The basket brimming with fresh fruit, vegetables and a few early spring flowers are loaded into the boot of my car. It is a lovely sunny morning, the busy market place coming alive with fresh new colors of spring and throngs of people meander the cobblestone streets catching the first really warm rays of sun this year. With the boot of my car still open I sit on the fender, taking a minute to catch my breath and watch the bustle around me.
It could not have been a more perfect day for our day tour on the river Saale. Gorgeous blue skies with a warming sun promised to make the trip unforgettable. Packing the kids into the car I picked up my friend at the Weimar train station and we headed to Camburg, where we met with Mario Brömel who was going to guide us along the river in canoes for an hour-ride to the vineyards of Weingut Zahn. We set off on the Saale through unspoilt nature, enjoying the tranquility of the nature around us. This route is one of the most picturesque river routes in Thuringia where the landscape is dotted with castles, vineyards and hills, and paddlers can make stops at the various points on their journey.
Remember those university days when we literally lived on packets of instant ramen noodles after long hours in the library or in lectures or … at parties? The energy level at an all time low, often I had just enough to tear open a packet, drop the contents into a bowl and pour hot bubbling water from a kettle. As it steeped, I would snooze, head on the table!
It looks it’s going to be another snow-less Christmas this year again. Last Christmas was mild, the temperatures hardly falling below 0 degrees Celsius. This year we had a spot of snow. It made my heart flutter a bit, but that fluttering disappeared soon enough when the next morning I had to slip and slide to get to my car, and scratch it free of the thick ice. I love all the Christmas spirit but I can often do without the cold and snow that comes with it.
Summer time usually means a lot of spontaneous entertaining and I love having friends over on the spur of the moment. Then often a time it will be something quick, easy and put together with simple ingredients not requiring too much fussing over. A tapas or mezzeh menu, barbecued meats and fish or quick roasted and moist poultry are some of the ideas I tend reach for from my repertoire.
Pearling sensuously in the warm evening sun, the bulbous glass beckons with promises of crisp and chilled Riesling. The air, perfumed with a mix of earthy herbs, flowery lavender and spicy meat, creates a intoxicating melange for my senses. It is unusually quiet for a weekday and I am enjoying the luxury of stepping out of my accustomed routine.
It was just about a year ago that I was frantically packing my suitcases, mentally reciting a few lines from my presentation and packing my camera equipment, heading towards Florence. I always love traveling to Italy as it’s a country I feel attached to - its rich culture, the atmosphere, the people and the food, all entice me and inspire me on many levels. Traveling to Florence this time was special however, as I was going to be joined by 3 dear friends and 12 new faces. What I did not know however I was going to come away with many new friends and cherish the old ones more.
