below another sky: 30 miles and a wine fest

30 miles and a wine fest

Date: 3:42 pm 8/18/2001

I had an interesting week, I hope you did too. Saturday I went to a "Kerb" in Seeheim; this is a town-related affair, all the local shops put out tables and sell wine, champagne, beer, and food. It is also an opportunity for the local bands to play..."Mambo #5," "All Night Long" (lionel richie) were in the repertoire, but the people watching was good and I liked the champagne.

Sunday, I biked to the Rhine river at Oppenheim. From here, it's about 50 km round trip, or a bit over 30 miles. When you reach the Rhine, you can board a ferry and take it across, a 5-minute affair. I took the same ferry last summer, and to my surprise, the cool money-collector on the ferry was the same. The ferry allows motorcycles, bikes, cars and pedestrians...all were represented that day.

We walked our bikes up to Oppenheim where, to my delight, a wine festival was only beginning. I sat in the sun, drank cold white wine, ate salad and fruit...it was wonderful, and relaxing. I tried small glasses of new red wine and listened to the mixed German band play "Tequila."

I was wary to start the journey back, but stopped every so often to rest. Once I stopped in a field to pick flowers...its a great idea the farmers have here in Germany. Some of them designate a section of their land to grow flowers...(this would never work in the U.S...) and leave it unattended with a barrel and a sign that says "Selbst schneiben!" or "Self - cutting"...this means that you take the flowers you want, and leave money in the barrel. The honor system, imagine?

I made it back home, though tired, and rode my bike directly to Bei Toni's, a restaurant about 2 blocks from my house. I ate a steak. :)

The remainder of the week was spent building IKEA products and working. One night I went to Havana, a local Cuban bar/restaurant with some German friends...other than that, it's been pretty quiet around here.

M.