked good, so I went back to my car to get my Nook. (While I can eat alone at a restaurant, I can't do it without something to read.) I had a very good turkey waldorf sandwich -- turkey slices with lettuce and an apple, nut & mayo mixture on your choice of bread. (I chose rye.... so different from the rye I'm used to, but still good.) The restaurant was in a house that they seemed to have added the store part onto: after you order your sandwich, they give you a tray and you can either eat it in that area or take it to another room. I chose a very bright, sunny room with yellow checked wallpaper. It had pictures & the story of the family who'd owned the house. The daughter had become a nurse and lived to be 88 years old. It was so interesting to see pictures of her throughout the years.
I wandered in and out of the stores a little while more until I realized that my tolerance for all of the religious country kitsch was quickly waning. So, I got back into the car and decided to find the cheese factory. Either I have really lost my ability to read a map, or the maps aren't labelled well. It also didn't help that there were not many street signs -- and when there were, the roads were just numbered. So, I again drove several miles in the wrong direction until I realized my mistake. I finally found the place, and while they did have a viewing window, all they were doing was cleaning out the troughs (or whatever they're called). There weren't any actual tours, as I'd been expecting. Still, I'd made the trip all the way out there, so I bought some garlic cheese, dried & salted peas & dried meat sticks.
I decided that I was done with the area and that there really wasn't anything else I was dying to see at this point, so I started home....or so I thought. I headed back the way I came, forgetting that I was trying to make a circle. So, after one last Amish-type store complex (although a lot more commercial) and a pleasant conversation with one of the workers about cats, I got in the car & set the GPS to go home avoiding highways. I figured that, should I see anything of interest, I could stop & do it. Well, the GPS let me go several miles and then started telling me to make a U-turn. Turns out, I'd headed in completely the wrong direction and ended up back-tracking again. But, it was a beautiful day and I was even able to have the car windows for a little while. There weren't many cars on the country roads. There also wasn't any "there" there; I went through a few tiny towns of maybe a couple blocks, but for the most part, it was all farm land. I passed a couple gas stations when the needle was just above half, and I decided there'd be more, so I skipped them, even though the prices were fairly decent. (About $3.65/gal.) The next stations I saw were a lot more expensive, so, being the cheap person I am when it counts the least, I skipped them. Well, there weren't any more towns for quite a while & I started to get worried, as the needle was now between 1/2 and 1/4 -- not a place I like it to fall. But then, I saw a Dollar General, so I figured there must be civilization nearby. I pulled in there, and I was only 1/2 mile from another gas station, so I took that opportunity.
After driving for 2 1/2 hours, I was in Sylvania, OH. I hadn't seen anything of interest & I was getting tired, so I decided to change the plan and take the freeway after all. I know there are plenty of things to do in Toledo, and I do have friends who live there -- in fact, they were the first exit from the freeway, but I was just too tired to socialize and I really didn't want to try to find things to do there. So, I just continued on home. And I will say that the GPS is amazing at estimating the time you'll arrive some place -- it was right on the dot! (After it adjusted for the right way home instead of the way it suggested.)
I think 4 days was a sufficient amount of time for my first solo road trip. I was proud of myself for doing it, for continuing on (with the encouragement of my road trip friend ;) ) when I was about to give up, and for exploring things on my own. Hopefully, I will be more willing to do more things in the future, even if I don't have anybody to do them with.
I do have several more days off. I'm considering perhaps going to Frankenmuth tomorrow (in keeping with the spirit of religious country kitsch). Or not. But for tonight, I'll be happy to be back in my own bed. And Chloe was most glad to see me.
At first, it looked like the breakfast was the same: the ubiquitous scrambled eggs (I've decided that they're probably not fresh eggs but probably a powder or something because they're all the same lumpy, kind of watery consistency), bread for toasting, muffins, yogurt & some dry cereal. but then, I lifted the lid of a pot which I assumed was going to be oatmeal, but it was sausage gravy. And the container next to it had 2 biscuits in it. I knew one was for me. I don't know why I like sausage gravy & biscuits so much, but I do. So, I was happy with that -- and with the good coffee and flavored creamer. So, it turned out that the worst hotel had the best breakfast!
After breakfast, I went back to my room for a while, as the first thing I wanted to do was go to the Menno-Hof center and it didn't open until 10:00. After some quality internet time, I got my stuff together. I had the forethought to fill a plastic bag with ice to put in my cooler; I wanted to make sure the cheese I got stayed cool. I checked out and went over to the Menno-Hof Center, where I was the first person there.
The first thing they do at the center is ask you to sign the guest book. I had no problem with that, but then, there was the column asking what church (there wasn't even the option for a temple or other house of worship!) you belong to. I left it blank & the tour guide asked me directly, and I said I didn't. I was kind of preparing for a discussion about why not, but he just said I should put a line through it so that people signing in under my name will fill in the column. (I did notice that most people on previous pages hadn't filled that in)
The tour guide had me sit in one of the extremely comfortable wooden rockers while we waited for more people to show up. He started is spiel and nobody came, so he ushered me into the first room & started the next spiel. Then, 5 more women came in and joined me, which made me feel less conspicuous. Funny thing was that he restarted the speech for them and it was exactly what he'd said to me -- word for word!
The film was very interesting. I learned that the Mennonites split off from the Anabaptists, and the Hutterites and Amish split off from the Mennonites. The Amish are the most...conservative...of the groups, the ones who don't use electricity, tend keep to themselves and dress in the old-style clothes that we usually associate with them. Amish broke off from Mennonites because they felt that the Mennonites were being too influenced by the modern world, using electricity, cars, etc. and that they were losing the message of devotion to Christ. Mennonites dress in modern clothes, have jobs in the rest of society, etc. The film mentioned that while 90% of the Amish children do choose to remain in the Amish community after Rumspringa (the period of time from about 16-18 when the teenagers are encouraged to explore the outside world), most of those who choose not to remain in the Amish community become Mennonites. The views of Hutterites is similar to that of Mennonites in that they do accept the outside world, but they live very communally.
