Here are some photos from my Boston trip last weekend. They were taken at the Plimoth Plantation, a re-creation of a village in Plymouth, Massachusetts that were built by English settlers to the New World in 1627. On the other side of the plantation is the Wampanoah village where the Native Americans lived. In the 2nd photo, you can see a man and a woman dressed in period costumes performing chores that were commonly done during that time period. The "actors" will answer any questions you may have about life in the village.This is what I learned from them. 1. The early selttlers bathed only once a week but changed into freshly laundred clothes every day. 2. There were no functioning toilets but there were designated areas for people to do "their business". 3. Women were prohibited from wearing pants and men were not allowed to wear shorts.
So what modern conveniences would you miss most if you were magically transported back to the 1620s?
24 comments:
First of all, your post reminds me of those period reality shows on PBS (Frontier House, The 1900 House, Colonial House, etc). I love those shows!
I'd have to say toilet paper. Although I am sure the list should be much longer than a single item.
I'm not sure if this is what you meant by modern convenience, but I really appreciate the medical care that is available today.
Thanks for the pics outta town!
I always wondered what happened to a daily photo blog when the blogger goes on vacation. I am glad you shared the out of town pictures.
I don't know that I would miss anything, but it would be tough to keep up with all the blogs I read.
I think I've been there! Neat perspective!
Modern conveniences? Private bathrooms, electricity, computers, internet, AC, heating, medical care. .. . I'm spoiled!!
Daily showers, definitely;but, it's difficult to choose only one! I like the top photo quite a bit.
great photos! I always wondered what it was like there.
Well Ming, since you asked: disposable "feminine hygiene" products, and automatic clothes washing machines. And cushy shoes with proper arch support.
I'd miss Advil!
Having experienced "the Turkish toilets", a hole in the ground, even here in Paris, even in a rather trust-evoking cutesy lil' restaurant (less and less though, mostly in the touristic areas), I do surely appreciate proper WC facilities.
Ming
I would miss anything
Ming, I'm glad to see this was not a photo of NYC!
I love those living history places. But glad I live in the 21st century.
What would I miss? List is too long. Highlights:
Indoor plumbing. Hygiene that saved the world. And Butterscotch Krimpets.
Actually the no bath idea was prevalent throughout the world for generations. Most American pioneers never took a bath but once or twice a year or washed off in the creek now and then, but with their clothes on.
Bathing is not really next to godliness because the Catholic church forbid it for centuries when nuns turned up pregnant after bathing with men in Roman public baths.
I did a lot of research on this for a book and magazine and the stuff I just wrote down is from my memory but I could dig it all out if required by law or a grand jury.
The photography is wonderful.
It takes me back to a time when a squirrel could get in a tree on the East Coast of this country and stay in trees and travel all the way to the Mississippi river, and never have to come down for food or water.
A person can't do that nowadays much less a squirrel.
One word : Epidural.
Love this...thank you for sharing. I love learning of other times and of course I, like Knoxville girl, would miss everything...I am spoiled rotten and would not make a good pioneer but I can tell you that I would not miss the boom box cars that pull up next to me at the stop lights!!!
Pain killers...indoor plumbing...electricity...blogs...everything!
I toured Plimoth Plantation many years ago, glad to see it's still thriving!
What would I miss the most? The miracle of hot water coming out of a tap when you turn it on.... man's (and woman's) greatest invention!
What an amazing view!
I think opening a tap (faucet?) and having running water, hot or cold, would be the most important thing I'd miss...
Looks like a fun trip!
Clean water supply and lets face in indoor plumbing. Hole in the ground ourside to do my business is just not my scene.
Fascinating place you've shown us.
Where shall I start?
~ my cell phone
~ my computer
~ my hairdryer
~ my electric toothbrush
~ my flatiron
~ my clarisonic
~ my television
~ my stereo
~ my car
..... you get where this is going?
Great photos, Ming! Sounds you enjoyed your trip!
I think that was Puritan Country, I would miss religious freedom.
You write very well.
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