As the weather cools in the valley, I find myself in West Germany walking the streets just outside Frankfurt. It appears we brought the sunshine with us. I had an opportunity to accompany a friend from Stockton to visit her family in Germany so I jumped on it. We traveled eleven hours to Frankfurt then off to Wertheim. The village is nestled in hills next to the Main River. How quaint and quiet.
A loving picture imprinted in my memory forever is the mother of the family as she sits in her kitchen window everyday, greeting those that come and go, always with a welcoming smile. We woke each morning and walked to the village bakery, what a treat to select your favorite pastries and bread for the morning breakfast. The fresh butter was out of this world, did someone say cheese?
The German Oktoberfest was in full swing and beer was mighty plentiful. If you ever get the opportunity to visit a Bavarian Village, do it. You simply can’t imagine the architecture, it’s mind blowing and be prepared to WALK. Thank you for sharing your family with me Isolde.
Greetings from the South of France! I’m visiting my close friends here and experiencing the most fantastic time, the views, the food, and villages. Talk about history, this place is busting at the seams with old world charm. The castles are amazing. Yesterday I was dining in a cafe just outside a castle built in the 1300s...WOW. Walking is the primary mode of transportation and everyone does it with ease. We walk to the market, we walk to the bar, we walk to fetch water, we walk to WALK. My poor legs! This week the small village they live in will host a “Chestnut Festival” where people from surrounding villages, and tourists will flock in and celebrate the harvest of chestnuts.
Last Sunday the village of Collobrieres hosted the kickoff celebration of the chestnut so we attended the event to preview what was coming. The food booths were so amazing that I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of the fresh food. Everyone was eating and wood fires were burning, roasting the nuts. The locals were dancing in the streets and the history of the village was portrayed by the costumes worn by musicians and local talent. I can tell you this entire event was “eye candy” for me. Never have I seen such an array of food, gifts, and color, nothing usual, all homemade and everyone was happy and laughing.
Hard to imagine a place where families have been raised for centuries and they still live there enjoying their great grandmothers, grandmothers, mothers and children! Talk about roots. Not too sure about what is going on in the rest of this country but I can tell you in the South of France, I have not seen any strikes or gas shortages. Keeping my fingers crossed. My deepest thanks to Cathy and Alain, for sharing their new home in France with me, I’ll be back!
Headed for the United States in a couple of days, so I can VOTE, please get out and vote, every one counts! Looking forward to the beautiful colors of fall in our beloved country and I must say I do miss my family and pets, nothing like a good night sleep in your very own bed!
Sharon Alley Calone