There were lots and lots of displays, tons of things to read. One of the displays explained the clothing that the Amish wear, and it said that men can hold up their pants with suspenders but not with belts. I asked the tour guide why that was, but his only answer was "tradition", and he proceeded to tell me that the men have to wear beards but cannot wear mustaches. (He said the rumor/joke is that communion is given from a communal cup and that the women didn't like the whiskers in the cup!)
They also had a "tornado room" where they shook the floor & blew wind to make you imagine what it's like to be in such a storm. The film proceeded to talk about how Mennonites do go out into the world to help others who've been affected by such storms and disasters, whereas the other 2 groups don't.
I found it all very interesting. And I figured out that I think that what I like about these groups is their very deep sense of community. For example,the tour guide (who I believe is Mennonite) explained how the Amish & Hutterites (not sure about Mennonites) don't have health insurance, so if someone needs an operation, the whole community chips in and pays for it. And, because they pay in cash, local doctors usually discount the fees. If there weren't that pesky devotion to religion thing, I could perhaps see myself gravitating that way.
After that, I went to the town area. Lots and lots of stores filled with tons of stuff. I'm not sure that all of it was authentic; some of the antiques didn't exactly look old. there were lots and lots of books about the Amish, books for the Amish, all of the expected religious plaques and so forth. And quilts. Very expensive quilts. Even things like table runners were $80. Quilts were several hundred dollars, even on sale. It somehow seems odd to me that the Amish culture has become something of a spectacle and that there's so much capitalization involved. But then again, since I went there, I'm part of that cycle, too.
As I was walking around town, there was a smell that was not agreeing with me. (And no, it was NOT the horses; while not a pleasant smell, it's not stomach upsetting.) As I thought about it, I figured it must've been coming from the grain elevator. I guess I don't like the smell of fresh grain!
Still, I was getting hungry, so I decided to find something off the beaten path for lunch. I found a sandwich/bakery shop that looked good, so I went back to my car to get my Nook. (While I can eat alone at a restaurant, I can't do it without something to read.) I had a very good turkey waldorf sandwich -- turkey slices with lettuce and an apple, nut & mayo mixture on your choice of bread. (I chose rye.... so different from the rye I'm used to, but still good.) The restaurant was in a house that they seemed to have added the store part onto: after you order your sandwich, they give you a tray and you can either eat it in that area or take it to another room. I chose a very bright, sunny room with yellow checked wallpaper. It had pictures & the story of the family who'd owned the house. The daughter had become a nurse and lived to be 88 years old. It was so interesting to see pictures of her throughout the years.
I wandered in and out of the stores a little while more until I realized that my tolerance for all of the religious country kitsch was quickly waning. So, I got back into the car and decided to find the cheese factory. Either I have really lost my ability to read a map, or the maps aren't labelled well. It also didn't help that there were not many street signs -- and when there were, the roads were just numbered. So, I again drove several miles in the wrong direction until I realized my mistake. I finally found the place, and while they did have a viewing window, all they were doing was cleaning out the troughs (or whatever they're called). There weren't any actual tours, as I'd been expecting. Still, I'd made the trip all the way out there, so I bought some garlic cheese, dried & salted peas & dried meat sticks.
I decided that I was done with the area and that there really wasn't anything else I was dying to see at this point, so I started home....or so I thought. I headed back the way I came, forgetting that I was trying to make a circle. So, after one last Amish-type store complex (although a lot more commercial) and a pleasant conversation with one of the workers about cats, I got in the car & set the GPS to go home avoiding highways. I figured that, should I see anything of interest, I could stop & do it. Well, the GPS let me go several miles and then started telling me to make a U-turn. Turns out, I'd headed in completely the wrong direction and ended up back-tracking again. But, it was a beautiful day and I was even able to have the car windows for a little while. There weren't many cars on the country roads. There also wasn't any "there" there; I went through a few tiny towns of maybe a couple blocks, but for the most part, it was all farm land. I passed a couple gas stations when the needle was just above half, and I decided there'd be more, so I skipped them, even though the prices were fairly decent. (About $3.65/gal.) The next stations I saw were a lot more expensive, so, being the cheap person I am when it counts the least, I skipped them. Well, there weren't any more towns for quite a while & I started to get worried, as the needle was now between 1/2 and 1/4 -- not a place I like it to fall. But then, I saw a Dollar General, so I figured there must be civilization nearby. I pulled in there, and I was only 1/2 mile from another gas station, so I took that opportunity.
After driving for 2 1/2 hours, I was in Sylvania, OH. I hadn't seen anything of interest & I was getting tired, so I decided to change the plan and take the freeway after all. I know there are plenty of things to do in Toledo, and I do have friends who live there -- in fact, they were the first exit from the freeway, but I was just too tired to socialize and I really didn't want to try to find things to do there. So, I just continued on home. And I will say that the GPS is amazing at estimating the time you'll arrive some place -- it was right on the dot! (After it adjusted for the right way home instead of the way it suggested.)
I think 4 days was a sufficient amount of time for my first solo road trip. I was proud of myself for doing it, for continuing on (with the encouragement of my road trip friend ;) ) when I was about to give up, and for exploring things on my own. Hopefully, I will be more willing to do more things in the future, even if I don't have anybody to do them with.
I do have several more days off. I'm considering perhaps going to Frankenmuth tomorrow (in keeping with the spirit of religious country kitsch). Or not. But for tonight, I'll be happy to be back in my own bed. And Chloe was most glad to see me.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Sun Came Out!
