Gettysburg

 We had a full day of visiting the Gettysburg battlefield.  We had our tour picture taken with a monument in the background.  The weather was perfect on this trip and we saw little rain.  We were also spared what could have been a really hot and humid Philadelphia.  How those wonderful folk did in the 1700’s and 1800’s to walk around with all those clothes mostly made of wool even in the summer?  We enjoyed our air conditioned hotels and buses. 

 New Hat a Day

Yes, the boys had to get hats in Gettysburg- notice a theme?  Our hotel in Gettysburg greeted us with a champagne reception and we all enjoyed our dinner.  The children all hit the pool to cool off after the day of touring.  It also served as a place they could play and get to know each other better.  By now we all seemed like old friends and even family.  Our tour guide was full of information, history and games to play on the bus.

 West to Lancaster and Gettysburg

After breakfast, we boarded our coach (the term bus is discouraged) which was beautiful.  We left Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love,  and headed west. 

Amish Country

Our luncheon stop had us in the midst of Amish Country, where we enjoyed a traditional 7 sweets and 7 sours dinner.  There was so much food. Not to miss was the chow- chow, apple butter and apple dumpling for dessert.  I counted 5 kinds of meat dishes and 5 desserts.  They served beets, butter beans and creamed corn.  My grandmother was Pennsylvania Dutch, so the tastes of this restaurant brought me back to my grandmothers’ kitchen. 

Meanwhile, Daniel had met another 15-year old from California and the two of them went shopping Pennsylvania Dutch style.  

Hats

The bus driver wore a traditional Amish straw hat.  The boys ended up with a black dress hat the Amish wear on Sundays or for weddings. 

We arrived in Gettysburg for a free evening.  The bus driver well, he was wearing a union hat,  getting us ready to change from Revolutionary Philadelphia to Civil War Gettysburg.