December 2 - Land of Ten Thousand Villages

A Souvenir From a Weekend  Trip With My Sister
In 2005, my sister and I met for a Saturday get-together in Ephrata Pennsylvania.  We had lunch at what used to be the tearoom at the Land of Ten Thousand Villages.  The Ten Thousand Villages stores are Fair Trade retailers, selling crafts and other items from areas around the globe. We did some shopping and then we went to visit the Ephrata Cloister.
Like many of the ornaments on our Christmas tree, I didn't buy or receive this during the holiday season, but I bought it on a trip so I'd have a memory of a fun time. I looks like it's made from brightly colored string and while it looks metallic from a distance, it's actually quite light. I liked it because it's unbreakable.

This particular trip stands out in my mind for a few reasons. I remember exactly when it was because we had just a few months before moved into our home in Baltimore. I bought some decorative items for our "hon house" that I still use, bright and colorful baskets, runners, and more. I also remember it because it was one of the very few times I arrived anywhere before my sister did and one of the even rarer times she was late. It didn't matter. We were just excited to get together. But I kind of liked being the more prepared one that day because she's always on time and ready for anything while I'm leaving late, getting lost, and breezing in breathless.

We had a terrific time that day, enjoying the exotic cuisine and filling our shopping baskets. The Cloister was quite an interesting place to visit as well. I can't imagine living like that because you were so certain the end was near.  Imagine not procreating because you thought it was the end of time.  Wow. That's a good way to empty your gene pool.
My sister and I were tired from all our touring and shopping and decided to spend the night. We found a sort of out of the way Holiday Inn and I remember having dinner at the Silk City Diner, which I was sorry to hear has since closed its doors.
If you are in or near the Pennsylvania Dutch area, I'd recommend a visit to Ephrata.  It's particularly nice in the fall or spring.