So after a "you get what you pay for" breakfast (Watery batter makes soggy, chewy waffles, and the coffee was unpotable.Good thing there was tea, fresh fruit and hard boiled eggs), I decided to go to the South Bend Chocolate Factory. After talking to the clerk at the hotel, it seemed going to Elkhart was a silly move, as the only thing of interest that they have is a camper & rv museum. But, she did say that the chocolate factory was good, and that Shipshewana would be open. So, I backtracked a half hour to South Bend to the chocolate factory.
As soon as you get near the door, you can smell the chocolate. It's not a very big factory nor very automated. They do have conveyor belts (a la "I Love Lucy), but they seemed to go rather slowly. Most things were done by hand. We saw about a half dozen women packaging malted milk balls. It seemed like an unnecessarily laborious process: each person fills a bag just like you would at home, then weighs it, hot seals it & puts a label on it. They don't even have a system where one person does one part of it and another person does a different part. And while we didn't see it, the tour guide told us that they also hand dip all of their chocolate covered cherries because the cherries break if machines do it. Everyone also got to dip a plastic spoon in chocolate to take home as a souvenir. They showed us a very lame attempt at a humorous video, but I think its main purpose was to give the tour guide a break & to let our chocolate spoons dry. There was also a museum of sorts, but it was pretty much just chocolate tins that have been used over the years. In their shop, they sell both the perfect candies (at about $18/lb) and the "almost perfect" ones for $9/lb. I did indulge in a small assortment of the almost perfect ones; I've always had a soft spot for the underdog. ;)
After the chocolate factory, I decided that I'd go to Shipshewana after all -- passing right through Elkhart, where I'd come from. Oh well, live & learn.
I knew I was nearing the right place when I saw a huge Amish restaurant whose parking lot was completely filled. Then, I saw a horse & buggy, and a little further down the block, an Amish woman was standing on a corner. And suddenly, my spirits lifted. When I got here, I found that, indeed, shops ARE open. And, as if the heavens knew that the last few days hadn't been what I'd been hoping for, the sun came out and it warmed up a little. (I think the bank sign said it was 42 degrees at one point!) I went into Yoder's Red Barn Shoppes and found that they were giving away fresh hot pretzels for free! It was WWWAAAAYYYY better than Auntie Anne's or Wetzel's Pretzels. I wandered in & out of the few stores in there & then went next door to Yoder's Meat & Cheese barn. I got some amazing and appropriately named Amish Butter Cheese, several kinds of Yoder's popcorn (blue, which is supposed to be sweeter, purple because I like the color & mushroom which is supposed to pop into spheres) and a couple other things.
After that, I went over to the visitors' center, which was most helpful. The woman (also named Jody!) gave me the visitor's guide that I actually already had, but she marked different things of interest on it for me. She also told me of hotels. I told her what I really needed was internet. She even called the Super 8 for me to see if they had internet & to check the rate. They did, and when she told me the rate, I decided that was a very good price, so I decided to check in there.
I've noticed that when travelling alone, I have a problem with not knowing where I'm going to sleep at night, so instead of looking down the block at the other 3 hotels, I just took this one. Well, it looked like I was the only one who checked in. (Although, when I asked the clerk, he said there are a lot of people here, but they're all Amish and came together in a couple big vans, which is why there are no other cars.) It's another "you get what you pay for" experience: the bed seems a little lumpy, the bathroom door doesn't quite close, the building smells a little funny -- in general, it seems a little old. On the other hand, the paper products are a little softer than what the Best Western had. And, the desk clerk is quite friendly and helped me with my internet issues. (When I first got here, it connected but then lost the internet. Turns out that their server went down.) And, he brought out his brand, new shiny computer & told me I should get a new one. I think my computer felt jealous because after we got it connected to the internet, I brought it back to my room, plugged it in, and it lost all of the battery power it had -- and then, it turned itself off completely. (Of course, it couldn't have had anything to do with the fact that earlier in the day, my water bottle had emptied in my backpack. But, there were several books & maps between the bottle & the computer, & the computer didn't feel at all wet. Of course, being me, I started panicking that my computer was dead and I'd have to try to figure out the rest of my trip on my Nook -- or maybe on a MAP. Still, I left the computer plugged in just in case it changed its mind & went to dinner. I was elated to find that when I returned, the computer had indeed recharged itself, it came back on, and after only 3-4 tries, I was able to get back on the internet -- a very good thing, when the town closes between 4:30 and 8pm.)
After I checked into the hotel, I went in search of Yoder's Popcorn Shoppe because it was written up in the book "1000 Places to See Before You Die." (Most of the things I've seen have been because of that book,) Well, I managed to head in the wrong direction & it only took me 5 miles or so to realize it. So, I turned around & went back in the right direction. When I finally found the store, it was, indeed, just a shop with all things popcorn. But, since I made the trip (and the girl handed me a bag of popcorn when I walked in), I felt obligated to buy a couple things. A small bag of red popcorn this time, and some cheese popcorn. I then came back into town and checked out a store that said "Neat Stuff" outside, another "department" store, and a bulk food & feed store. I also found the streets that have all of the little shops I want to check out tomorrow, after I go to Menno-Hof, which gives the history of the Amish and Mennonites.
I had dinner at the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery, which a couple people raved about. There were quite a few Amish people there, so I thought that was a good sign. It was ok. The noodles were very mushy, but the fried chicken tasted very fresh (I'd rather not think about why!) & was nicely coated. I was too full for dessert, so I didn't even look at the menu, despite the fact that they offer 25 kinds of pie. But, I did get some cookies at the bakery because my dad had told me that he got the best cookies he's ever had when he was in Amish country. I had one, and it was pretty good. (For better or worse, all of my souvenirs from this trip have been edible -- although I haven't really eaten any yet. Lol.)
