castle-day 4 (6/9/11)

Getting a dose of farm life is so exciting! I just got back from a chance meeting with India while visiting the bunnies (everyone else had gone to the village for dinner), and she was just finishing her evening chores. She actually saved me from Dino, the crazy gander (yes, it turns out he has a name) as he was coming up behind me. No joke, that bird inspires fear in my heart as soon as I see him coming, but I guess I feel a bit better after getting a couple of tips from India. She showed me the turkey and its surrogate duckling child (cute!). Then, as we were preparing to take the two donkeys, Gina and Leila, back to their stall, Leila suddenly galloped off into the vineyard, and Gina followed. Bad news, since the donkeys will chew the vines. We went to get their leads, as well as some peanuts, and without too much trouble, we got them hooked and led them back to the stall. It's a funny feeling to feed a peanut to a donkey, I'll tell you that much. It tickles your fingers. Before heading back, I went to visit the goats and the pigs. I hopped into the pig pen for a bit and got to play with the piglets, but then I think they realized that I didn't have any food for them, so they ran back inside their shed.
Otherwise, my day was pretty average. After lunch, I went down to Merano with Jon and Sachin, who were heading to Florence, and tried again to ask the train station worker about how to make a reservation for my trip to Interlaken tomorrow. Once again, it was only slightly helpful. Then I just spent some time wandering down one of the main streets of Merano. At the bridge, the breeze was wonderful, and it was funny to look one way and see the sun shining brightly, and then turn around to see the rain clouds descending on the mountains up ahead. I just love when the clouds do that--shroud and envelop the mountaintops--which they've been doing a lot lately, in fact. It makes them look so...mysterious.
Before the rain hit, I wandered some more to a long row of food stalls, mostly selling cheese, meat, bread, or a combination. They had some gigantic loaves of bread! But I guess it makes sense if they sell it by the kilogram.
I always love walking through food markets (much more than clothes or other goods)--it's such fun for the senses! The colorful sights, sounds, smells, and even tastes (should there be a sample or purchase). I even saw a chocolate fountain as well as a legit lemonade stand. Fun! Afterwards, the rain signaled that it was time for me to go back, so I headed back up to Dorf Tirol. I did get to take a quick stroll through the church cemetery, which seemed to fit the rainy afternoon. The tombstones are all very fancy, and there were flowers growing over every grave. RIP.

Yay! Hoping for Interlaken tomorrow.