A little lost

With the best intentions to document the Loca Amiga's South African adventure, I just have not had the time or motivation to put words to paper.

Truth be told, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

Nothing a good w(h)ine session won't cure.

Tasting the stars

During my Eurotrip last year, the Loco Amiga and I went for a tour and tasting at Moët et Chandon in the heart of Champagne. 

We had our own tour guide ushering us through the 28km's of underground tunnels, recounting the family history of the world-famous champagne house and explaining the intricacies of Champagne laws. 

Post-holiday blues

I'm busy with my first report the year, and dreamily gaze out of the window more often than at my computer screen.

This is where I'd rather be.

A fresh Anomaly B

I set up my own blog - registering the domain, setting up email addresses, customising templates and the whole redirect rigmarole. It was quite a while ago and when cajoling Miss Roediger into setting up hers, I refreshed my skills.

Doing it for a friend means there is some expectations involved: tastes differ, time is an issue and well, I know my limits and ultimately this combination can lead to disappointment.

Last week I updated Anomaly B. What do you think?

 

Credits on Anomaly B:
Lemon Meringue Blogger Lay-out by Katrina at Pugly Pixel.
Photo template from Maybemej.

Handdrawn arrows from I rock so what and font by Lauren Fowler. 

From the Juffer-Sonnenuhr to the juffrou

I've been spreading the word far and wide about my holiday; about the wines, the vineyards, the food and hospitality, the history and culture, and just the fact that there's more out there than my little world.

I've visited and worked in many wine regions, from Marlborough, Nelson, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Tuscany, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Ynez Valley and more recently Champagne, Mosel and Stellenbosch - which I call home -  and yet nowhere have I seen anything like the vines in the Mittel Mosel region.

Hosts Weingut Karp-Schreiber's steepest vines on the Juffer ("spinster") mountain grows at slopes of up to 80°. In retelling this fact, no-one believed me and it sounded to extreme that I started doubting my memory too. I have many photos yet none do the steep slopes justice.

Amazing Mosel: in short

Six years ago I became friends with a Spanish girl in New Zealand and last week I met her in Germany to travel together France.

It still boggles my mind.

I spent two absolutely amazing weeks visiting the Loco Amiga in Brauneberg, a small town in the wine region of the Mittel Mosel. On the way to the airport she asked me if my visit was what I had hoped, and I only evaluated my expectations then.

I left just wanting to get away. I wanted to sleep late, switch off, enjoy wine with lunch and sit in the late afternoon sun with nowhere to go. I wanted to escape the daily humdrum and be caught up in the unfamiliar. So yes, my holiday was all that I could have wished for.

10 things in short:

Random windows in Brauneberg

It's the final countdown

I don't count down days to big events or wish for time to fly by to Fridays. I've learnt that time, right here, right now, is precious and that is also one of my goals this year: to be present. To put away my phone during dinner and meet strangers whilst standing in line...well, maybe not that last bit.

However, I've been counting down to my holiday since January. Last year I did not take my annual leave over the summer holidays and when January rolled round, I was thoroughly fed up. I dreamt of exotic holidays, trips with friends, foreign languages and unpronounceable food and wines. That time is now.

Riesling, tempranillo or champagne? Who cares.