Vacation For The Wigster...

Checking in from the road, my little droogies...

Mrs. Wiggy and I felt we needed a little downtime, so we have met up with our friends the Tweedles and taken ourselves off to the wilds of Pennsylvania. At the moment, I am writing this from Hershey. Tomorrow, we'll be moving down to Gettysburg.





We spent the day exploring the Hershey complex, and let me tell you, it was interesting. I was frankly expecting the usual kind of sad corporate themepark and crap-o-rama that usually characterize the 'tours' of said companies - this was not the case. Yes, it's shiny and glitzy and corporate, but they have behaved with a modicum of common sense - a bit light on the sales aspect and a bit heavy on the history of their beloved company and founder.





Turns out that their founder, Milton S. Hershey, was a pretty neat guy all around. His history is on the link above (click on the title of this blog entry), and it does not go into explaining all that we learned on our tour today.

Hey, I'm a pretty jaded guy in general - and I'm not that keen on corporate snoggery and fimfamfoolery, either. This guy was the real deal - the Wigster is impressed. You should see the school that they maintain for the kids they support. The homes they live in. The money shelled out on the corporate town. Yeah, it's a company town - but not like any I've ever seen.

My buddy, Milcom Miasma, mentioned that they don't make corporate tycoons like Milton anymore. Bill Gates, with all his billions, isn't anything like Mr. Hershey. And you know, Hershey would be skinned alive by somebody like Donald Trump in today's world - he wouldn't last a minute. More's the pity - we need some like Milton S. Hershey today.

We took the trolley tour around the town - I recommend it, but then take your car and drive around again, so you can stop and get out and take photos. But the trolley tour gives you some great explanations and puts some meaning to the places you see. Plus, they hand out chocolate.





Here's a shot of the town and factory and theme park (yes, they have a theme park) as seen from Hershey Gardens...





We may have gotten a little too much enjoyment from pleasures meant for children, but what of it? Here's your Wigster and Mrs. Wigster taking a moment...we're butterflies...





Milcom Miasma (a Tweedle) was confused and dopey after an encounter with the steam-puffing Hershey's Kisses. OK, he was confused and dopey before that, too. But still.





Mrs. Tweedle danced with a pig. Then I took this picture of her dancing with a four legged creature instead of Milcom Miasma.





That's it for now, will post more later if possible. We're off tomorrow morning to Lancaster County, and from there down to Gettysburg, where we have a couple of rooms at a B&B on the battlefield. Should be fun!

Hershey Kisses,

Wiggy