Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Plain living among the rolling hills of Pennsylvania.賓洲绵延起伏山丘间的朴实生活。

Neatly painted white farmhouses and well-kept barns rest among the rolling hills of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. And no power lines ruin the scenic views. This is Amish country, where "Plain People" have lived a simple life for nearly 300 years. Today about 30,000 Old Order Amish live in Lancaster County, driving their horse-drawn black buggiest  along the roads. Here, you can glimpse what rural life was like 100 years ago- and thoroughly enjoy it!

City of Lancaster
Start exploring in the small, colorful city of Lancaster founded in 1710. Take the walking tour through the heart of the old city. A guide dressed in costume will share stories form the city's history.

Next visit the Central Market, the oldest continuously operating farmer's market in the country. Join the locals as they shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and baked goods. And you won't want to miss the beautiful Amish handicrafts, like quilts and pillow covers. Be sure to pick up some Pennsylvania Dutch goodies, like the delicious pies. The Amish frequently eat them for breakfast!

From Lancaster, venture out into the small towns that dot the county. But a word of warning - fill your gas tank before leaving Lancaster. You won't find any gas stations along the country roads!

Landis Valley Museum
Just north of Lancaster, stop by the Landis Valley Museum to see what Pennsylvania Dutch life was like around 1900. In the open-air museum, you can visit more than 15 historic buildings and see demonstrations of weaving and pottery making.

An Amish Buggy Ride
Then drive down country roads and watch the Amish labor at home or in the fields. In the town of Bird-in-Hand, take the opportunity to see the world the way the Amish do-from a buggy. At Aaron & Jessica's Buggy Rides, you can choose from five different routes. All take you through land farmed only with horses or mules. And you'll stop at an Amish farm  where you will have the chance to buy homemade cookies or jam.

The buggy ride business is Amish family-owned, and all the drivers are Plain People.
After seeing all those farms, experience one up close and personal. About three-dozen non-Amish farms in Lancaster County take guests.

Unlike many bed-and-breakfasts (B and Bs), these places welcome families with children and encourage them to participate in farm chores. At a farm B and B, you'll learn about sock - and not the kind that gives you ownership in a company. Farm stock, or animals, require daily care.

Ever bottle-fed a calf or collected eggs in a chicken house? You can do those and more as well as enjoy a hearty farm breakfast. Your host can also arrange a meal with an Amish family. You can taste traditional Amish home cooking and learn about the different facets of their lives.

Stop in the charming village of Lititz where stone houses line the tree-shaded streets. At the Sturgis Pretzel House, the first commercial pretzel bakery in the States, make-and eat -your own pretzel. Farms, food and faith- it's all there in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and it's just plain fun!

Grammar Tips:
.... a word of warning - fill your gas tank before leaving Lancaster.
"a word of warning"  is a formal way to say "be careful" or "remember", usually use it in the writing or formal speech.
"a word of warning" - "remember", "be careful"
A word of waring - you should come back down the mountain before sunset. (there is no street lamp during the night)
You can take the public bus, but a word of warning-if you miss the 6:00pm bus, you will have to take a taxi. ( 6:00pm is the latest bus.)

Vocabulary Tips:
ruin-毁坏，破坏
*The dish was ruined because the chef used the wrong seasonings.
*Nicky's model car was ruined by his baby brother.
*The mayor's chances of being reelected were ruined by this scandal.丑闻
continuously (adv.) 持续不断地，接连不断地- continuous (adj) -持续的，不断的。
*These workers have been working continuously for six hours.
*Shirley has continuously volunteered in this elementary school for over five years.
handicraft-手工艺品
*The natives' handicrafts are sold in local stores.
handicraft- 手工艺
*Eileen teaches handicraft at the community center.
venture-冒险，探险，尝试，大胆提出。
*Once we set up our tent, we ventured into the woods.
*Larry recently ventured into the real estate profession.
*Victor finally ventured to ask for a raise. 大胆提出
labor-（不及物动词）工作，活动，辛勤工作，努力，尽力，劳苦工作。a high level word for "work", hard work.
*Jason labored five years creating his first album.
*George labored as a fisherman for over 20 years.
labor-努力，尽力work hard.
*The teacher labored to make sure every student understood.
route- "ou"发 "U"的音。路线，途径。"way" or "path", "direction".
*Henry took a different route to school today.
*The shortest route to the market is through the park.
up close and personal-近距离的接触或亲生体验。up right there, gaining an experience that you personally involved it, not just see other people doing or heard it from someone.
*Many fans interacted up close and personal with the singer at the fan club meeting.
*As a reporter, Eric gets a lot of chances to interview celebrities up close and personal.
chores-日常杂事，例行事务。the daily things that you have to do it but not fun, such as do dishes, cleaning, make bed etc.
*Mandy asked her sons to share house chores on weekends.
hearty-丰盛的，营养丰富的。a lot fo something.
*The restaurant is famous for its hearty beef stew.
*Mom's hearty meals really soothed me every time I went home.
"just" - here mean's "very close to something".
valley -  an area between the two hills or a flat land.
demonstration - show you how to make things.
Buggy- a cart with wheels, pulled by animals (horse)
tree-shaded street  : a street has a lot of  full grown tree with heavy leaves, the leaves blocked the sun to come down.

Chat Room:
heart-心脏
Take the walking tour through the heart of the old city.
heart-中心，核心。地方的中心。
the heart of the city = downtown 市中心，最繁荣最热闹，文化，商业的集中的地方。
the inner city -贫民区。 地方脏乱，贫民居住，犯罪率高的地方。
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"Bird-in-Hand"-掌中鸟，典故来自于：A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 手中已抓住一支，比一支也没，两支都还在树叢中强得多。
If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.同时追求两件东西，到头来两头空。

**上面两句话，都是指“抓住可以掌握住的机会或东西，胜过紧盯住没有把握， 不能掌握的看似更好，更大的机会或东西”，（不要吃着碗里，看着别碗里，不珍惜眼前所拥有的，追逐那自己没能拥有的，看似好而值得去拥有的， 到头来却是一场空，一无所获）。
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bed-and-breakfast (B and B)- 供应夜晚睡觉的床及早餐的旅馆，即“民宿”。
inn-旧式对“旅馆”称呼。 传统二层楼式的， 楼上有提供住宿的客房，楼下是酒馆，也提供餐饮。
motel- word came from "motor 气车hotel旅馆", cheap hotel for the drivers.

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