A Bat in the Belfry

I was close to sleep late Tuesday night when I heard what sounded like rain pitter-patting on the canvas roof of the porch cover below. I crept out of bed to open my window further to allow in the breeze and be able to enjoy the sound of a gentle, cleansing rain. As I turned on a small light however, I was alarmed to see something small and dark, darting and swooping close to my head. Holy mackerel, it was a bat! A tiny bat, with a wing span of no more than 2 1/2 inches, perhaps a baby, zipping around the room like a tiny rocket. Fortunately, I had a discussion about bats with Laura and Maria prior to departing Italy, so had some idea of what to do. I quickly extinguished all the lights and opened all of the windows which did not have screens, then hid in the bathroom with my eye pasted to a tiny crack in the door to observe the fun. In theory, bats are attracted to the light so the little dickens should be attracted to the lights outside and swoop back out with no further ado. Well, things weren't all that simple, of course. The little guy's radar seemed to be in the fritz and I could hear noises as he bumped into things in the bedroom, then whipped right past the cracked bathroom door into the kitchen at the speed of light to bounce of the cupboards. It seemed to take forever and I was sure I was going to have to spend the night huddled in the cold bathtub. Eventually I was brave enough to sneak out and turn on the bedroom light to look for the little fellow, who apparently had found his way out the open window at some point. Yikes! That was way more excitement than I bargained for!

Several shopkeepers have mentioned that business is off here in Germany this tourist season as it was in Italy. The lady at the jeans shop suggested that even Germans are not traveling so much as money is in short supply. When I see tour groups they seem to be German or Asian...few Americans. I don't mind that the town is more quiet than usual, but I know it's difficult for businesses who depend on tourists for their livelihood.

I enjoy the beautiful displays of flowers around town. There are a number of old horse troughs set up here and there which have been planted with a glorious array of colorful flowers, blooming in wild abandon. I must be sure to take a picture to share with you. My landlords have a garden planted with lovely flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They have kindly encouraged me to use the yard, which I don't do very often as there is another couple staying at the house for 3 weeks who always seem to be out there. So, I will leave them to it and enjoy the garden when they have gone. I have been here more than 5 weeks now, with 3 1/2 to go before I pick up my rental car and head toward the Alps. It's amazing how time flies!