Another uneventful day just relaxing and visiting. We had breakfast at the Waffle House (a local breakfast chain). We got sandwiches for lunch from a local deli, and met Natasha for dinner at a place called 12 South Taproom - where I finally got a picture of Natasha:

As I've mentioned in other trip logs, Terry is fascinated by the Amish. In 2013, we visited Amish country in Ohio (you can read about that here and here.

Well, there's also an Amish community in Tennessee, in and around the small town of Ethridge, about an hour and a half southwest of Nashville. Ashley and Carlos had also expressed interest in visiting, so off we went.

In Ethridge (which is not much more than a wide spot in the road), there are two competing Amish Welcome Centers across the street from each other, each advertising wagon tours. We picked the one that looked more authentic. But when we got there, we found it closed. So we went across the street to the other one.

We bought tickets for the wagon tour and got on board:

We were joined by a few other passengers, and off we went. As we trotted along, the driver regaled us with information about the Amish. Unfortunately, much of what he told us was wrong. Terry and I were able to correct the driver's misinformation when we talked to Ashley and Carlos after the tour, but I felt sorry for the other passengers.

After leaving the main highway behind, we were in the Amish territory, and it was like going back in time. This Amish community is one of the stricter orders, so there were no electric wires or telephone poles, and the only cars were driven by tourists like ourselves. The men (and boys) all wore dark blue shirts and pants, and the women (and girls) all wore long dresses in solid colors, with white bonnets.

The Amish support themselves by working the land, and selling their goods to the tourists, or as they call us, "the English." Our tour stopped at several farms, where we got out and shopped. Several of the farms we stopped at were selling a variety of fresh vegetables, as well as jars of honey and various kinds of jams and candies. At one stop, I bought some peanut butter cups (not the Reese's kind, of course, but drops of peanut butter candy wrapped in chocolate), as well as some peanut butter fudge, peanut brittle, and salted peanuts. (Are you sensing a pattern here?) At another farm, we bought some homemade soap, and saw a two pound container of homemade butter. Terry wanted to buy the butter, but I pointed out that we wouldn't be able to get it home.

The Amish are also known for their woodwork. At more than one stop, we saw a variety of wooden furniture for sale. A couple on our tour bought a two seater porch swing for just $250!

The Amish themselves were friendly, but somewhat reserved. I suspect that, while they appreciate the business, they might get a little tired of being looked at like museum specimens or zoo animals. One young man of maybe 12 or so was less reserved than the others. He was pulling two younger girls in a small wagon, and as we drove by, he jumped on the back step of our wagon and got a free ride home, with a big grin on his face.

The Amish don't like to have their pictures taken, due to the Biblical injunction against graven images. I'm not sure whether they object to pictures of houses and farms, etc., but just in case, I took these pictures when no one was looking. Here are some buggies parked outside of the Welcome Center:

An Amish house and farm buildings

...and a woodworker's workshop:

Carlos and I talked to the Amish man whose workshop is in the above picture. We asked what tools he uses, in the absence of electricity. He said he uses hand tools, and power tools run by diesel. I must admit, I don't quite understand why electricity is bad, but diesel is okay, but there it is.

When we got back to the main road at the end of the tour, we discovered that the place we originally planned to go was now open! Had we but known... Anyway, Ashley bought a hand made wooden rolling pin at the store.

We then all went for lunch at a soul food restaurant. We had eaten at this restaurant when we were here in 2019, and we liked it so much that were looking forward to going again. Alas, it wasn't as good this time.

Being the adventurous eater that I am, I had every intention of trying chitterlings (or as they're more commonly called, chitlins), despite the best efforts of everyone to talk me out of it. And what are chitlins, you ask? (I know, you didn't ask.) Why, a dish made of pig intestines which are THOROUGHLY cleaned and boiled or stewed for several hours.

Yes, I know, it sounds disgusting. But some people actually like it, and I was curious enough to take the chance. However, when I asked for them, I was told that they weren't ready yet. The man behind the counter also told me that I wasn't missing much.

On the way back home, I again noticed something that I had been noticing all week. Nashville, I was told, sits on a bed of limestone, and in many places, where roads are cut through hills, you can see the layers of rock. I saw this all over the place, and this time, I stopped and took a picture:

So we drove back to the house and sat around until dinnertime, when we all went out to a very good Peruvian restaurant. And then we said our goodbyes and went back to the hotel. And then on Sunday morning we got up, packed up, checked out, and went home.