Days 44 - 56 SIFFIANO 18.09. - 30.09.2022

Since we will be in the castle courtyard for the next 12 days, we will no longer write detailed daily reports, but only briefly describe how we spent the days!

18.09. Today we moved into our vacation rental ('Luft') and were able to unpack all our clothes and distribute them in the closets. After such a long time living out of suitcases or backpacks, this was a delight! In addition, the best wife of all immediately started the washing machine, as it was partially necessary. Although we still have clothes that haven't been used yet!

19.09. Today is a total lazy day. I don't think I'll take a step outside the apartment door. Maybe we'll switch between the two balconies that belong to our apartment, but that's it. We have food and there's plenty to drink in the house. And of course, we also thought of Lea's birthday. A video call with a birthday song and in return a tour of Lea's new home. Nice, and we hope that we can see it ourselves soon!

20.09. Today we want to go for a short hike. Karin found a hiking suggestion in one of the many South Tyrol books here in the house that we liked. She takes on the role of hiking leader and I am the follower. We want to hike from Jenesien, a place north of Bolzano, along a high plateau lined with larch trees. We park at the sports field (also with a parking meter, 3 €) and off we go. We quickly recognize the path, as we have been here before with Lutz and Heike! Well, that's how it is sometimes and yet it still brings great joy! Every 10 minutes there are posts with legends from the local area, which are also visually depicted. This route is also called the 'Legends Trail' among hikers. The trail ends in Langfenn, at the St. Jakob mountain chapel, and from the village below, Schermoos, the hiker's bus takes us back to Wild Hilde. A great excursion that ends with a dinner from Mathilde! But before that, we made a call to Daniela, who was on her way home from Lea's. The mother couldn't let her daughter celebrate alone in Berchtesgaden! Her own birthday took place on the highway, as many traffic jams and construction sites made for slow progress. Our singing caught her right in the middle of her birthday dinner at Mac Doof, somewhere on the way home, which would only end around 10:30 pm. Such a trip to Lea, even if it goes smoothly, is over 900 km and takes a very long time! But Dani's mother is like that and drove to Vreden with a good feeling, because Lea is doing well down there!

21.09. Today is a special day: Karin and Dittmar are not spending the day together! That hasn't happened in 47 days! But Karin is going hiking with Martina and Bernd, our great acquaintances from the castle courtyard (with whom we always have mobile phone contact throughout the year and with whom we try to go on vacation at Mathilde and Walter's at the same time, also in 2023 + 2024). And Mathilde is going hiking. Mathilde looks forward to it every year, to go on a hike based on a suggestion from Martina, because getting away from the courtyard and its obligations is like a vacation for her. She really enjoys it, and Bernd and Martina are also so-called repeat offenders and have been here many times. They are among our regular guests! So they all go to the Seiser Alm, including Bernd's acquaintances, with whom he is traveling for the first and last time. And after completing a task from Walter (returning empty bottles and cardboard waste), I made an effort to prepare a promised dinner for everyone. Shopping and cooking were on the agenda. The appetizer was tuna and capers with tomato on toasted Vinschgau bread, and the main course was a vegetable stew with pan-fried slices of bologna sausage. For dessert, there was low-fat quark with panna cotta and strawberries. Everyone enjoyed it. A successful conclusion for this 'separation day'!

22.09. Today I wanted to complete the other tasks assigned by Walter (cleaning the wine barrels, lawn maintenance at Mathilde's, disposing of plastic waste). I managed to clean the wine barrels, but then I got stuck on the construction site. I tried to help for three hours and apparently did a very good job! Walter praised me repeatedly at the so-called barbecue evening, where all the guests are treated by the house. And how!! If anyone still misses something or complains, they must have made a mistake somewhere. All the guests were in a good mood, and Walter even joined us and entertained us with tricky games. Even the walnut schnapps at the end brought more stories and insights. A very special evening!

23.09. Today, my tour guide discovered a hiking trail in Barbian. It's a place located at the same altitude as Klobenstein and only about 20 minutes away. First, we visited the village church with a very crooked church tower (not as leaning as in Pisa), and then we climbed to the famous waterfall. First, the path led to the 'Unterer Wasserfall' (Lower Waterfall), which was still easily accessible via steep switchbacks and ascending hiking trails. There, we could see the water falling down from about 200 meters high. It was cut deep into the mountain wall. Now came the ascent to the 'Oberer Wasserfall' (Upper Waterfall). It was more like a narrow animal trail or a dried-up streambed leading upwards. We could constantly hear the rushing water next to us as we climbed higher with each step. The specified 550 meters of elevation gain for the entire hike had to be achieved somehow. Karin found this type of trail very exciting because it was unmistakable and constantly changing. There were also Kneipp stations and a well-developed lookout point along the way. From comfortable benches, we could enjoy the entire mountain panorama, but also the congested highway to the Brenner Pass. These thoughts even came up for our planned journey home!? We soon reached the reservoir of the upper part and decided not to complete the entire return trip. We took a shortcut and reached Barbian again after three hours, which was enough for us. Except for the bakery, which we had already seen when we started. There, we bought delicious plum and chestnut cakes. Who knows such a thing? We took them as dessert for our dinner because we had invited Bernd and Martina and their friends for a leftovers meal. The vegetable soup was not finished yet, and we were able to recreate the tuna appetizer. The chestnut cake was the surprise dessert. The guests brought the drinks, so it was a relaxed evening. It was good for them too because they had all had a long day with excursions.

24.09. Today we want to take a trip to Bolzano. Karin checked the weather forecast, which didn't look good, and realized that she doesn't have any long pants for the cold season. So we take the bus from Klobenstein, after parking Wild Hilde in the underground garage for 24 hours, and it takes about 40 minutes to get down to Bolzano. The city is crowded with people because the weather is more suitable for strolling than hiking. We are not used to such crowds anymore and walk straight through the city. Fortunately, we had already looked up the addresses of the vintage and second-hand stores. It was crowded and tight everywhere, and there were activities on every square in the pedestrian zone. The queue in front of the Ötzi Museum was also impressive. We stood here five years ago with Malte and Malina. Time flies, eh!? Karin found a pair of pants and even a turtleneck sweater in another store in Laubengasse, and now the highlight, disposable washcloths!!! Then we went to the cable car that took us to Oberbozen, and from there to the M-Preis supermarket because it's open all day on Saturdays. Maybe it's an exaggeration to say we went on foot because my left knee didn't cooperate today. Until we were on our way from the store to the small train. Suddenly, it was fine again without any restrictions, taking big strides forward!? I have an appointment with a knee specialist on October 10th and I'm very uncertain about what advice he will give me. We returned to Klobenstein on the crowded train and then went home!

25.09. Today is Sunday and the weather, which was predicted to be very bad, is different. Nevertheless, we stay here and let the day unfold. We only manage to take a short walk around the castle and admire the new features and details on the grounds. As always, there is a gathering, and we also meet the four Italian plasterers who have been working continuously here for two days. Otherwise, it's a quiet day until the weather changes in the afternoon and affects our further travel plans. We want to cancel because we are needed in Laudenbach!?

26.09. Today, the final preparations for departure are supposed to take place. We want to buy some souvenirs at Mila, maybe get a crate of apples from the fruit farmer, and take a look at Loacker! Then we need to inform Mathilde and Walter about the earlier departure and prepare Wild Hilde, who will have to cover almost 750 km tomorrow. It's a pity that our long journey is ending like this, but when the children need help, everything else doesn't matter!!!