Pennsylvania towns - Hershey and Amish

Friday22nd May 2009

Interstate 76 towards Harrisburg gets us to Hersheytown. Technically, as I would learn on the trolley tour the township is still named Derry and Milton Hershey never meant to have the town named after him. Welcome to Chocolate World. 

Chocolate Factory ride gives a simulated preview of what goes on in the Hershey factory. Ends off with a funsize of Hershey Milk Chocolate. The real Hershey factory makes 33 million kisses per day. More sweets to come during our Hershey trolley tour. 

Chocolate Avenue with its iconic kisses shaped street lamps. In 1963 all the lamps were unwrapped kisses but today the wrapped and unwrapped kisses alternate along the whole of chocolate avenue. Kudos to the deliciously informative tour and the cheerful guide.

Founder Hall was built in italian and Vermont Marble. The 'Milton Hershey and Student' statue in the rotunda was dedicated in 1959 to him and all children of the school are his children. Back when he founded the school, only underprivileged boys were enrolled. Now the school does enrol girls but it remains that the yearly acceptance exercise is prerequisited on needy children first. Hence, not just anyone can be part of this school. One of the perks of being a student here is a home residence with a tap which dispenses milk chocolate.

On the way back, stop by Amish village. I was impressed and also amused at the commitment of the folks to resist change and stick to their beliefs.

Enjoying the farm scenery and walking in the fields. Breathing in the fresh air of the countryside.

Trip back to Philadelphia was not without blunder. A wrong turn somewhere meant we almost ended up spending the night in Hersheytown.