I do wonder why I have such an attraction to the Amish way of life; I'm soooo not religious and I don't really care for the style of their handicrafts or clothing. Maybe it's because it represents a simpler kind of life. I can't decide how I feel being here & "spying" on another culture's lifestyle. Clearly, they're used to it & embrace it. But it feels a little voyeuristic too. But, it is something I've been curious about and have wanted to see for many, many years, so I'm glad I'm here.
Most things are closed on Friday (Good Friday), so I don't know if I'll stay the night or head home; I guess I'll see how much I find to do tomorrow.
(Sorry, folks, no pictures today; the few I took at the chocolate factory didn't really turn out, and it's frowned upon to take pictures of Amish people.)
As soon as you get near the door, you can smell the chocolate. It's not a very big factory nor very automated. They do have conveyor belts (a la "I Love Lucy), but they seemed to go rather slowly. Most things were done by hand. We saw about a half dozen women packaging malted milk balls. It seemed like an unnecessarily laborious process: each person fills a bag just like you would at home, then weighs it, hot seals it & puts a label on it. They don't even have a system where one person does one part of it and another person does a different part. And while we didn't see it, the tour guide told us that they also hand dip all of their chocolate covered cherries because the cherries break if machines do it. Everyone also got to dip a plastic spoon in chocolate to take home as a souvenir. They showed us a very lame attempt at a humorous video, but I think its main purpose was to give the tour guide a break & to let our chocolate spoons dry. There was also a museum of sorts, but it was pretty much just chocolate tins that have been used over the years. In their shop, they sell both the perfect candies (at about $18/lb) and the "almost perfect" ones for $9/lb. I did indulge in a small assortment of the almost perfect ones; I've always had a soft spot for the underdog. ;)
After the chocolate factory, I decided that I'd go to Shipshewana after all -- passing right through Elkhart, where I'd come from. Oh well, live & learn.
I knew I was nearing the right place when I saw a huge Amish restaurant whose parking lot was completely filled. Then, I saw a horse & buggy, and a little further down the block, an Amish woman was standing on a corner. And suddenly, my spirits lifted. When I got here, I found that, indeed, shops ARE open. And, as if the heavens knew that the last few days hadn't been what I'd been hoping for, the sun came out and it warmed up a little. (I think the bank sign said it was 42 degrees at one point!) I went into Yoder's Red Barn Shoppes and found that they were giving away fresh hot pretzels for free! It was WWWAAAAYYYY better than Auntie Anne's or Wetzel's Pretzels. I wandered in & out of the few stores in there & then went next door to Yoder's Meat & Cheese barn. I got some amazing and appropriately named Amish Butter Cheese, several kinds of Yoder's popcorn (blue, which is supposed to be sweeter, purple because I like the color & mushroom which is supposed to pop into spheres) and a couple other things.
After that, I went over to the visitors' center, which was most helpful. The woman (also named Jody!) gave me the visitor's guide that I actually already had, but she marked different things of interest on it for me. She also told me of hotels. I told her what I really needed was internet. She even called the Super 8 for me to see if they had internet & to check the rate. They did, and when she told me the rate, I decided that was a very good price, so I decided to check in there.
I've noticed that when travelling alone, I have a problem with not knowing where I'm going to sleep at night, so instead of looking down the block at the other 3 hotels, I just took this one. Well, it looked like I was the only one who checked in. (Although, when I asked the clerk, he said there are a lot of people here, but they're all Amish and came together in a couple big vans, which is why there are no other cars.) It's another "you get what you pay for" experience: the bed seems a little lumpy, the bathroom door doesn't quite close, the building smells a little funny -- in general, it seems a little old. On the other hand, the paper products are a little softer than what the Best Western had. And, the desk clerk is quite friendly and helped me with my internet issues. (When I first got here, it connected but then lost the internet. Turns out that their server went down.) And, he brought out his brand, new shiny computer & told me I should get a new one. I think my computer felt jealous because after we got it connected to the internet, I brought it back to my room, plugged it in, and it lost all of the battery power it had -- and then, it turned itself off completely. (Of course, it couldn't have had anything to do with the fact that earlier in the day, my water bottle had emptied in my backpack. But, there were several books & maps between the bottle & the computer, & the computer didn't feel at all wet. Of course, being me, I started panicking that my computer was dead and I'd have to try to figure out the rest of my trip on my Nook -- or maybe on a MAP. Still, I left the computer plugged in just in case it changed its mind & went to dinner. I was elated to find that when I returned, the computer had indeed recharged itself, it came back on, and after only 3-4 tries, I was able to get back on the internet -- a very good thing, when the town closes between 4:30 and 8pm.)
After I checked into the hotel, I went in search of Yoder's Popcorn Shoppe because it was written up in the book "1000 Places to See Before You Die." (Most of the things I've seen have been because of that book,) Well, I managed to head in the wrong direction & it only took me 5 miles or so to realize it. So, I turned around & went back in the right direction. When I finally found the store, it was, indeed, just a shop with all things popcorn. But, since I made the trip (and the girl handed me a bag of popcorn when I walked in), I felt obligated to buy a couple things. A small bag of red popcorn this time, and some cheese popcorn. I then came back into town and checked out a store that said "Neat Stuff" outside, another "department" store, and a bulk food & feed store. I also found the streets that have all of the little shops I want to check out tomorrow, after I go to Menno-Hof, which gives the history of the Amish and Mennonites.
I had dinner at the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery, which a couple people raved about. There were quite a few Amish people there, so I thought that was a good sign. It was ok. The noodles were very mushy, but the fried chicken tasted very fresh (I'd rather not think about why!) & was nicely coated. I was too full for dessert, so I didn't even look at the menu, despite the fact that they offer 25 kinds of pie. But, I did get some cookies at the bakery because my dad had told me that he got the best cookies he's ever had when he was in Amish country. I had one, and it was pretty good. (For better or worse, all of my souvenirs from this trip have been edible -- although I haven't really eaten any yet. Lol.)
