What a terrific day! We’ve just spent the day in 1627. I’ve learned so much I now can’t wait for school to start so I can share cool knowledge and ideas with my kids.
- Boston in traffic
Six main parts of the day:
part one: Native Americans in Plimoth – class by Summer, a Gros Ventre Indian who grew up around Plimoth. She had great things to share and teach us about the Wampanoag Indians who worked with the Pilgrims at Plimoth. I loved touching and seeing all the artifacts she shared. Learned that a tutrle has 13 scoots on its shell, and the Wampanoags clelbrated thanksgiving every new moon – of which there are 13 in a year. yeah turtles!
part two: The Mayflower II. This is a re-creation of the original Mayflower. I asked the guide how he could be sure it was accurate, he answered that they are 99% sure based on plans from other ships of its class, though no plans or pictures exist of the original. The four interpreters on the boat were very interesting (for my family and friends at home – an interpreter is a person who has studied and taken on the persona of a real historical figure. They are so skilled that they never break character, yet they converse and tell you about their life and the place!) There were 102 passengers on the Mayflower. They stayed in the hold, it was unsafe on deck. One sailer told me, “The people was our freight.”
part three: Plymouth Rock. Right by the Mayflower II, the rock is really pretty small, but quite wonderful as a symbol of how far they’d come.
part four: The Indian village at Plimoth Plantation. The center of the indian village is a graden. The Wampanoags plant their gardens as ‘the three sisters’. First they plant corn in a small mound. When the corn is up a bit, they plant beans and squash in the same mound. The beans use the corn stalk as a trellis, the squash leaves protect the beans. I so want to try this! In addition, they build a jungle gym structure in the middle of the garden and the children were sent there to yell and climb and throw rocks to chase off birds. Great symbiosis!
- Wampanoag garden planted in three sisters mounds
part five: Plimoth Village – the skill of the many interpreters we met was so impressive. It really is as if you’ve somehow walked through a time warp and are there. The people do not break charagcter. I asked one lady whether or not she made quilts. she gave me a confused stare. I clarified and asked about her bedding. Then she replied that they has linen sheets and woolen blankets. Guess I need to research quilting history a bit better.
part six: thanksgiving dinner. We had a wonderful dinner of a mixture of Pilgrim and Wampanoag food. Tasty and hearty. The second best part of of the dinner is they gave us all the recipes!
