Day Two Hundred and Sixteen

The Moravians of Old Salem

A 30 minute drive from Greensboro places you directly back into the 1800s. Old Salem is a historic American town that's been preserved as a popular tourist attraction. Who knew?! Well, Bob did, and he told me, specifically, that I needed to visit. And eat their Moravian cookie. Did someone say cookies?! You don't have to tell me twice! 

In my short visit (the town closes everything at 5...I showed up at 4. Oops), my expectations were grossly misinterpreted. When Bob told me about the Moravian culture, I pictured in my head, Amish people. Complete with horse-drawn carriages, no electricity, and men wearing Abe Lincoln hats with bushy beards and circle-shaped eye glasses. Uhm, no. The Moravians, in fact, are not synonymous with the Amish, as I had previously thought. Though, their dress is similar. They've been established as a Protestant denomination for over 500 years and though their roots are tied to a very traditional way of life, presently, you'd never be able to tell them apart from any other person walking the street. (Darn. I wanted to see a buggy). Haha.

(Apparently) the Moravians are famous for the world's thinnest cookie, and pride themselves on their secret recipe. In fact, the cookies are the thinnest ones I've ever seen, and goodness gracious, do they taste GOOD! Wow. The picture above was taken in the town's bakery, where they make cookies daily, right in front of visitors. So fun. 

 

Above are a few restored buildings of Old Salem. It's a beautiful town. 

In the last few days, I've been asked repeatedly, "What do you do while Adam's gone?" Well, when he's home, I spend my mornings with him, cook breakfast, hang out, then take him to the field, workout, and finally drive back to the field to watch the game. Now that I'm on my own, I can say confidently that I'm finding ways to stimulate my mind, body, and soul. P90X is a daily part of my routine, but when it's complete, I'm free to explore, and I don't know if there's a better feeling. Freedom. To go where I please and discover what want. Spending time with myself has actually been a blessing. I'm learning more about Kendall as the days go by, and really trying to cherish the moments I have and the things I see. And in a state rich in history, as North Carolina is, I'm beyond confident that I'll find plenty of ways to spend my time. 

Oh, today, I saw a nun with a huge bag of Lays in her hand, shoveling chips into her mouth. It made me giggle. I guess I'd never considered the diet of a nun.