I do wonder why I have such an attraction to the Amish way of life; I'm soooo not religious and I don't really care for the style of their handicrafts or clothing. Maybe it's because it represents a simpler kind of life. I can't decide how I feel being here & "spying" on another culture's lifestyle. Clearly, they're used to it & embrace it. But it feels a little voyeuristic too. But, it is something I've been curious about and have wanted to see for many, many years, so I'm glad I'm here.
Most things are closed on Friday (Good Friday), so I don't know if I'll stay the night or head home; I guess I'll see how much I find to do tomorrow.
(Sorry, folks, no pictures today; the few I took at the chocolate factory didn't really turn out, and it's frowned upon to take pictures of Amish people.)
Gray day
I slept only fair in my fancy room; the forced air heaters are LOUD and woke me almost every time they went on. So, there was lots of tossing and turning. But then, I'm used to that because of the noisy neighbors in my apartment.
My breakfast was delivered a few minutes after 9. They did send what I asked for, and it was nice to be able to eat it in my room, with the tv & computer. But, it wasn't very good; it was the same food they serve in the breakfast area (covered by paper & plastic plates), so if I'd gone down there, I could've gotten something instead of the watery/rubbery eggs. The carrot muffins weren't bad, though.
They put a receipt under my door saying that they participate in Express Checkout and all I had to do was leave my key card in the room, so that's what I did. Still, it felt weird to just walk out like that.
I was excited about going to the Frederik Meijer Botanical Gardens & Sculpture park. All the reviews were rather impressive. When I got there, it was apparently children & old people day -- mostly children. There were school groups, pre-school groups and lots of moms and their children. Lots of babies, too. And then, there was the van from a senior citizen complex.
When I went in, the clerk told me the price & I handed her my credit card & then asked if there was a AAA discount or any other discount, and she said, "Oh, it's too late now. And it's only 50 cents." I didn't feel like arguing about it, but I KNOW there is a way to override/void transactions.
I decided to start with the sculptures. There was an exhibit by....someone whose name escapes me at the moment. (I think it was Henneke ....something or other. They were unisex figures, all in rather pensive poses. After that, I wandered through the cactus exhibit, and then another plant area that had really cool pitcher plants of all sizes.
(I took lots of pictures of them, but I did it with my camera instead of my phone & I'm having trouble uploading them at the moment.
I then went outside to look at the sculptures. There were some very cool ones. My favorite was of a very realistic -- albeit huge -- man lying on a stone.
Even his face looked slightly flushed! There were a lot of other sculptures that were interesting, but a large part of the gardens was closed...for construction, of course. I would imagine that in the spring and summer, it's lovely, but on a cold, gray, winter-like day, it was kind of sad & desolate -- especially with their being partial sculptures, mud and few people. And they apparently weren't prepared to tell anybody anything.
After that, I went inside & looked at the caterpillars. A very enthusiastic docent practically grabbed me to to show me how to find them. (There weren't all that many.) I was not terribly impressed and was about to leave when another docent ushered me into the butterfly area. It was incredibly warm & humid -- my flat straight hair went back to its frizzy, curly self! There were, indeed, lots of butterflies of all kinds and colors in there.
And, it was a nice display, but not really any better -- or different -- than the one at the Detroit Zoo that I'd been to many years ago. Everything I read said to plan 2, 4 or more hours. I struggled to fill 2 hours there, but I think it was because so much was closed. So, after the obligatory stroll through the gift shop, I decided to be on my way.
Holland wasn't very far and I had fond memories of it from a childhood trip, so I decided to head there. And thanks to my GPS, I found it. Well, Holland is now a mass of one strip mall after another, with all the chains we don't have in SE Michigan. I did find the Klompen and Dutch chinaware (I forgot the real name) shop. I was pretty much the only one there, and one of the women who was making the ceramics explained the whole process to me. She said that they are the only factory that does the whole process start to finish, from the pouring of the clay into the mold to the firing, glazing and painting. I did watch them work for a little while. I was tempted to buy a windmill with a little wooden (well, china) shoe, but I realized it would just be more junk to not dust. And while I could appreciate the artistry involved, all of the stuff looked kind of...tacky. So, I decided to pass and move on. As I was driving, I saw what looked like the Holland that I remembered, so I drove in. Turns out, it was a very touristy area -- and it was CLOSED! I would've enjoyed the little shops, had they been open, but as it was, it looked like a sad movie set. Some of the stores even had goods inside, waiting for the spring/summer to begin.
So, having heard good things about Saugatuck, I decided to head there. It was another short ride...and another closed town. I got out & walked around for a bit, but the only things open were a drug store, a kitchen goods store and a Kilwin's that was selling popcorn for $20 a bag! I decided to head towards Indiana, but it occurred to me that I hadn't eaten & I was getting hungry -- and my sinus headache was coming back. I ended up going through Douglas, MI and had lunch at a very kitschy little restaurant called the Kuntry Kitchen. Their menu was overly cutesy & countrified, with things like "pork wif mash taters". But, it was the kind of place that gives you a smile because it's so hokey. I ordered a roast beef sandwich, but they were out of it, so I ended up with a hamburger -- and it actually overlapped the bun! It was kind of plain, except for the condiments, but it was actually a very good burger.
