The boys met on the north side of Indianapolis and came down to pick me up at my house. Already, this is my favorite trip. We travel south of Bloomington and past Jasper into Ferdinand. If you haven't traveled through the heart of southern Indiana, I highly recommend it. It's beautiful countryside. OK, back to the trip. As we pull into town we start seeing signs celebrating the event but we really don't see signs pointing us in any direction. We a see a giant monastery high on the hill, and I say, "Let's go see what that's all about."
We blindly drive our way to the monastery until we find a parking spot right next to it. Now unbeknownst to us, we have found a perfect parking spot in the heart of the event. This place is packed, and they're busing people in from other parking lots further out!
Now getting into the monastery is not easy. We stumble around looking for a way in to no success until we find what appears to be a cafeteria worker dumping trash. She informs us we have to go all the way to the front. BTW, it's raining so I was ready to be inside. We come around to the front and the view is beautiful. There really is no other hill as high in the area. (see photos below) The name of the monastery is the Sisters of Benedict Convent and Monastery.
We learn there is a tour so we sign up to take it. What else are we gonna do? The tour begins and they show us the chapel, and then a room where the nuns hang out and watch TV. These poor nuns are still watching on a rear projection CRT TV. They are living a life of poverty! We then go into a room where there is a scale model of the monastery and the tour is over. My that was quick. This is a really large place with multiple buildings and we only see three rooms. Oh well. They mention there is a brewery down the hill. Let's go there.
We leave the monastery head down the hill to the brewery where they make their own beer. It's crowded down here and I decide to buy a growler. The growlers are only 32 ounces and they charge $12. This seems like a holy scam! Then my brothers remind me I'm supporting the nuns. Then I think that my over priced beer might someday get them a flatscreen TV for those poor ladies.
With beer in hand we move on to the gymnasium next door that has been overtaken by locals selling their wares. Rob gets lured to the spice booth and buys some rubs. Tom buys some of the local wines. Jay and I buy some local snacks. While Rob is distracted by a booth where they use old typewriter pads as cufflinks, Tom and I go into the official gift shop of the monastery. Tom and I both decide we are not little old ladies and therefore there is nothing here for us. On to the next stop.
We take a short walk over to Forest Park High School which is a couple of blocks from the monastery. OK, now I'm at my threshold. I can only walk by so many booths where people are selling handmade bows, wood carvings, and baskets. You've seen one crafts fair you've seen them all. I'm now officially done, and so are my brothers. The only thing that's awesome about this stop is the gymnasium itself. It's old school cool.
We decide to call it a day and head out of town. On our way out Jay and Tom stop to buy candy from an Amish stand. I refuse to support the Amish and their pretentious ways. Oh sure they're too good for our modern technology and life's conveniences. Whatever! I consider the Amish to be the original hipsters. They're not getting a dime from me.
We declare this trip to be another bust for Jay, but hey it's the trip not the destination. We pile in the car and head for Jasper to dine at the renowned local German restaurant, Schnitzelbank. The food was wonderful and the highlight of my trip. They had spatzel and I love spatial.
After our meals, we get back into the car again and head home after the trip. It rained most of the day and Ferdinand was not quaint but disappointing, but we had a good time. I can't wait until next year. It's Tom's turn. Maybe he'll find a Thanksgiving festival? Or not.
