Tim and I are on a little adventure. We have hired a car for the weekend - it's a treat that shows how beneficially located Zurich is for exploring neighbouring countries. The weather is dismal - rain sheeting onto the windscreen and ribbons of cloud encircling the treetops - but it doesn't dampen our spirit for exploration. Part of the attraction is gourmet. In Germany? Yes, really. We read that the southern Black Forest is renowned for its asparagus - and now is the season to enjoy it - so on our list is finding a lunch spot with an 'asparagus menu'.
We haven't forgotten about Black Forest gateau, either... We stop in the town of Todtnau, southwest of Freiburg. It has a pretty sort of square dominated by a church with twin spires, and opens onto a network of ski infrastructure. It also has Germany's longest toboggan run, the so-called Hasenhorn rollercoaster. There are people hurtling down the metal drainpipe on little go-carts even today. For us, cosy Pension Sonne is more the thing. It has a guest house feel, is located off the main square and is advertising fresh asparagus. Sadly, the salmon I order is dreadfully overcooked and tasteless - but I do have some local asparagus, and follow it with fresh strawberries and ice cream.
Before leaving, we stock up on Black Forest gateau - as, of course, one must do. I'm not keen on rich cakes, but bought here, the Black Forest variety tastes divine (so creamy and with such a vivid flavour of cherry) compared to the vile frozen varieties you find in supermarkets. It's useful sustenance for the wet walk we set off on - to the Todtnau Waterfall, which crashes over 97 metres of jagged rocks.
You can walk from the village, but it's so wet that we drive to the car park a little higher up. There is a series of bridges that crisscross over the waterfall to spectacular effect. Forget fairytales: this could be Elvish Rivendell. We climb the stony stairwell to the top of the waterfall - our eardrums ringing with the watery roar and our clothes soaked by a film of spray - and try to picture how beautiful the view would be were the weather better. We get tantalising glimpses of forest stretching endlessly into equally endless filmy cloud. On the drive back, I feel invigorated from exploring a new place. We also pass a 'pick your own asparagus' field, which is the healthy icing on the cake. The Black Forest made for a wonderful day trip from Zurich. Indeed, I could have happily spent a week touring the place.