I was feeling like I was spinning my wheels & was also feeling rather discouraged, since I'd found the places I wanted to go but there was no "there" there. So I went to this little library and went online to see if there was anything in Indiana worth heading towards. While I was there & feeling like this trip was a really bad idea (for this time of year), I got a text from my former "pilot" from the road trip 3 1/2 years ago. She encouraged me to continue on, saying I'd regret it if I just went home after having planned to go away. So, knowing that she's always right about such things, I decided to soldier on to Elkhart, IN. And, I did what we did on our road trip: I didn't make a reservation & just walked into the hotel. I chose another Best Western, and almost as soon as I was handed the key card, I managed to lose it! I spent a good 15 minutes at the car looking for it. I'm sure I just put it down somewhere -- or in something -- but for the life of me, I couldn't find it. So, I sheepishly went to the desk and told the girl that I'd lost it. She gave me 2 more so that I could have a spare.
This Best Western isn't as nice as yesterday's, of course. And it's right behind a gas station.The room is the standard you'd expect, but the rest of the hotel doesn't have quite the amenities as the other one. room does not compare to yesterday's, of course. There are 2 queen beds & the usual furniture, a fridge & coffee maker, but no microwave.
And, did want to swim, although this pool is tiny. (I didn't swim yesterday, but I should have -- or at least, sat in the hot tub.) Four strokes is about all it takes to make it to the other side of the pool! Still, I swam for a little while & got rid of some of the stiffness that comes from sitting in a car for too long.Thisd instead of the little toiletry bottles of shampoo & conditioner (that I didn't take and, it turns out, I forgot to pack), there are dispensers in the shower. Oh well. Good thing there are stores all over the place.
After swimming, I decided to watch tv for a little while. And suddenly, it was after 9 and I hadn't eaten yet! The girl at the desk told me of a family restaurant that's open 24 hours, so I looked up reviews online. It looked decent enough, so I went there. I had a chicken croissant sandwich (broiled chicken breast, swiss cheese & bacon on a croissant) that came with soup and I chose a salad for my side dish. It wasn't bad. This is apparently a popular restaurant; while I was eating, a party of at least 20 people came in -- and it was going on 10:00pm!
Tomorrow, I'm going to try for the Amish area. I know that I'm right near one. And there's a chocolate factory not too far away. I'm not sure what I'll do next, as this seems to be a really off time for doing this kind of thing. If nothing else, I guess I'm scoping out a road trip plan for a different season.
My breakfast was delivered a few minutes after 9. They did send what I asked for, and it was nice to be able to eat it in my room, with the tv & computer. But, it wasn't very good; it was the same food they serve in the breakfast area (covered by paper & plastic plates), so if I'd gone down there, I could've gotten something instead of the watery/rubbery eggs. The carrot muffins weren't bad, though.
They put a receipt under my door saying that they participate in Express Checkout and all I had to do was leave my key card in the room, so that's what I did. Still, it felt weird to just walk out like that.
I was excited about going to the Frederik Meijer Botanical Gardens & Sculpture park. All the reviews were rather impressive. When I got there, it was apparently children & old people day -- mostly children. There were school groups, pre-school groups and lots of moms and their children. Lots of babies, too. And then, there was the van from a senior citizen complex.
When I went in, the clerk told me the price & I handed her my credit card & then asked if there was a AAA discount or any other discount, and she said, "Oh, it's too late now. And it's only 50 cents." I didn't feel like arguing about it, but I KNOW there is a way to override/void transactions.
I decided to start with the sculptures. There was an exhibit by....someone whose name escapes me at the moment. (I think it was Henneke ....something or other. They were unisex figures, all in rather pensive poses. After that, I wandered through the cactus exhibit, and then another plant area that had really cool pitcher plants of all sizes.
(I took lots of pictures of them, but I did it with my camera instead of my phone & I'm having trouble uploading them at the moment.
I then went outside to look at the sculptures. There were some very cool ones. My favorite was of a very realistic -- albeit huge -- man lying on a stone.
Even his face looked slightly flushed! There were a lot of other sculptures that were interesting, but a large part of the gardens was closed...for construction, of course. I would imagine that in the spring and summer, it's lovely, but on a cold, gray, winter-like day, it was kind of sad & desolate -- especially with their being partial sculptures, mud and few people. And they apparently weren't prepared to tell anybody anything.
After that, I went inside & looked at the caterpillars. A very enthusiastic docent practically grabbed me to to show me how to find them. (There weren't all that many.) I was not terribly impressed and was about to leave when another docent ushered me into the butterfly area. It was incredibly warm & humid -- my flat straight hair went back to its frizzy, curly self! There were, indeed, lots of butterflies of all kinds and colors in there.
Holland wasn't very far and I had fond memories of it from a childhood trip, so I decided to head there. And thanks to my GPS, I found it. Well, Holland is now a mass of one strip mall after another, with all the chains we don't have in SE Michigan. I did find the Klompen and Dutch chinaware (I forgot the real name) shop. I was pretty much the only one there, and one of the women who was making the ceramics explained the whole process to me. She said that they are the only factory that does the whole process start to finish, from the pouring of the clay into the mold to the firing, glazing and painting. I did watch them work for a little while. I was tempted to buy a windmill with a little wooden (well, china) shoe, but I realized it would just be more junk to not dust. And while I could appreciate the artistry involved, all of the stuff looked kind of...tacky. So, I decided to pass and move on. As I was driving, I saw what looked like the Holland that I remembered, so I drove in. Turns out, it was a very touristy area -- and it was CLOSED! I would've enjoyed the little shops, had they been open, but as it was, it looked like a sad movie set. Some of the stores even had goods inside, waiting for the spring/summer to begin.
So, having heard good things about Saugatuck, I decided to head there. It was another short ride...and another closed town. I got out & walked around for a bit, but the only things open were a drug store, a kitchen goods store and a Kilwin's that was selling popcorn for $20 a bag! I decided to head towards Indiana, but it occurred to me that I hadn't eaten & I was getting hungry -- and my sinus headache was coming back. I ended up going through Douglas, MI and had lunch at a very kitschy little restaurant called the Kuntry Kitchen. Their menu was overly cutesy & countrified, with things like "pork wif mash taters". But, it was the kind of place that gives you a smile because it's so hokey. I ordered a roast beef sandwich, but they were out of it, so I ended up with a hamburger -- and it actually overlapped the bun! It was kind of plain, except for the condiments, but it was actually a very good burger.
