a meadow in Bamberg
If you’ve read my earlier post, you would know I am currently in Germany attending my brother’s wedding. This is my first trip to Germany, and having been here in Nurnberg for around 10 days now, it’s difficult to imagine leaving. I am not sure it is the travellers syndrome, where you like somewhere more than home because you are simply care free, away from your stressful job and incessant phone calls from Citibank’s Mumbai call centre asking you to pay a bill you paid 4 months ago, getting assured every time by the manager that they will fix the problem. Though, I’m sure that helps.
old fence
But there is something tangibly good about this place, something peaceful and green. Endless meadows of garlic, cabbage, wheat, corn, lettuce and asparagus in rich dark soil create a harmony of colors in perfect alignment, and the sight of farmers picking their crops gives me intense joy. It could be reminiscent of my childhood, but things were never this peaceful, and the Lebanese never planted this much cabbage.
view of forest
So I find myself travelling around 70 km to the World Heritage listed city of Bamberg, in order to attend Johanna’s dad’s birthday. Bamberg is stunningly beautiful, the Franconian Rome where fascinating churches line the many surrounding hills, and the town is crossed by the river Regnitz as it makes its way to the Main. And did I mention it is home to 10 local breweries? Johanna’s family lives in an eco village on the outskirts of the city and right behind their house is a path that leads you along one of the most pleasurable walks you will ever experience, a road full of fruits, nuts and berries. This wealth of wild food makes it very different to the Australian bush. I could write a small novel about how happy this place makes me feel, and how foraging through the path brings me closer to inner peace. But as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so enjoy.
wild strawberries
walnuts
chestnuts
mirabellas
hazelnuts
more hazelnuts
blackberry
more blackberries
the fruits of my labour, mirrabellas (yellow and red), rose hip, apples, plums, blackberries and elderberries
8 comments
I can see why you don't want to leave, I want to go live there just from reading this post. The hazelnut houses are so pretty! What did you do with your foraged (looted) booty? Jealous jealous jealous!
that's a great looking fruit basket. so great colours.
I've never seen a hazelnut 'in the wild'. It's gorgeous.
Oh my goodness, those images warm the cockles of my heart. Thank you for sharing. x
When I see the hazelnuts and the blackberries I just remember my childhood. What a beautiful , warm lovely post.. Thanks for sharing..
Thanks Nevin!
I've just had the great pleasure of looking through your artwork! Wonderful! Some of them seem as though you've been plundering around in my imagination 🙂 Please do let me know if you ever exhibit in Sydney. I really love the one titled "Two". I hope you still own and exhibit it so I can see it one day.
Fouad
just wanted to point out that the pictured “wild strawberries” are actually mock or indian strawberries – edible and palatable to me, but some people say they’re awful; and the “chestnut” you pictured is a horsechestnut, which is deadly o-o’