We've been staying pretty close to the castle since returning from Oxford. The tourist season in the Dorf (village) officially started on April 1, so we came back to open cafes, museums, hotels, and an enhanced bus schedule. We're also getting some rainy (and snowy, about 500 feet above us) weather. Every plot of land that isn't planted in grapes is planted in apples and pears, and the fruit trees are blooming up the mountainsides. J is a big fan of Nik's pear juice, so it's especially interesting to him to see the fruit trees in bloom.
Nik did a winetasting for the students recently, showcasing some very good wines from the castle's vineyard. The students are reading Amy Trubek's Taste of Place in their aesthetics class, and discussed the concept of "terroir" in winemaking.
It might be hard to fathom from these blog posts, but we also do a fair bit of work. We have some good student babysitting, and otherwise trade off work and play times. During some of our play times, J and I frequent the Sunshine Cafe up in the Dorf. For 2 euros, I get one of the best cappuccinos anywhere and a fantastic view. J gets 45 minutes of playground time and a "banane milch" (we just call it a smoothie). We have to take this place home with us. We've also been playing with other kids--we've met a local veterinarian who has two kids and a yard full of slides, toys, and rabbits. The five-year-old is slowly teaching me German, and I'm giving him an English vocabulary, at least about sandbox toys. They're way up above the village (up the mountain, really), but we've found a walking path which makes the trip much shorter and pleasant. Did I mention it's uphill? Vermont is going to seem so flat after this semester.
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