We are in Shipshewana, Indiana tonight. This is a very picturesque area just east of Elkhart which happens to be where our RV was manufactured. (That RV manufacturer closed the plant in Elkhart as the result of their filing Chapter 11).
This area is the heart of Amish country. We saw dozens of carriages on the roadways as we were driving in tonight, and also lots of bicycles, ridden by the women in their pastel dresses with the little caps, and by the bearded men with their bowl haircuts and suspender pants.
We decided to have dinner at an Amish restaurant in Topeka, about 8 miles south of Shipshewana. We have eaten in the past at several restaurants here run by the Amish, but tonight was a first: we ate at one that was also patronized by the local Amish. Very interesting to be seated among them at the long tables with these nice people. We weren't where we could talk to them. They were mostly seated in large family groups.
Driving on the surrounding country roads, one can see these neat, prosperous people living their lives without modern vehicles. They have very large houses, carriage houses in the back, large barns for cows and many horses used for plowing fields, carrying things, and to pull carriages.
I got a fabulous photo of a whole line of carriages outside the restaurant, but it is on my iPhone which is currently being used to watch the Twins game on MLB.com, so I can't post it just yet. But I will.
By the way, this area of Indiana is called Michiana by the locals, a combination of Michigan just to the north, and Indiana.
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