Chocolate, Pretzels, and Squash

There is a moment in many movies where people who travel look around, and I think feel at home in a new place because they have slowed down to see the charm, the nuances, the character of wherever it is they are. I traveled to Lititz, PA and it was this feeling that had come over me.

Truly, it was my second time in Lititz. I had gone because I found a bike on Craiglist that I wanted (purple--it was meant to be mine!). When I decided that I was going to take the back way, I found out I was quickly glad that I had been there before. Construction through me about 10 miles out of the way on a detour. I didn't go the way I had in my directions, but I ended up going the way I had gone before (my clue, a church sign that apty said " Are you on the right road?").

Since I had the time, I parked the car after picking up my bike and wandered the main street. Lititz is known for it's pretzels, it's Wilbur Buds (chocolate) and a very popular Moravian church. Kevin had requested the Wilbur Buds, and I cannot resist a warm, soft pretzel.

I went walking down towards the pretzel factory first, and along the way I stopped at a Chocolate Cafe. Almost everything on the menu had chocolate in the ingredient. How could I resist? I decided that it was a splurge day and ordered fruit crepes with chocolate drizzled over them. Supposedly the chocolate is not roasted, and therefore doesn't have caffeine? (Still not sure how that works!).

After a lovely meal, I walked down the street past fun shops, the beautiful Moravian church, and came to the pretzel factory and museum. It was the first one in the United States (see picture at the top of this post). I walked back down on the other side of the street with a soft pretzel in my hand, about as content as could be. I felt at home, yet mesmerized by the beauty and character of the place. Something felt very familiar even though most of this part of the town were very new.

I went home the way I was supposed to travel up, with new sites and beautiful farms everywhere I looked. I decided then and there that I would always take the long way. It was worth the view, and I had obviously proven that it is hard to get too lost.

I stopped by an outdoor vegetable stand on the way home. I hear there are many like it--based on the honor system. There are vegetables that look beautiful, prices listed, and a money box for you to deposit your money once you have decided what you want (no change box though). I found fresh corn, zucchini, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, watermelon for wonderful prices. $5 was the limit I set on myself, but I found an AMAZING collection of butternut squash. They were bigger than I had ever seen. The one I chose wasn't the biggest, but was longer than my arm from my elbow to fingertips. I foresee soup, among other things, in my future. Thankfully, it is getting cooler fast, so soup season is around the corner.