Karfreitay (Good Friday),1992

 Karfreitay (Good Friday),1992

I could really write a book over this place, if I only could write well enough (stylistically, I mean). my problem is always where to start, as it seems I've lived a lifetime since I last wrote. I'll start with marinas vacation, of which I know very little but the important feature was that she was away for 10 days. When the cat’s away… The first week she was away the weather was absolutely heavenly and every day we ate lunch outside on the lawn. Lunching in the castle garden is really not a bad deal. Then we extended our eating adventure to dinner and began eating dinner in various interesting locations throughout the castle. One time we ate in the “Jagdsad,” or “hunting room”, an enormous room with antlers and dead birds and such placed in very appetizing locations throughout the room period one beautiful, mild night we made a campfire and ate around 11:00 PM.

Now it's Tuesday and have just now found time to write. Continuing with our meal time adventures... On Wednesday last week Werner came for a visit. Werner overnighted by us with his (girl?) friend Heiderose, remember? we decided it would be fun to make pizza together and then eat in Schoenborn saal, definitely the Schonst (most beautiful) Rome in the castle. We were eight: Werner, Sylvia, Scott, Paul, Walter, Florence, a girl from French Switzerland, myself, and Alex, a young man who comes from Herlheim (3 kilometers away) who is often together with us (being the connecting factor). we made a large amount of pizza with all sorts of strange ingredients. We bought wine across the street in “die Sonne” and then feasted and fasted till late in the night. The best part of the evening was our attic tour by candlelight. It's already dark enough by daylight up there. By night it's not only dark but also spooky. While over we discovered a second story in the attic which runs the entire circumference of the castle and the trick is, the path is only three planks thick (about 15 inches). I think it was about 4:00 AM as we were finished with our exploring.

One night Paul, Sylvia, and I and Horst (Horst worked in the castle a couple of years ago in the office. Don't know why he quit but he said he wants to work here again because it's so absolutely crazy here.) went out together. We drove into Surinefurt and had a couple of bad experiences (one involved American servicemen (geeks) who said something lewd and lascivious to me thinking I wouldn't understand. In that moment I felt almost hatred for these “stupid Americans.” strange feeling. I felt like they weren't my people!) We drove back to the castle ready to call it a night. Then we decided we were hungry so we cooked a full meal with appetizer, entree, and dessert. This was 2:00 AM! We drank tea and schnapps… dazu… yeah! with it. Sometimes my English fails me nowadays.

Then another night Paul and I went under into the ‘keller”, a big room (big enough for a wine fest with 1000 people) underground with lots of tables. Very rustic, etc… We played tango music and he taught me to tango. Then we played other music 3 magical singers who sing this ethereal, acapella music. We turned it up loud, went up into the courtyard where we could still hear the music, through phoenix into the fountain and made wishes, looked at the stars and the moon, and felt how needed is to be living in a castle. That was also very late at night. And very beautiful.

The postcards are from Scholb Weibenstein in Pominersfilden which is a little southwest ofBarnberg. this past Sunday six of us took an outing there it's really beautiful, of course, but we made it all the more interesting was that it was owned by the Schonborn family, the same family that owned Scholb Zeilitzheim. this family-owned several castles throughout Germany. Also interesting are the paintings on the ceiling as they were made by the same Italian painter as our castle. Way back in the 18th century. It was so fun to compare another Scholb with ours! But the Scholb Weibenstein is much bigger and grandioser then the Scholb Zeilitzheim.

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It would be wonderful to receive a copy of the Nashville scene sometime, to see what's up among Y N B‘s (Young Nashvillians with Brains).

I'll send this letter along now. Sorry it's so short. I'm simply so busy all the time and I can hardly find time to write. I want to send photos from the castle, but I'm waiting for a sunny day when I can remember to take photos. I'm here for 2 1/2 weeks yet; hopefully one of those days is sunny. But there's no guarantee! This is, after all, Germany!

Till next time,

Love,

Julie