I was feeling like I was spinning my wheels & was also feeling rather discouraged, since I'd found the places I wanted to go but there was no "there" there. So I went to this little library and went online to see if there was anything in Indiana worth heading towards. While I was there & feeling like this trip was a really bad idea (for this time of year), I got a text from my former "pilot" from the road trip 3 1/2 years ago. She encouraged me to continue on, saying I'd regret it if I just went home after having planned to go away. So, knowing that she's always right about such things, I decided to soldier on to Elkhart, IN. And, I did what we did on our road trip: I didn't make a reservation & just walked into the hotel. I chose another Best Western, and almost as soon as I was handed the key card, I managed to lose it! I spent a good 15 minutes at the car looking for it. I'm sure I just put it down somewhere -- or in something -- but for the life of me, I couldn't find it. So, I sheepishly went to the desk and told the girl that I'd lost it. She gave me 2 more so that I could have a spare.
This Best Western isn't as nice as yesterday's, of course. And it's right behind a gas station.The room is the standard you'd expect, but the rest of the hotel doesn't have quite the amenities as the other one. room does not compare to yesterday's, of course. There are 2 queen beds & the usual furniture, a fridge & coffee maker, but no microwave.
And, did want to swim, although this pool is tiny. (I didn't swim yesterday, but I should have -- or at least, sat in the hot tub.) Four strokes is about all it takes to make it to the other side of the pool! Still, I swam for a little while & got rid of some of the stiffness that comes from sitting in a car for too long.Thisd instead of the little toiletry bottles of shampoo & conditioner (that I didn't take and, it turns out, I forgot to pack), there are dispensers in the shower. Oh well. Good thing there are stores all over the place.
After swimming, I decided to watch tv for a little while. And suddenly, it was after 9 and I hadn't eaten yet! The girl at the desk told me of a family restaurant that's open 24 hours, so I looked up reviews online. It looked decent enough, so I went there. I had a chicken croissant sandwich (broiled chicken breast, swiss cheese & bacon on a croissant) that came with soup and I chose a salad for my side dish. It wasn't bad. This is apparently a popular restaurant; while I was eating, a party of at least 20 people came in -- and it was going on 10:00pm!
Tomorrow, I'm going to try for the Amish area. I know that I'm right near one. And there's a chocolate factory not too far away. I'm not sure what I'll do next, as this seems to be a really off time for doing this kind of thing. If nothing else, I guess I'm scoping out a road trip plan for a different season.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Slow start
I got off to a slow start this morning. I'd thought I'd leave by 9, but it was after 10 when I left. My stomach was a little upset (NOT NERVES!) and I couldn't decide if I wanted to go out for breakfast of just have tea and toast. So, I puttered around, made sure Chloe wouldn't get locked in any rooms while I decided.
I decided that maybe pancakes would be a good idea. I started to go to Ram's Horn. (I wasn't actually out of town yet, after all. :P) But, when I pulled in, it felt very much like an old people's place, seeing as all the spaces in front were reserved for handicapped drivers, and the only way into the restaurant was by ramp. So, I pulled out of there & went to Sunrise Cafe. Also a chain (albeit mostly defunct), but I'd never actually gone there, so I figured it was ok. I ordered 1/2 order of pancakes and only ate half of that. Then, I was on my way.
It's not the most beautiful time for a road trip. It's very gray out, and WINDY. My poor little (still unnamed because I can't remember the name that was suggested that I finally liked) car really felt the effects of the wind, being pushed a bit, especially around curves & near trucks. But, my GPS did an excellent job of getting me where I needed to be.
Turns out, I'm not actually IN Grand Rapids -- I'm about 6 miles away, in Cascade. The hotel's right off a main road & freeway. But, given the elephants who live above me, I don't think it'll bother me.I got here earlier than I'd planned, but I decided to stop at the hotel anyhow & let them know I was here. Well, when I walked in, they said that I'm the Guest of the Day! I asked what that meant. The woman at the reception desk said it means that I'm upgraded to a suite, they'll bring breakfast to me, and then she gave me a bag of M&Ms (to go with the ones I got at the Honda dealer last week. Lol.) The room is very nice. The bedroom has a king size bed, 2 nightstands, a tv, a full bathroom & a kitchenette. (A little fridge and microwave. The sitting room has a love seat, chair & ottoman, end tables, coffee table desk, another tv & another full size bathroom! Quite nice accommodations for the first night. There is indeed a pool & hot tub, which I may check out later.
After I checked in & brought my stuff in, I decided to go to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. I'd totally forgotten about how big cities charge for parking, which, as most people know, is a pet peeve of mine. I found the structure across from the museum (I didn't have any change, so I didn't even bother looking at the meters) & figured that vacation money is different than real money & swallowed hard at the $1/30 minute charge.
The museum had a little bit of everything. For an extra charge, there was a Titanic exhibit, but I didn't feel like seeing that. But there was plenty in the rest of the museum -- although it's LOTS of reading, which I got tired of pretty fast. They had exhibits about how electricity works, a very interesting one about a local American Indian tribe, an Old Town (which was rather lame, seeing as you couldn't go into any of the shop replicas), some fossils, a skeleton of a whale, another of a dinosaur, and those stuffed wild animals that I was never fond of. There were also some exhibits & history about money, stamps and games. (Sad that games I played with as a kid have made it to museum status.)
(My spirograph had a red tray. Lol.)
