Dilsberg is GORGEOUS. I'm literally living in a medieval castle and village. Much of the castle is in ruins (though you can go up and walk on the castle walls and climb the tower), but the Kommandantenhaus (Commander's House) and tower, which was built in the 13th century, is a beautifully restored 5 level-building. It's built on a hill, so levels 1, 2, and 3 are all 'ground floor.'
Level 1- Cellar, kind of dungeon-like but much friendlier. Used as a dining room for groups
Level 2-Kitchen and Reception area
Level 3-Concert Hall. Features a fantastic Hamburg Steinway, and beautiful modern artwork painted by artists who have had residencies here. Gorgeous view out of the windows, to the rest of the castle and village, the town down below (waaaaaaay down), the Neckar River, and tree-covered mountains .
Level 4: Meeting room
Level 5 (gotta go up a narrowly winding stone staircase to get there): Our apartment! Two bedrooms, a kitchen-dining area, and bathroom. Beautifully furnished. Windows have an incredible view.
The town is as picturesque as can be. Cute houses, little pathways leading between them, cobblestone roads, flowerpots on the windows, herb gardens, a Chocolaterie and Inn, a park, two churches, and hiking paths down the mountain. There are so many birds singing... Am I living in a fairy-tale land?
And the food is great too :-) We were welcomed with glasses of wine and canapes. My Dad went shopping yesterday and bought a carful of some of my favorite food (white asparagus, potato dumplings, Musli, yogurts and quark, and smoked eel) as well as 'standard' groceries.
I just finished a rehearsal of David Popper's Requiem with a cello trio (three cellists). What a beautiful piece. I played it a few years ago but completely forgot about it until this morning, when I was asked if I could jump in to play this piece at a concert... tonight. I'm also playing Chopin's Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante and George Gershwin's Three Preludes. Wish me luck...
Germany: the beginnings of a 2.5 month adventure, part II