I got pretty tired at the museum so I decided to come back to the hotel. Trying to decide what to do for dinner. (I skipped lunch, which is likely why I'm so tired.) I saw them setting up a little buffet-like thing of hot dogs & so forth, but I don't think I want that. But the popcorn smelled good. Lol. There seem to be lots of chains -- a Macaroni Grill is right across the street, and a Brann's (which I've heard of but never been to) is right next door. Deciding if that breaks the rules or not. But, maybe the Italian restaurant that I saw a comment card about will fit the bill.
I decided that maybe pancakes would be a good idea. I started to go to Ram's Horn. (I wasn't actually out of town yet, after all. :P) But, when I pulled in, it felt very much like an old people's place, seeing as all the spaces in front were reserved for handicapped drivers, and the only way into the restaurant was by ramp. So, I pulled out of there & went to Sunrise Cafe. Also a chain (albeit mostly defunct), but I'd never actually gone there, so I figured it was ok. I ordered 1/2 order of pancakes and only ate half of that. Then, I was on my way.
It's not the most beautiful time for a road trip. It's very gray out, and WINDY. My poor little (still unnamed because I can't remember the name that was suggested that I finally liked) car really felt the effects of the wind, being pushed a bit, especially around curves & near trucks. But, my GPS did an excellent job of getting me where I needed to be.
Turns out, I'm not actually IN Grand Rapids -- I'm about 6 miles away, in Cascade. The hotel's right off a main road & freeway. But, given the elephants who live above me, I don't think it'll bother me.I got here earlier than I'd planned, but I decided to stop at the hotel anyhow & let them know I was here. Well, when I walked in, they said that I'm the Guest of the Day! I asked what that meant. The woman at the reception desk said it means that I'm upgraded to a suite, they'll bring breakfast to me, and then she gave me a bag of M&Ms (to go with the ones I got at the Honda dealer last week. Lol.) The room is very nice. The bedroom has a king size bed, 2 nightstands, a tv, a full bathroom & a kitchenette. (A little fridge and microwave. The sitting room has a love seat, chair & ottoman, end tables, coffee table desk, another tv & another full size bathroom! Quite nice accommodations for the first night. There is indeed a pool & hot tub, which I may check out later.
After I checked in & brought my stuff in, I decided to go to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. I'd totally forgotten about how big cities charge for parking, which, as most people know, is a pet peeve of mine. I found the structure across from the museum (I didn't have any change, so I didn't even bother looking at the meters) & figured that vacation money is different than real money & swallowed hard at the $1/30 minute charge.
The museum had a little bit of everything. For an extra charge, there was a Titanic exhibit, but I didn't feel like seeing that. But there was plenty in the rest of the museum -- although it's LOTS of reading, which I got tired of pretty fast. They had exhibits about how electricity works, a very interesting one about a local American Indian tribe, an Old Town (which was rather lame, seeing as you couldn't go into any of the shop replicas), some fossils, a skeleton of a whale, another of a dinosaur, and those stuffed wild animals that I was never fond of. There were also some exhibits & history about money, stamps and games. (Sad that games I played with as a kid have made it to museum status.)
I got pretty tired at the museum so I decided to come back to the hotel. Trying to decide what to do for dinner. (I skipped lunch, which is likely why I'm so tired.) I saw them setting up a little buffet-like thing of hot dogs & so forth, but I don't think I want that. But the popcorn smelled good. Lol. There seem to be lots of chains -- a Macaroni Grill is right across the street, and a Brann's (which I've heard of but never been to) is right next door. Deciding if that breaks the rules or not. But, maybe the Italian restaurant that I saw a comment card about will fit the bill.
*********
I went to a restaurant called Pietro's for dinner. It's entirely possible that it was a chain, but it was not one of the 4 Italian chains (and many, many other chains of other nationalities) in the 4 or so mile drive there. It was quite good, but way too much food, and it killed me not to be able to take the leftovers. (I did bring an insulated bag for "road trip food souvenirs", but leftover dinner doesn't really count. I'm thinking more specialties of the area, i.e., baked goods, should I run into any.) This being the first night of Passover, I was an extremely bad Jew and got a dish that was like chicken fettucine with chicken, spinach, mushrooms...and prosciutto.
Unfortunately, near the end of the meal, I started getting another sinus headache, so I stopped at the Target to get some generic Tylenol sinus to take in the morning. Although, after I bought it, it occurred to me that I do have the loratadine with me.
I was thinking of going to the pool, but i looked in, and it seems to be kids' hour. so, maybe later. or not. But I love the idea of it...and the adjacent hot tub.
On the docket for tomorrow (after my breakfast is DELIVERED): Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Then, Saugatuck or Holland, depending on which is first. (I'm close to both & want to do both.)
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Three and a half years ago, a very good friend of mine "kidnapped" me and took me on a 10 day road trip out west. We both referred to me as her co-pilot. We had a wonderful time, and I've been longing for that kind of experience again.
With her encouragement and the encouragement of others, I've decided to venture out on a trip of my own. I'm told that it's freeing. I'm starting slow and small; as those of you who know me are aware, I tend to be a rather late bloomer. So, it's taken me all that time to decide that I can do this. I'm only planning to be gone about 5 days. I am leaving tomorrow and starting out towards Grand Rapids, MI, which is the only place I've actually made hotel reservations. From there, I'm planning to go to Holland, MI and then on to Indiana, with the hope of seeing some Amish communities. Oh, and a chocolate factory. I'm going to try to see where the wind takes me (and it probably IS going to be windy; we still have winter weather 5 days in to Spring!) and be open to new things. The only caveat I've set for myself is that I will try not to eat at any place familiar to me. (I'd say no chains, but there are a lot of chains that are not in MI, so I will allow myself to go to chains we don't have here.)
So please, follow me along in my adventure and feel fee to leave any comments!
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